Skip, Hop, Walk, or Run

Look at these sweet little feet!! I think of a couple of Sunday School songs about feet, one:"If you're happy and you know it stomp your feet!" or another one-"Oh be careful little feet where you go!" ♫

When the feet are little they are guided on where they should go and redirected when they are headed the wrong direction.

As they grow they are still guided but given a little more freedom to travel alone.

When fully grown they must then choose which direction they will go all by themselves.

Some want to travel the well worn path in a group with a lot of other feet but that doesn't mean it is the correct road. The right direction maybe a narrow road that might be much less traveled.

Follow after Christ-travel down the road that leads you to be more like Him by being in His Word and talking with Him One Day at a time. Where are your feet taking you?

One or 2 of my favorite things!

For those of you who are reading this and don't know me at all...I love to read!!! I read as much as I can. I have 2 bookshelves in my den that are 8 feet tall and full of...BOOKS!!! I also own a kindle and have over 400 books on it! I love mysteries and how-to craft and Christian romance and historical and journals and classics (just to name a few)! I also love bookmarks! I probably have one for each book I own-homemade or bought-small and large-there are so many different types!! They are fun and they save the page corners!

I am including a picture of one of my favorite series/author and a couple of my favorite bookmarks! 

Robin Jones Gunn is a great author and I have enjoyed many of her books! I LOVE the Sisterchicks series and have collected all the books! They are fun to read again and again and they take you to a different location in each book!

One of the bookmarks poking out is a small work of art by Kim Attwooll-a friend of mine-a daisy that she painted especially for our ladies' tea last year. The other one was given to me by a dear friend-it's another one of my loves-coffee & tea!

So, my recommendation to you? Find a new book or revisit an old friend and make a cup of tea or coffee and find a comfy spot to sit down and just spend some time reading-One day at a time! Reading broadens your horizons and expands your vocabulary and transports you to many different countries!

Reminder on a Hill

If you live locally you have probably seen these crosses as you travel a certain road.

What do you think of when you see these? I have thought a lot about that and this is what I have concluded:

You could look at these and rejoice by the fact that even in this representation-they are empty!  It reminds me of the cross on Calvary which held my Savior. I am thankful that He chose to die but even more thankful that it did NOT end there-he died and then conquered death and rose again!! We are coming up on the day we celebrate this grand celebration-Resurrection Sunday!

Some may look at this and not understand why 3 crosses are placed there. It is sad because these crosses don't represent salvation to those people. To some it is just another momento that hangs in their home because it represents something religious.

We saw these crosses on our way to Ohio.

The story goes that Bernard Coffindaffer was born in West Virginia in 1934. He was able to start his own business and acquired quite a fortune. He was saved at the age of 42 and became a self-proclaimed Methodist preacher to 7 churches. After 2 heart by-pass surgeries he believes the Holy Spirit told him to go around the country putting up these crosses. He said he had the money to do it and so he obeyed.

For the last 9 years of his life he traveled One day at a time to 29 states, District of Columbia, Zambia, & the Philippines putting up the 3 crosses. People donated the land and Coffindaffer provided all the materials and labor.

He stated that the reason for putting them up was, "Not for saints or sinners. For everybody. They're up for only one sole reason, and that's this-to remind people that Jesus was crucified on a cross at Calvary for our sins, and that He is coming again soon." A total of 1864 cluster of crosses were built and erected before he died-costing him over $3,000,000.00 The gold cross in the middle stood for royalty. 

An interesting testament to a man's life. He hoped that at least one person would stop and think about what it meant.

What does the cross mean to you?

Easy Chicken Enchiladas~

Nothing profound tonight-just a quick and easy  recipe as you plan a tasty lunch or dinner one day at a time.
Take boneless chicken breast (I used 3) and cook them. I used the George Foreman Grill.
Shred them and put into a bowl. Add 3/4 of the Philly cooking creme container-I used the Italian herb. Add shredded cheese-I used about 1 cup. Then you can use a 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes and 1/2 small onion or I used homemade salsa that I made-which is just tomatoes and onions and cilantro. Mix it together.
Spread the remainder of the Italian Cooking Creme on 8 tortillas and then fill each with the chicken mixture. Roll and put in a baking dish and top with more shredded cheese. Place in oven 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes to cook through and melt cheese. Try it and let me know if you liked it. Yum!!

Reading is FUN! I do it a TON!

March 2 is Dr. Theodor Seuss Geisel's 108th birthday!! Most of us know him as Dr. Seuss or Zoice as his family pronounced it!

March 2 will be celebrated as Read Across America.

Target started celebrating today by putting up a small area for the kids to come and listen to a Target employee read a lot of Dr. Seuss' books!

I think we have almost every one of his books! I remember reading them to my kids and then to the little ones that I babysat. They are fun because they rhyme, the stories are funny, and the pictures are colorful!

The Lorax has been made into a movie and will be released on his birthday this next week. Dr. Seuss was concerned about "mindless progress" a long time before "going green" became popular. 

I have to say...I love Whoville and I watch "The Grinch who stole Christmas" every year.

Take a moment this week

 even if you have to seek,
 For a Dr. Seuss book-it deserves a look!

Sit on the couch-don't be a slouch,

Enjoy the rhyming-it's all in the timing.

Read them all-Everyone likes them from the old to the small!!

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss a couple days early!! I think I will pull out Green Eggs and Ham to read-yes I will-Sam I am! And just sit enjoy it one day at a time!

Life is a Concert! ♪♫

Tonight was the warm-up concert at C.C.S. put on in preparation for competition next month.

It was a wonderful evening of vocal and instrumental music put on by the junior high and senior high students.

Ben played a Mozart piece on the tuba. He also sang a solo and a duet with Sydney.

Both bands played as well as a large and small ensemble.

It made me think of how many times music is mentioned in the bible. God created music and gave us the ability to make all these different instruments that can be played solo or together to make some beautiful music.

 1 Chronicles 16:23
Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation.

Psalm 33:3 

Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. 

Psalm 104:33 

I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 

These are just a few references that talk of singing or music. I agree with David the Psalmist and say that I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live.

Are you worth your weight in salt?

Have you ever heard the saying "Are you worth your weight in salt?" I did a little research and found out that salt was very rare in roman times and soldiers were paid in salt. To say he wasn't worth his weight in salt meant he wasn't worth his salary.  It then made me think about why salt was so "worthy". Salt has a couple of purposes-it preserves and it gives flavor. Back in time before refrigeration salt was used to preserve meat. Salt also enhances the flavor of food. 

Matthew 5:13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
We are compared to salt in the Bible. We need to enhance the world that we live in-not become part of it.  We can do that by being in His Word and learning to be more like Christ One Day at a Time. I want to be one who others can say that I am definitely worth my weight in salt!!

Hands-Young vs. Mature

I love how God brings things to my mind and then I look for a picture to take to go with my thoughts. Then after I take the picture I put my thoughts together to put down here.

I used 2 different models for this blog.

 Have you ever looked in God's Word at all the different references on hands?! 

Look at these sweet little hands that belong to a sweet little girl~

These hands hold onto her mama and her dad and her big sisters. These hands dress herself and feed herself and play during the day. I also know that these hands fold in prayer to God.

One verse that I like about hands is:

Psalm 134:2 
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. 

We can lift our hands in prayer and praise to God anywhere, at any time and at any age.

I look at this other set of hands of my "southern mama" and think of all the years of work and prayer time she has put in during her lifetime. It reminds me of another great passage in God's Word:

Proverb 31: 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
Proverbs 31:16
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Proverbs 31:19
She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
Proverbs 31:20
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Proverbs 31:31
Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

What do your hands say about you? Are they still youthful but can be seen lifted up to God in praise?

Are they more mature and show the years of work and prayer and praise given to God over the years?

One other great statement made about hands pertains to eternal security and that is the verse that says that we as Christians are being held in our Father's hands and no man can pluck them out of His hands.

John 10:29 

My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Isn't that an amazing picture? Safe and secure.

God gave us two hands so that we can raise them in praise to our creator and fold them in prayer to Him as well, One Day at a Time~

Thy Word have I hid in my Heart ♥

I talked about how I love words the other night. I have a lot of sayings that hang in our home. But more importantly, we have a lot of scripture that hangs in our home. I walked around and took some pictures of the different verses that are posted throughout our home-in plain view for us to see one day at a time!

Take a photo tour with me and see how many of these verses you know-you may even have some of them hanging in your home! We can't have too much scripture available to us-we should be saturated in it!

This verse hangs on a basket on our kitchen table, an appropriate place for it-since the salt is in the basket and many conversations take place around our table.

This verse is on the wall between my kids' rooms. It is so true-they are a blessing and an heritage from the Lord to us!

This verse hangs by our door to the garage. My Grandma Kettenring painted this for me when I would house sit for them. I was a part of their ministry and she told me I was an important part to them.

This is on our door and we read it every time we leave our home.

These verses hang on my mirror and I read them every day while I am brushing my teeth or drying my hair. They are verses of encouragement and promise. His mercies are new every day, He has plans for me, and I cannot lose hope for our light and momentary trouble are achieving for us an eternal glory. One other verse that didn't make the picture is "When words are many sin is not absent, but he who holds is tongue is wise." I tell it to myself daily~

Grandma K also painted this verse for me on my 18th birthday-It is my life verse and is a promise to which I continually cling.

When we moved into our home some dear friends gave us this plaque and it has hung by our front door for almost 13 years-It is a verse we live by: "As for me and my house we will serve the Lord" One Day at a Time!

Happy Birthday!

Today is President's Day and we as a country are celebrating the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln but, it is a much more special day to our family as it is the day we celebrate the birthday of...MY DAD!!

February 20, 1948 the world became a little better as this was the day my dad was born!

I have a lot to be thankful and my dad has a huge part on that list.

My dad was and still is a great provider.

My dad, as well as my mom, have displayed a wonderful Christian testimony for me and my brother to consistently see.

My dad is a great example of a man who truly loves his wife and is totally devoted her.

My dad (and mom) saw the necessity of Christian education and made the sacrifice for me and my brother to be able to go to a christian school for all 13 school years. He was involved in starting a new school and part of the school board for many years.

My dad always made time for us and helped with a lot of projects throughout the years!

My dad has a lot of talents and I've been blessed to inherit some of those same gifts!

My dad loves to laugh and has mellowed out as the years have gone by.

My dad can goof off and sing opera!!

So, although my dad won't read this (since he doesn't have any idea I write a blog) I have definitely told him all of these things.

 I love you Daddy! Happy 64th Birthday!

What is in a Word~

According to the dictionary, one definition of WORD is:a written or printed character or combination of characters representing a spoken word.

We use words all of the time. We speak thousands of them in a day. One article stated that women speak around 20,000 words a day versus 7,000 for men. I know that I keep my average up! :)

I read a lot of words each day including from my Bible, the computer, my kindle, and on the TV.

Reading or speaking, Words are part of our lives. I love words-they can leave quite an impression on us. I love having words in print around the house to remind us of different things.

This display was at a store I went to yesterday. I love buying these for gifts to give someone.

These 2 statements hang in my living room where I see them on a daily basis. They are 2 very true statements.

This is a verse I made on my cricut and put on the wall over my piano. I love to sing and I love how many different verses have been put to music and can be sung.  I love the truth in this verse.

Dinnertime has always been family time. I now have this statement above our table area and it is so true. Many conversations have taken place over dinner, one day at a time, some sad and serious but lots more that are happy with lots of laughter. Conversations that consist of many...words. 

So, stop and give someone a call to give a word of encouragement or take a moment to write a note to someone, letting them know that you care! It's all in a word!

Housecleaning Blues?

Some might say that they have the housecleaning blues

When they look around the house and see there's so much to do.

But for me, I relish the time to clean

making up my to-do lists

On everything that can be seen.

I gather up my duster and my broom

Turn on my music and away I zoom!

Bathrooms with toilets to scrub,

 rugs to be shaken

and rings to remove from around the tubs.

Kitchens, and Bedrooms and Great rooms and more.

Garbage collected, laundry folded and then off to the store!

This morning I was able to wake up leisurely, enjoy my coffee and a little computer time.

Then I gathered up my cleaning supplies and started in on the jobs!

I have always enjoyed staying at home, taking care of my house-cleaning and decorating and whatever else needed done! It gives me a great feeling of accomplishment when I am done-the dust is removed (for a day or two!)  the laundry is washed and folded and put away (for at least an hour) and the kitchen is cleaned (until lunchtime)! But at least I know that as long as my family continues to live here...I still have a job!!

Tangible Memories

I had a few ideas about what to take pictures of today but I couldn't decide so  I went with something totally different.

These are 3 boards that I have back in the den on the side of the room that has become my craft area. The first board pictured is my newest. I am placing items on there that mean something to me. I have filled up the other 2 with pictures given to me or articles or craft ideas or gifts! All have a memory behind them and mean something to me. So, I decided to add the 3rd board and continue to fill it. The ribbons are from the photography and cards I entered in the fair. Some photos are ones that I took and others are of some of the special people in my life. I'm looking forward to the other mementos that I will gather in the future and be able to continue to enjoy them One Day at a Time. 

Find a small board ( I have 3 more in different areas of our home) and start to post items that make you smile and remind you of a fun time. It's like a scrapbook on your wall!

"You Light up my Life"

You may think this is a bad picture but this is what it really looks like if you are on my back porch tonight!

This picture I used the flash and now you can better see the lights around my cage! I have been wanting them for a long time and so Bill finally did some research and got some lights and tried them and then made the hooks and hung them all around the cage! Isn't he wonderful?! They are fun and add to a great atmosphere! 

So, now it's time for a party!! I think I will count down One Day at a Time until my BIRTHDAY! That would be a great occasion to show off the lights!

If you love someone you want to show them that you love them. You can tell them but it helps to also show them. Do you show those around you that you love them? 

It says that a person is known by his works in Proverbs 20:11

   Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

I want to be known for being helpful and kind and loving and forgiving. As we live one day at a time we should want to "be Christ" to others.

"The Money Tree"

Tonight I had to stop and pull out our cash allocated for the next 2 weeks and it reminded me of a story.

When J.W. was little we learned a valuable lesson on how your children are watching you and what their take is on things. I remember J.W. asking for something-it might have been a toy or if we could go out to dinner-I'm not sure-but we told him that we couldn't because we didn't have the money to do that at the time. He told us that it wouldn't be a problem just go to that machine and get some money out! His perception was that the box held unlimited funds and we could get some at anytime. We all dream of having a money tree in our backyard or we joke to our teenagers that maybe they should go and pull some cash off the "money tree". But for a little child it is a much different outlook. We realized that we needed to be sure that our children understood the value of money and how we must work for what we earn and how to tithe and save and then spend One Day at a Time!

H♥ppy V♥lentine's D♥y

Today is a holiday that is celebrated by many, bemoaned by a few, and loved by the florists!!

As I think about the past Valentine's days that I have celebrated I think of the different perspectives on the same day.

 When I was little I loved to give and get valentine's from my school mates. As an adult I still love to make and give Valentines-this year we made valentines for our college kids, JW's teachers, my co-workers, and my AWANA kids in T-n-T. I don't believe you are ever to old to give or get a valentine. It's a small way to let someone know you care.

 As a teenager I loved to get valentines from the boy I was "in love" with at the time!! ;)

Since I've been married I love to get valentines from my husband and now my children. This morning I woke up to a dozen roses and a balloon from my sweetie!!

But as we think about all the different valentines that we may have gotten over the years, I would be remiss if I did not mention the most important valentine ever given. God gave us his Son, who is our ultimate Valentine. He gave his life for us so that we can have eternal life. If you are reading this and have not accepted Him as your personal Valentine message me and I would be happy to share with you how that can happen. John 3:16 is the best verse to show God's Valentine to us:

       "For God so loVed the world,

that He gAve

  His onLy

 begpttEn

    SoN,

                             That whosoever

 believeth In Him

          should Not perish,

               but have Everlasting life."

God is someone who will love you no matter what, no matter when, no matter who and no matter where you are One Day at a Time!! Open His valentine and accept the gift. Happy Valentine's Day from me to you!

Cloud Watching

Remember when you were younger and you would go outside and lay down in the grass and look up at the clouds and see how many different things you could see? I remember doing that-sometimes by myself and sometimes with friends-we would see how many different things we could find and if the other person could see what we see. Driving home today I was looking at the clouds and it reminded me of that so, I pulled over to the side of the road and snapped a couple of pictures because one of the things I saw was a "Maggie-dog"!! Next time you need to take a break go outside and look up at the beautiful sky that God created and see what you see in the shapes of the clouds!

Job 35:5 
Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

Remember, there is another reason to look to the clouds. Christ has promised that he will come back for us and we will meet him in the air! That's exciting enough to "watch the clouds"!

1 Thessalonians 4:17  

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Sunday Lunch on the River

In the second envelope of Bill's Christmas 12 months of dates was dinner or lunch at the Riverhouse Reef & Grill. So, we took J.W. with us and went today after church.

It is a great restaurant right on the river. Bill had the buffet which had all kinds of breakfast foods including eggs, bacon, cinnamon rolls. He enjoyed it. J.W. got...chicken tenders (big surprise) and I got lobster stuffed grouper with veggies and a side salad. It was delicious!  You have to walk a little bit of a distance from the parking lot out to the restaurant but it is pretty. It was a little chilly since it started out at 44 this morning and it has gotten back down there again tonight!!

Good company, good food, and a beautiful view we took in as we enjoyed One Day at a Time~

Love is in the Air~

Tonight we had a Valentine Banquet at our church and it was a wonderful evening!

This is what we walked into....

Kim & Hillary transformed our fellowship hall for a fun night

We sat a table with Karen & Greg, Rhonda & Steve, and Brian & Deborah~

The food was delicious! I went off my diet to enjoy a little of the lasagna, penne', marinated green beans, and Caesar salad. I avoided the garlic knots and cheesecake-although I really wanted some of them. It was catered by Bella Napoli in Largo-great place to eat if this food is any indication.

So, after the dinner they asked who had been married the longest. It was Doc & Joan-58 1/2 years! An amazing couple who are godly examples of  happily ever after!

The other game they played was...the Newlywed game and guess who's table they chose. That's right-ours...why? They said it was a "fun table"! Great! So the guys had 5 questions and then we had 5 questions.

Some were funny and others easy but some were hard! What was the first dinner I cooked when we were married (we did have same answer-chicken). Who is better with the finances? I knew he would say him :)

Well, guess who won? Bill & I did!!! We had 9 out of 10!! We won a bag of truffles! After the game Pastor Andy gave a short challenge out of Ephesians 5 and the evening concluded.

I think everyone enjoyed themselves! I know we did!