Jesus Christ Loves You

In this season of giving, it is great to find deals on gifts that won't break, wear out, or go out of style before this same time next year.

To this end, let me direct you to:

http://icandoallthisthruhim.blogspot.com/2010/12/jclu-forever-christian-t-shirts-for.html
http://anjoliz.blogspot.com/2010/12/jclu-forever_07.html
http://www.allhisloveliness.com/
http://spontaneouslove.tumblr.com/

This wonderful site has ministry t-shirts that are so inspiring, well made, nice looking, and much sought after. The price is great too.

Do stop in to check out these wonderful items, and if you want, you can always send me one. haha

This is my favorite for some reason. It just makes you smile when you look at it and who couldn't use a smile these days?

There are many styles to choose from though and you won't be sorry you stopped in.

Merry Christmas y'all
and
Peace

The Middle of Thanksgiving

The Middle of Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. I love seeing the family members that I don’t get to see very often due to distances, or time constraints, or just living our crazy lives.

I love the holiday movies created for and about Thanksgiving, but after watching this year I realized something I’m not sure I noticed before; they are all about the same. They either show a person coming back home to a crazy, morose, or tragic family, or they show a perfectly well adjusted family who looks perfect and well adjusted and dresses perfectly and has perfect manners and only speaks in platitudes and proverbs. As much as I love these movies, and always have, that just isn’t real for most of us.

Most of us live our lives somewhere in the middle. Not tragic. Not sublime. I think most of us live somewhere in the middle of those places. We all have those members of our family that we don’t “get”, that don’t make sense to us because of what they do with their days or their views on politics, or religion, or life or whatever. Most of us have those memories of childhood traumas like “you were mom’s favorite” or “dad just seemed to like you better” or whatever. But if we look at our families of origin, the ones we came from and the ones we are creating for the next generation, I think it is easy to see why we go home. All in all, we’re okay. Not tragic everyday, not triumphant everyday, but somewhere in the middle. And the middle is a great place.

There will always be those times that we face uncertainty, and the middle is where we run to for the safety of family and friends who knew us “before” when the biggest choices we faced were what to watch on Saturday morning television and what kind of cereal to choose.

There will always be, I mean we hope for anyway, those times of triumph. The times that we want to call back to our “middle” and tell everyone about our triumphs and know that they will be cheering for us, and yes, maybe a little jealous of us.

The middle is that place that teenagers loathe for its mediocrity and commonplace. But when you become old, say thirty or forty, you begin to realize again the beauty of the middle. Because by forty, most of us look around and realize we have created a “middle” of our own.

I turned forty-five this year. Maybe that is why I can say out loud without apology that I love the middle now. I’ve always loved my family, each one of them. I’ve always appreciated how we were all different and important, but I’m not sure I was unapologetic about it. I thought that somehow made me blasé’ or something. That has changed over the years though and I realize it most when I take a moment reflect and realize the wonderful people I come from and have been built by. I appreciate my mom and all that she did for us. No matter how messed up some of it was, she did her best and that is all you can hope for. I appreciate my dad and step-mom. They try so hard to keep a “middle” for us, even though it seems to get harder and harder for them to keep on keeping on some days. I appreciate my sisters and brother and their families so much more now, as I see them strive for their own normal places in this great big crazy world that seems to consider middle a place to run from rather than gravitate to.

Maybe that is why I love Thanksgiving most of all- the gravity. We all seem to find our center during this time of year. Whether it is back to our faith, our first families, our contemporary families be they friends or kin or both, we all seem to come “home” and the home is always in the middle of it.

Happy Thanksgiving everybody. May God bless and keep you all

~ Peace

affiliate programs

Well, I finally did it. I joined the ranks of the online entrepreneurs. I have an affiliate website now. I'm actually planning on another blog as well that focuses on Faith. I have to step out of the "boat" so to speak if I'm ever going to move into the things God has planned for me. This is my first "faith step" because I am historically very wary of things I don't understand and I do not understand all of this yet. But I will.
Shalom and love from this side of the page-
TheWritingMommy

been a long time....

I haven't posted to this blog in a while. The busy-ness of life seems to overtake me sometimes and I just have to step back and re-evaluate what is most important, and sometimes, i step back and fall right into the bed and put my head waaaaaaaaaaay underneath the covers and hide for a while.
I think if we were honest, we all do sometimes, and that is okay. It has to be okay because we all need a "time-out" sometimes.

The key, is not to take too many, or take them for too long at a time. The Jewish community has the right idea, of course it came from the Chief Designer of all people when He said " remember the Sabbath and keep it holy". You know, it's number four of the Big 10. God knew we would need time to rest and recoup. Somewhere along the way we got a little too big for our collective britches i think when we decided that we didn't really need to take a day off each week. And now, we have stress disorders, burn out, and all sorts of fatigue related ailments. I guess we have proven once again that God knows what He is talking about and following His instructions, also known as The Bible, is a good idea.

But, in that same Word, He also says that we should work so i'd better get back to it.

Until next time,

PEACE

Couponing 101

Prosperity Bank

Prosperity Bank. Doesn't that have a great ring to it?

In my head i see a little building, customers smiling really big as they drive up to make their withdrawals of great big balances of prosperity.

Maybe it is money they have been prosperous in, or maybe in their career. I think many would be happy with having prosperity in their families above all else; no fighting or strife or drama, now that would be prosperity.

Perhaps, but maybe prosperity in your family would be so much life that there was a little of all of it. Don't get me wrong, i definitely think that in a prosperous family there would be more laughter, hugs, smiles, and all the sweet stuff than anything that might be perceived as negative, but if that is all there was, it would be really out of balance. I mean, life IS ups and downs. It would be more of a fantasy than a reality to have an absence of anything negative.

Hmmm, something to ponder i think. But i still want to have a great big balance of love and compassion and peace deposited everyplace i can.

Just my early morning musings .....

Peace

When You're Holding a Hammer (Everything Looks Like a Nail)

How do they do it?

"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for." --Joseph Addison

That is a great quote, and so true. I would have added: "and something to believe in". As I go from day to day and see the wonder and beauty of God's handiwork, I feel so sad for those who don't believe in God and the wonder of intelligent design. I wonder how those who don't believe that there is a God who is above all things get through crises like cancer, loss of loved ones, war, and the day to day madness that surrounds us in this world. I take comfort in knowing there is One who is infinite and omnipotent and able to make things ultimately "work out for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

Tools To Life Guided Self Help And Development Program

Tools To Life Guided Self Help And Development Program

looks interesting, sounds hopeful. with God's help, i can do all things.

join me if you will on a journey of self discovery and becoming our personal best.

~peace y'all,

andora, thewritingmommy

My Vision: Made Clear

Hab 2:1-4 While standing guard on the watchtower, I waited for the LORD's answer, before explaining the reason for my complaint.

Then the LORD told me: "I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read at a glance.

At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting-- it will happen! "I, the LORD, refuse to accept anyone who is proud. Only those who live by faith are acceptable to me."

 

I love this verse. Maybe because I am a writer and the prophet speaks of God telling him to write something and make it plain. I think more likely though, I love this verse because it shares that our God, creator of heaven and earth, cares enough for His people to have someone write the vision He gives and even instructs the writer to "make it plain", not big words that no one understands, or pretty words that are so obscure the meaning isn't clear.

 

Statistically, over 90% of those who write their goals achieve them. It stands to reason, those who write their vision will be more likely to live it. I want to live my vision, a vision I believe God has given me. Frankly, I think most "visions", or ideals that we can't shake and have burning desires for are from God. Of course if they are from God they will line up with Scripture or at least not be contentious of Scripture.

 

So, in the spirit of the verse I have quoted, I will write the vision and make it plain, well, as plain as I'm capable of making it.

 

My vision is to inspire and empower by providing words of encouragement and hope. To create and propagate life enhancing and Spirit filled books and articles, essays and journals. To help people find their way back to the loving God who created them, to find their passions and dreams and to help them know they can live abundantly in Christ.

 

Andora Henson, thewritingmommy

Letter to President Obama regarding National Day of Prayer Cancellation

Dear Mr. President,

I would like to voice my opinion about a few things Mr. President.

First, The National Day of Prayer wasn't hurting anyone. There was no mandate to pray on this day, it just gave our nation a day of dedicated prayer regardless of what god you chose to pray to. Our country was began by those seeking freedom from religious persecution, not freedom from religion. If athiests don't want to pray , then they don't have to but there is no reason the rest of us shouldn't be able to worship.

Secondly, please stop apologizing for our country. It makes us look ridiculous to the rest of the world and you are representing our country but not most of the people in it. We Americans for the most part would agree that our country isn't perfect, but we are far from ashamed.

Lastly, for now, i disagree wholeheartedly with this new health care bill that your administration passed without the support of the people you are supposedly helping. This is just an in road to socialism. I don't want to live in a socialist country and if i did i would move to one. If there are those in our country who wish to live in a socialist country, then perhaps they should move to a place that already supports that system.

I hope you know that my friends and i pray for you even though we don't agree with you. I respect the office of president and i hope that i can continue to do so.

 

Sincerely,

andora henson

wife,mom,teacher,christian, American, and VOTER.

Hab 2:1-4 While standing guard on the watchtower, I waited for the LORD's answer, before explaining the reason for my complaint.

Then the LORD told me: "I will give you my message in the form of a vision. Write it clearly enough to be read at a glance.

At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting-- it will happen! "I, the LORD, refuse to accept anyone who is proud. Only those who live by faith are acceptable to me."

 

I love this verse. Maybe because I am a writer and the prophet speaks of God telling him to write something and make it plain. I think more likely though, I love this verse because it shares that our God, creator of heaven and earth, cares enough for His people to have someone write the vision He gives and even instructs the writer to "make it plain", not big words that no one understands, or pretty words that are so obscure the meaning isn't clear.

 

Statistically, over 90% of those who write their goals achieve them. It stands to reason, those who write their vision will be more likely to live it. I want to live my vision, a vision I believe God has given me. Frankly, I think most "visions", or ideals that we can't shake and have burning desires for are from God. Of course if they are from God they will line up with Scripture or at least not be contentious of Scripture.

 

So, in the spirit of the verse I have quoted, I will write the vision and make it plain, well, as plain as I'm capable of making it.

 

My vision is to inspire and empower by providing words of encouragement, and hope. To create and propagate life enhancing and Spirit filled books and articles, essays and journals. To help people find their way back to the loving God who created them, to find their passions and dreams and to help them know they can live abundantly in Christ.

 

Nothing in Particular

Some people seem able to write about anything and nothing. Me, I seem to have a million thoughts dancing in my head at any one time but I always feel that they wouldn't make a good story or blog or whatever because they are too silly, or vague, or not "good enough". But if I love to read blogs by other authors and these are about nothing in particular, could it be that I might entertain, amuse, or enlighten someone by my random thoughts? Maybe my writing could start some reader who just happened by to thinking about the "this or that" or "nothing in particular" that was on my mind the day I wrote something and they would go and write something or share something because of what they read at my humble blog spot. It could happen. right?

Dust on My Keyboard

dust on my keyboard

so sad

the keys cry out to me

like a jilted and forgotten lover

like a song unsung

like hope deferred

"touch me, talk to me, let me feel your passion once again

I miss you my friend"

the page is white but for one more night

one more day

pray the words come

so I can play

so I can run at the speed of imaginings

and cover the white fields with flowers of thought

in the color of dreams

 

dust on my keyboard

What has happened lately?

It has been a while since i posted. Since i'm not sure who, if anyone reads this i will give a brief overview without too many specifics to try and account for my time away from this writing task i've set for myself.

In the past few months we have completed our new kitchen, 20 feet by 20 feet of added space to our home. While i'm not able to help with as much of the heavy lifting and work as i once did due to health issues, i do help in every way that i can. I textured the walls, painted, stained, and laid the tile floor. The day is was ready we hosted about twenty or so family members for Thanksgiving. I was exhausted and when i over do it my body takes much longer to recover now. But, Christmas was on the way and it was hunting season so i did all of the Christmas shopping and much of the decorating and baking and such on my own. Additionally, there was a lot of travel this year for the holidays so factoring that in it was no surprise that i had another recovery period after Christmas.

Soon after Christmas, on the 18th of January, my dear mother in law died unexpectedly. There was a week of mourning as friends and family came in from many places including Iraq, as her youngest son is a commander in the Army National Guard. The week after that was filled with catching up on our school work as we home-school our two youngest children. Then last week continued that direction till Friday when we began preparing for my son's wedding on February 1st.

Now i am again in recovery mode. My body aches in every joint, including my jaw and the tiny joints in my fingers and toes. I don't say that to complain, just to explain i guess, that sometimes, an absence is more than just someone not being somewhere. For me, when i am absent from my "normal" activities, there is usually some healing of some sort going on. I hate that this has become my life, but i'm blessed to have a life at all so i cannot, will not complain about the life i have, although sometimes i do feel guilty that i'm not as able as i once was and feel i have to explain myself and defend my down time.

God knows though when i am taking a necessary rest and when i am being lazy. I guess some days that has to be enough because on days like today, i can't even decide for myself which i am. i feel that i should be over my "recovery period", but there is just no motivation, no desire to do anything and all i want to do is stay in bed and rest my weary bones. Ahhhh, what to do on a day like today? Pray i guess, and write it out till i get to the end of me and the beginning of something bigger than i am and better than i am.

Until next time dear readers, if there are indeed any of you left, I bid you peace. Pray the same for me, won't you?

The Wasteless Mom: Harnessing The Blahs

The Wasteless Mom: Harnessing The Blahs