BunnyB45's Xanga

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:40:11 GMT

Dear Family and Friends,
The end of 2007 and a good six months of 2008 brought revelations and disappointments that left Don and I reeling. Don could not believe the things that we had to deal with and I could not accept them as truth! I have never felt so naive or misled.
In 2007 we questioned many things not the least church fellowship in general and moved on to visit different congregations. Several months, meetings, discussions, further insight, and prayer we joined together with two other families and began meeting in our home with the focus being getting real, transparency, and truly growing in love one for another. Our goal to become known by our love and by being infectious that it might draw others as moths to the flame. Before I move on I must tell you of our Hope (youngest in our church family), she is a joy loving the Lord, reading the word and adding so much to our gathering. We have two teens that keep reassuring me that our small home church is exactly what they need to grow in faith. It is our privilege to witness them as they question things and people, answer questions and work through making their faith their own. The adults are a blessing also as we encourage one another to finish the race better and stronger then when we first began.
During the past year I have undergone surgery, experienced various health issues, and major tooth problems. Ten thousand dollars later and out of pocket I am on the road to recovery. I have to stick to a strict regime; soon I will have a mouth piece, caps, bridges, root canals, and more. Clinching, grinding, and gnashing of teeth is not a good thing, poor sleep is the result and leads to stress and anxiety, it becomes a vicious cycle. T.M.J. and a possible childhood injury may be the cause of these issues.
The days my teeth are worked on I loose 24 hours, completely wiped from memory! Don could not have worked and thus a further financial burden would be added if not for our neighbors Ed and JoAnne Porter. On these dentist days they take me, pick me up, put me to bed at their home, make dinner for us and care for the pets without being asked. The Bible says, "There are friends closer than a brother" they have been that.
Praise the Lord for Don's good health, he works hard and weekend's works just as hard cutting wood. People look on in amazement. I make him Dr. appointments, he has tests and mostly he is full of health and all is well. I am so thankful.
Three weeks in July and August because of the huge generosity of a young family in Chicago, Bill, Lyssa, Emily, Wendy and Bethany visited. This was the highlight of the year and an especially wonderful time for Don and I. The sacrifice this family made, as they also minister for the Lord, and they are in no way wealthy, was overwhelming. I can only imagine how pleased God is and how He will honor this gift. Don and I are humbled and thankful. We camped, swam in Lakes Michigan and Superior and just had a great time. Most of all we enjoyed our three lovely granddaughters.
The very last half of this year we were able to renew a relationship with Ed and Rebekah Smith. Ed was our son's first instructor at Cowden Lake Bible Academy. My friend JoAnne and I had the pleasure of visiting with them in their home in Pennsylvania. Their daugh5ters Hannah and Sarah are attending school at Interlochen giving us opportunity to attend various functions. They have also stayed in our home and with future plans we are reveling in this renewed relationship.
I have been writing for The Lakeview Area News since 2006 and I cannot tell you how much I enjoy this. I give thanks to the two women who now run and own the paper for working with me with my ups and downs. The venue has opened many opportunities. Probably the most satisfying thing has been the meeting of so many people and hearing their stories and sharing in the telling.
As 2009 stretches ahead our hope is to pay of medical debt, this being a priority.
On the list of priorities is to visit overseas. It would be wonderful to visit Belgium. It has been way to long and we need to renew friendships with our prayer partners. We know of your faith and prayers for us!
It has been two years since visiting Sheffield. I fight daily to be grateful rather than feeling sorry for myself. "If we confess, He is faithful and just to forgive", thus I confess and will continue to do so.
Very important this year what ever comes or does not it is my goal to be increasingly thankful, grateful and full of praise for what is rather then longing and looking at what is not.
May you be blessed in 2009

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:11:42 GMT

I haven't been on for some time! I am however in such a good place mentally that I just had to share.

The paper is keeping me busy. I absolutely love meeting and getting to know all of the different people I have opportunity to interview.

I also have a perk with several organizations that produce and present entertainment in our area. Wow, how lucky can one get!!!!!!

The gas prices are down! You know we must be thankful for any reprieve. I am thankful everyday, every moment. When our son and family visited in July and August gas was almost $5 a gallon. O.K. enough of that, that was then, now is now.

I am all decorated!!! Did it up good this year. I love the lights!

Snow, snow and more snow!!!

Last week we had over night guests. Then Saturday we saw Three Men and A Tenor. On Sunday we headed to Traverse City and saw a ballet at Interlochen, with the Smiths and had a lovely dinner out.

Great, great place, I am happy to be me!!

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 13:35:55 GMT

I have found myself very busy at the paper. It is also very interesting the kinds of things that can become controversial and even bring lawyers out of the woodwork to vie for a case!
I was gifted by the paper with several expressions of appreciation along with part-time work and payment for reporting.
I have been enjoying the many opportunities to take advantage of various programs at the Greenville Area Community Center. Wow, I have been blessed to be able to attend so many stimulating programs.
I had my new cat neutered this week. Destiny our dog is a very important part of our life!
I am continuing to work at getting healthier.
I am in such a good place in my life.
I am very contented and able to trust the Lord beyond my understanding, Praise Him.
I am getting with the Thanksgiving Season early......
As time ticks away I become more and more Thankful

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:09:46 GMT

Didn't want to move on without recommending the book,

Lay That Trumpet In Our Hands by Susan Carol McCarthy

this is the book 'One book, one county'. This is one marvelous read!

I have especially enjoyed the lay-out, each chapter begins with the first page having a whole lot of white around the page, it is really lovely. This was a first edition hardcover, the others are not nearly as lovely. The dust cover is also very lovely. The book displayed is not the same as the one that I have, however the story is exactly the same.

A moving and wonderful read.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 13:58:20 GMT

My goal today is to walk the path without stumbling!

My computer has been down. I am just now getting into the swing of things.

Been busy writing for the paper, although various articles have been put on hold. Also have begun putting in some time actual in the office of the paper.

Don has had a lot of work out of town and I have 'rundoft' with him more than once.

Also some people have recently come into our life and we have had to be mindful of them.

Monday, September 08, 2008

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:07:04 GMT

The Labor Day weekend, I actually did some fishing. I was the lucky one to get the largest fish, a bass 14". It was fun.

My cat is a hero! As of Saturday night he has started mousing! Each night he has gotten at least one. This is the time of year that critters start making their way into the house. I don't want to believe that we are infested with vermin, but one thing I know that we won't be if Boots has anything to do with it. Bravo!

If you were given 30 seconds on television to address everyone in the world, what would you say?

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:56:56 GMT

I would say: God loves and accepts you just as you are. While each of us was in sin, He sent His Son Jesus to take our sin upon Himself. The world needs that kind of Love.

I just answered this Featured Question; you can answer it too!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 14:06:18 GMT

It has been a bit! Things have been busy the month of August. Went to Chicago for two nights to take the family to the airport on their way back to Sheffield. The Aquarium was wonderful, especially enjoyed the dolphin show. The city was beautiful and the accommodations great.

Then the Danish Festival was going on and I had various things to cover for that celebration. The balloons were gorgeous. I so much enjoyed the play at the community center.

After that a very unexpected opportunity arose to go to Pennsylvania. The mountians, Williamsport, Susquehanna River, such a beautiful area. I made arrangements to stay for three nights with Ed Smith and his wife Rebekah. Ed had been the principal, instructor when my sons began attending the Academy in Coral, years ago. Life has happened (boy has it) since those days. Ed met Rebekah in China when he was teaching there. I always told Ed he needed to find a woman from China who would walk 3 steps behind him! I shared that with Rebekah and we all laughed as she is a very intelligent, outspoken, thinking woman who doesn't walk behind anyone. Rebekah is an amazing woman, wife, mother and cook. I really liked her. We had met previously but never had opportunity to really get to know one another.

Ed was a major encouragement to me. I shared with him some of the most recent struggles I have had with people and with reconciling situations to my faith. He was a great help for me to gain perspective.

He and Rebekah have two lovely daughters who are very artistic and musically talented. Hannah and Sarah are very personable and everyone made my guests JoAnne and Michael very comfortable and welcomed.

I visited a delightful bookstore (2 times), purchased some bargain books and have had my nose buried in them.

Olympics are over! Now I am glued to the t.v. with the political conventions.

What do you or could you do to have a better work-life balance in your life?

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:25:15 GMT

Be More disciplined. I have a life. The work is a problem, needing to get right to it!

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What do you think happens to us after we die?

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 16:23:17 GMT

My Bible says, that for the believer we are absent from the body and present with the Lord. Jesus said, to the thief on the cross, "Today you will be with me in Paradise.

For the unbeliever the scripture says that we will experience eternal separation from God and we will have no fellowship with anyone.

Rather than ceasing to exist our soul lives on somewhere for eternity. At some point we are given a different body when the mortal puts on immortality.

This is not only what I think, it goes beyond thinking to believing. This belief leads me to not describe to degree what the place or state we will be in. This belief causes me to focus on the real part of us that I believe to be internal (the who I am) the responding, thinking, personal (soul & spirit) that cannot be seen but makes us individual. That is the us that happens after we die.

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