I am seeing . . . the driveway & yard almost back to normal after our roof was replaced.
I am hearing . . . radio, Maggie the dog barking.
I am smelling . . . chili.
I have tasted . . . the sweet & spicy taste of chili on this cold, dreary day.
I am feeling . . .
Anxious to get my little herb & little kitchen garden started. I would love to have one just like this. Come on, Spring!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
PASSAGE: "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.'" ~Daniel 3:16-18 [emphasis mine]
"Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him." ~Job 13:15
"Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." ~I Peter 2:12
LESSON LEARNED: Hard times . . . persecution . . . outcast from the popular crowd . . . we've all struggled with being accepted for who we are. More-over, as Christians, is seems that the deck is always stacked against us.
More and more, we are faced with decisions that MUST be shaped by our walk with Jesus Christ. In the culture we live in ~ whether school or work or even with extended family members ~ there are times when we never quite know what situation we will be thrown into. Will my profession of faith & life of integrity condemn me as an outcast because I'm a "goody-goody" and won't go along with the crowd? . . . keep me from getting promoted because I won't bend the rules? . . . foster false rumors that will run through the family grapevine because of some sort of miss-placed jealousy? There will be times in our lives when things, or people, will be lost to us because of our stand with Christ.
Oh, but when we stand!
When we stand, I have no doubt that "the God we serve is able to save us from it . . . But even IF He does not . . . " And even IF He does NOT, our God is a great God. He alone will bring glory unto Himself even out of our weakness. Whether winning or losing in the Lower Story (the "earthly realm" as referred to in The Story), our walk with the Lord ALWAYS ends in VICTORY! Our obedience and integrity will ALWAYS quiet the nay-sayers. God is concerned that we handle what the world brings against us in a way that brings glory to Him. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had no guarantee that God would deliver them out of the blazing furnace or the jaws of the lions, although they knew that He could. But what they KNEW God would do ~ whether they lived or died ~ was that He would bring glory to Himself. That lives would be touched because of their faithfulness.
Our faithfulness gives those around us tangible evidence of God's glory in our good times or bad ~ that's what really matters when we face difficulties in this world. May He shine through it all.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
I just HAD to bring this up. Sometimes, those in this current White House boggle my mind & make me want to scream.
But I just wanted you to see this for yourself so that if any of your more Liberal friends or relatives tell you that B.O. did the right thing by denying the pipeline ~ & the jobs & energy independence that would have come from it ~ PLEASE show them THIS . . .
This is a layout of all the pipelines ALREADY running between the USA & Canada. Isn't it "funny" that the people who work on these pipelines & related jobs AREN'T complaining, "funny" how they AREN'T proving with photos that their "pristine" land is being destroyed (because it's not), "funny" how there are no "endangered" animals that are being disrupted or put farther into danger. BUT we can't help ourselves with our own North American resources.
By the way ~ Look at ALL those pipes going through Ohio! I have no idea where any of them are. They aren't bothering anyone I know.
OK . . . rant over . . . blood pressure going down. Thank you for your time.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
For Today . . .
Outside my window . . . a blue tarp. Beyond that, it's gray & c-c-cold.
I am thinking . . . about errands I need to run.
I am thankful . . . for being able to get a huge home repair done.
In the kitchen . . . bread baking day. Chicken & stir-fried veggies later on.
I am wearing . . . jeans, rust-colored thermal Old Navy shirt, wool socks. It's COLD!
I am creating . . . a peaceful, Christ-centered home.
I am going . . . to run some errands, get as much done around the house as I can before I go to work.
I am wondering . . . about doing the Daniel Fast.
I am reading . . . Bible: This week's assignments for The Story are in Daniel & Jeremiah.
I am hoping . . . a certain relationship w/an extended family member will have to come to an end. "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." ~Romans 12:18. Unfortunately, sometimes "living at peace" with someone means severing the strings. :-(
I am looking forward to . . . the possibility of some day-time hours at work!
I am learning . . . not to rush a good thing.
Around the house . . . a new roof; banging & pounding . . . driving Maggie the dog crazy. :-/
One of my favorite things . . . laughing & talking about wonderful family memories.
A few plans for the rest of the week . . . family time, work, home repairs, cleaning house, Sunday worship w/the saints.
A favorite quote for the day . . . "Christianity is NOT a 'self-help religion;' it IS about FORGIVENESS of sin & a RELATIONSHIP with & IDENTITY in Jesus Christ. I am NOT worthless BECAUSE Jesus Christ died for ME!" ~from Sunday's sermon.
Scripture thought . . . "I will show the holiness of My great Name, which has been profaned among the nations, the Name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Sovereign LORD, when I show Myself holy through you before their eyes." ~Ezekiel 36:20-21
A peek into my day . . .
The view outside my window as the roof is being replaced. Read 100's of other Daybooks at Peggy's Simple Woman's Daybook!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
"I want to ask a favor of you, Marmee," Amy said, coming in, with an important air, one day.
"Well, little girl, what is it?" replied her mother, in whose eyes the stately young lady still remained 'the baby.'"
Little Women ~ Ch. 26
For my youngest "baby" who will soon be 21 ~ whether I want her to be or not. :-)
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
ATTENTION homeschoolers & lovers of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott . . .
Here is an opportunity to down-load a FREE (FREE!!!!) audio version of Little Women.
This is a classic radio version of the reading of the book, complete with Katherine Hepburn as Jo.
Click HERE to get your FREE copy!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim (a.k.a. Marmee)<><
OK girls . . . if you haven't already experienced it, you KNOW it's coming!
HOT FLASHES! . . . NIGHT SWEATS! Que the Psycho music!
Your own personal quick trip to the tropics whether you want to go or not.
I don't know about you, maybe it's a regional thing, but once I started having peri-menopausal/menopausal symptoms I found that there were really very few women I could talk to about it all. SO MANY women have had hysterectomies ~ including my mother ~ that I found very few who were facing this change of life naturally like me.
So, like so many other things I have faced in my life, I figure that if I need the information, someone else will, too. And, once again, like so many other things I needed information about, I researched & conjured up a few things by trial-&-error.
Here are some of my favorite finds~
HOT FLASH MIST
~10-15 drops clary sage essential oil
~10-15 drops lavender essential oil
~8 drops geranium essential oil
~2-5 drops peppermint essential oil
~distilled water
1) Nearly fill an 8-10 oz misting bottle w/distilled water
2) Add essential oils
3) Shake well before each use, to mix oils
4) Store in refrigerator.
SAGE TEA
Drink a couple of cups per day. Cuts down on perspiration & body odor. (This works for men, too.)
EVENING PRIMROSE OIL
1,300 mg per day (some may need to double the dose ~ start low & add more ONLY IF you need to). I have taken this for years & often recommend it to my customers at the health food store. Helps w/hot flashes, mood swings & breast tenderness. Great source of Gamma Linoenic Acid (GLA).
HOMEOPATHICS
~Lachesis ~ helps w/hot flashes & mood swings
~Palsatilla ~ helps w/hot flashes followed by chills
~Veleriana ~ helps w/intense sweating & insomnia
~Sepia ~ helps w/hot flashes that make you feel exhausted &/or depressed; also good for headaches, including migraines (Sepia is good for so many things)
GOOD TO KNOW . . .
Even sucking a piece of hard candy can help ward off a light/moderate hot flash. That could be a matter of diverting your attention ~ as in Lamaze during labor ~ but it seems to work for many.
FYI . . .
I have written previously, in the Women's Health category, that I elected to not go the HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) route because of it's relationship to causing breast & other female cancers. You may read in those posts that I have chosen to use Flaxseed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil & Progesterone Cream as my regimen & the reasons why.
I have been on this regimen for nearly 6 yrs, having "crossed the line" of peri-menopause to menopause approximately 16 months ago. I must give testimony that I believe this regimen has kept me sane. :-) As many of you may know, 2 yrs ago THE Man was laid off from a great job, I had to go back to working outside of the home, my mom suffered from Alzheimer's & passed away in Sept. 2011, our DD#1 is getting married this year, we've had home repairs & we have a very strained relationship w/a close relative . . . all having gone on while I was in the throws of menopause. I am thrilled to tell you that, other than a few hot flashes & night sweats (usually when I forgot my Evening Primrose Oil) I have done very well. To prove it to myself ~ so as not to think I was imagining how well I was doing while my family was suffering (HA!) ~ the other day I asked THE Man if he knew that I'd gone through menopause about a year ago & he had NO idea! I'm sure he's been gearing up for all those horror stories he's heard of other men of nearly getting eaten alive by their wives, or that I would dissolve into a puddle of incoherent cries & tears, that he was so surprised to know that he'd not noticed ANYTHING! lol
Now, I am NOT saying that prayer & the grace of God didn't play a LARGE part in all of this, but I also believe that He led me to these resources that helped me so much.
I hope that this information will help some of you. And you younger readers, might just want to copy this information to keep for later use ~ in those blessedly busy years while you are raising our children, this may be the last thing on your mind ~ it was for me ~ but it sneaks up on you before you know it. :-) And then YOU will be able to bless someone else with this knowledge.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
PASSAGE: "The people to whom I am sending you are obstinate and stubborn . . . Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak My words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious." ~Ez. 2:4, 6-7
"Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned . . . " ~Ez. 16:49
"Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!'" ~Ez. 33:11
LESSON LEARNED: Our church is currently going through the entire Bible using Randy Frazee's (Max Lucado's associate pastor) The Story. This week we are treading on sad, scary ground. Over and over again, Ezekiel was told by the LORD to go to the rebellious people around him and TELL THEM about the LORD.
Tell them.
Whether Ezekiel or ourselves, we are to TELL THEM. And in telling them about the salvation that the LORD has provided through the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus, that knowledge has now left them responsible before the throne of God.
They know. What a wonderful, fearful thing.
Now that they know, THEY now have the benefit and responsibility of accepting or denying God's plan of salvation. They cannot ever say that they were never told, that they never had the opportunity to accept Jesus as their Savior. The choice now is theirs. We have done our part as the LORD has led us.
I hope that we will consider one or more persons in our lives and dedicate this year to praying for the LORD to break up the hard, "fallow," unplowed ground (Hosea 10:12) of their hearts so they will be softened and receive the good seed of God's word and His love for them. And then that it will grow and bare much fruit.
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
I am seeing . . . the remnants of last night's light snow outside my window.
I am hearing . . . the radio, typing fingers.
I am smelling . . . dirty rice simmering on the stove.
I have tasted . . . honey from the comb.
I am feeling . . .
Read other Diary of 5 entries & register your own!
Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><
LOVE THIS!!!!!!!{ BE SURE to turn my music off at the bottom of the page before watching the video }
Edinburgh
