Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

I know that today is Wednesday's Voice, but we have had some technical difficulties. Ok, I can't open the document from Aunt Dieny. As soon as she sends me a new one, I will post it for you.

I do have to ask you all for prayers. Leroy and I found out last week that our Thomas may have a hearing problem. I took him for speech assessment last week. The speech therapist at the end of the speech test, recommended a hearing test as she felt there was a hearing problem. We have both struggled with this over the week. We are hoping that there is only a blockage that tubes would be able to clear, however, we both know that there is a possibility for a more serious problem.

Pray that Thomas is cooperative with the test tomorrow, as those who know him, know how stubborn he can get when he doesn't want to do something.

Please pray that God gives us strength tomorrow to deal with the results of the hearing test and to take the steps necessary to move towards a better future for Thomas.

1. What is your favorite thing to snack on while you're blogging?

Chips or popcorn.

2. What is one thing you wouldn't want to live without?

My van. I can't even handle when it's in the shop.

3. Beach, Mountains or Farm? Where would you live if you had a choice?

Easy Beach. I miss my ocean.

4. What's your least favorite chore/household duty?

Laundry. I'd clean a men's bathroom at a fast food restaurant forever, if someone would come do my laundry everyday.

5. Who do people say you remind them of?

I was once told I look like Monica Lewinsky.

6. Prefer parties and socializing or staying at home with the fam?

I like socializing with my family.

7. What's your all time favorite movie?

Star Wars! It's my bedtime story when I can't sleep, I put it on and am out within 10 minutes. Can't wait to watch it with the kids.

8. Do you sleep in your make up or remove it like a good girl every night?

Is it still on by the time I go to bed?

9. Do you have a hidden talent or a deep desire to learn something that you've never had a chance to learn? What is it?

I've always wanted to learn how to play piano. Maybe once I'm older and grown up.

10. What's one strange thing you're really good at?

I can clap with one hand. I'll video it one day so you can all see what I'm talking about. My husband and others I know hate looking at me when I do it.

11. What first attracted you to your spouse?

He bought me straws!

12. What is something you love to smell?

Pumpkin Spice anything right now.

13. Tell something about you that you know irritates people.

I'M LOUD!

14. When you have extra money (HA!) what's the first thing you think to do with it?

Purchasing something that the kids need.

15. Are you a silent laugher or a loud laugher? What makes you laugh the hardest?

See #13. I laugh the hardest when sharing past crimes with friends and family.

16. Where is your favorite place to shop?

Right now, Cleos. I just got to buy the purse I've been coveting for a few months.

17. What's one thing you'd do more often if you had more time?

Scrapbook

18. Are you a big spender or frugal?

Big spender, learning to be frugal

19. Who is your favorite character of all time (from a movie or book)? (Can't be real)

Skipper from Madagascar. "Smile and wave boys. Smile and wave!"

20. Would you want to be famous?

No, just on the sidelines knowing someone famous would be enough.

One of my husband's co-workers, Dale, and his wife have just found out that their baby daughter has an non-cancerous brain tumour. They are going to a neurologist to see what to do. Please pray for strength and grace for this family. Pray for healing of the tumour .

I'll keep you updated.

This last month I have been blessed by two friends with some blog awards. At first I wasn't quite sure what to do or the ettiquette regarding the same. Now I think I have it down. Sorry, Andrea for the late thank you!

Cindy from She Sparkles awarded me with this Beautiful Bingo Blog award. I love it. Thank you Cindy. "...I can't deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me." (for those who don't know the quote, google it!)

G- For God-focused, Donnetta at My Quite Corner. Her blogs are honest and uplifting.

O-For Outstanding my RLF & Bloggy friend Andrea @ Under Grace Over Coffee. She has welcomed me with open arms into this unknown blogisphere.

Now I know Andrea awarded me a bloggy award a few weeks ago. So once I find it, I will be back to pass it along.

I haven't blogged about my favourite things since....while I can't remember when. I have noticed however, that neither has Amy. However, she has a lot on her mind lately with the adoption. Continue to pray for Amy and her family as they go through their adoption. Pray that God's love, grace and mercy can be witnessed throughout the process.

Lately my dear little boys have decided that waking up at 5:30 am or 6 am is a great idea. I think its a conspiracy against me. For those of you who don't know me, I am an night owl. I am NOT a morning person. When I attend studies regarding prayer, I am always annoyed at those who go on about getting up at 5 am to pray. I can pray and study God's word better when I'm awake and in a good mood at 1 pm.

Another thing about the morning is I really am not cognitive until I have that first cup of coffee. A few years ago, I used to not drink coffee and my best friend bugged me about it. Now I get it, Debbie. I sometimes refer to it as my children's salvation. They won't die if I have at least 1 cup a day. Ok, I know Jesus is their Saviour, but God created everything. Coffee is His special creation for all of us who need that lift. Now I know I am totally off topic, but my coffee maker isn't set to go off until 7 am when normal people get up. How do these boys expect me to deal with them until that time?

Hopefully, the boys will figure out that because the house is dark it is still time to sleep and that a happy mommy is one who can sleep in until the coffee maker beeps.

Colombian pastor martyred by guerillas

Pastor Manuel was shot and killed by Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas in San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia on September 21, according to VOMC's sister mission in the U.S.

When the guerrillas scheduled a visit with Pastor Manuel, he believed the meeting was in response to his request to officially have a church. However, when they arrived, Pastor Manuel was shot five times outside his home while his family was inside. One of the guerillas entered the house and yelled, "Make sure that dog stays dead." The guerillas then shot the pastor again, this time in the neck. His wife, Gloria, ran outside to the body of her martyred husband. She cleaned his face and she and her children dragged his body under a tree. She then grabbed her Bible and preached to those who came near. Her 10-year-old son tried to comfort her, saying, "Don't worry, Dad died for Christ and now he is with Christ."

Pastor Manuel and his wife had been pastoring a church in Chopal village, south of San Jose del Guaviare for about eight years. Many churches in the area had been closed by FARC guerrillas but Pastor Manuel decided to open the church regardless of the threats and risks. In April, he was part of an evangelistic event at which three FARC guerrillas and seven members of the paramilitary militia accepted Christ.

Praise God for this family's faith.

Ask God to comfort Pastor Manuel's wife and children.

Pray that Pastor Manuel's courageous testimony will draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Christ.

For those who don't know our Caffeinated Chieftain has been through the "wringer" the last 48 hours. Her son had to have his appendix out. Therefore, because I' m also having a day (not on her scale mind you) and because I think we all need a good laugh every day, I thought I would leave this e-mail that I got a few weeks ago from a friend.

A WOMAN'S WEEK AT THE GYM

Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, I purchased a week of personal training at the local health club. Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try. I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear. Friends seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.

Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god-- with blond hair, dancing eyes, and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!! Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines.. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today. Very inspiring! Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week!!

I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT! It's a whole new life for me.

The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn't try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot. Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members.. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying. My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.

Dracula was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn't help being a half an hour late-- it took me that long to tie my shoes. He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny witch to find me. Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine-- which I sank.

I hate that nasty Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic, little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it. Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don't have any triceps! And if you don't want dents in the floor, don't hand me the darn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich. The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn't it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?

I'm having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun-- like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

Christian woman kidnapped, believers assaulted in Egypt

A group of Coptic Christians in Alexandria were recently assaulted and arrested by Egyptian officials following an attempted rescue of a young Christian woman kidnapped by Muslims, according to an October 5 report from Assyrian International News Agency.

Ten months ago, 19-year-old Myrna Hanna was kidnapped and forced to marry a Muslim man. On September 30, she phoned her father, Gama Labib Hanna, and pleaded with him to rescue her. Hanna, his brother-in-law and another believer, Rafat Girges Habib, then went to Myrna's apartment where they were ambushed and threatened by her father-in-law along with five other Muslims. Myrna was eventually able to leave with her father. Her father-in-law immediately filed a report with authorities and Myrna's uncles and father were promptly charged with abduction and detained. They were all reportedly physically assaulted by authorities. The Hanna family's home was broken into by police and Habib's shop was demolished. Myrna's uncles were released in order to bring her to the police station, where she was handed back to her father-in-law. Her father was released from custody on October 2. The next day, authorities arrested a number of Habib's relatives and assaulted their wives. Officials continued to make arrests until Habib turned himself over to police.

Pray that Myrna will be released from her captors.

Ask God to sustain her and give her an added measure of strength, as she is six months pregnant.

Pray for the safety of Christian young people in Egypt. Pray that those kidnapped will be returned to their families and that they will maintain their Christian faith.

A Christian relief camp in Nandarigi village, Orissa state -- where several families fled following the outbreak of anti-Christian violence in August 2008 was bombed on September 27. Four Christians were seriously injured in the blast and the Hindu man that set off the bomb was killed. Five days earlier, the man had reportedly threatened Christians at the camp with violence, demanding that he be given food and shelter. He returned the night of the bombing and, in a heavily intoxicated state, physically assaulted two Christian boys and uttered more threats against the believers present. When the man slipped and fell, he accidentally detonated the bomb. Officials have claimed that Maoist militants were behind the attack but local Christians maintain that the bombing was planned and executed by Hindus.

Pray that the displaced Christians will continue to look to the Lord as their enduring source of strength, provision and wisdom.

Ask God to work in the hearts of Hindu militants targeting Christians so that they will repent and come to faith in Christ.

Sorry I haven't really written anything this week. I have been busy - baking, cooking, going to studies, etc........ Plus I have to fight now for time on the computer. My three year old is once again playing on the computer and when I try to remove him, I get pushed off.

I was planning on making my Brownie Bottom Cheesecake for this months Books, Blogs and Brownies, but I ended up making 3 different Amish Friendship Loaves and fresh bread. Hopefully, next month I'll be able to make my famous Cheesecake and then post it to my cooking blog Cooking with the Evil Twins.

I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait to read the next one and hope that they continue with the series. I enjoyed both perspectives, but have to agree with Andrea that I was intrigued with Sully's, however, I probably relate more with Demitria's as a woman regarding her relationship with her husband and her children. With Sully, once you find out his inner demons it reminds you that even though we suffer through things that the people around us also suffer.

I really could have cared less about who took the pictures. I mean it did close that part of the story line, but if I never found out I would have assumed through a PI. Demitria's and Rich's dilemma was typical of this situation. When one spouse cheats how the trust and respect is returned. So I guess you can tell by now that Sully's inner demons was the story line I wanted to stay with. I was intrigued as to why he left, what he was hiding, what he was suffering from and why he didn't open up about it.

Is it simply enough to be forgiven? No. We have to let go of the wrong we attributed to. We have to acknowledge our contribution in the wrong and accept it. But once forgiven if we continue to "stone" ourselves we carry the burden and continue to be beaten down by it. Once we accept the forgiveness and truly let it go, we can finally be free of the hurt and pain.

In high school I was a "geek." I was brutally tormented by my peers. For years, I could only think about my revenge - better job, better life, etc..... When I became a Christian my thought process changed. I started to think about meeting these people and seeing what happened to them. What had they done? How had they changed? There are still times I get angry and frustrated when I remember those days and people. But I have to remember that they are not who define me, I am not who defines me. Jesus defines me!