Happy Blue Birthday

I'm a little late in posting this, but I was looking for a picture of our daughter to post because today is her birthday. As I was looking at old birthday pictures, I ran across this one of her with a blue elephant birthday cake that was taken many years ago. I won't say how many. Then I thought, I'll share this for her birthday and also for Blue Monday.

Hubby posted about her birthday on his blog with an up-to-date photo of her. You can view it by clicking HERE. She has always been such a joy for both of us.

Happy Birthday to Carol!

Happy Blue Monday Everybody!

Of course Sally is our hostess for Blue Monday each week. You can go to her blog by clicking HERE.

The End of the Road Is But a Bend in the Road

As you already know, I love poems by Helen Steiner Rice. Today for Spiritual Sundays I've chosen another one of her poems to share. It's called The End of the Road Is But a Bend in the Road. So many times in this life we feel like we've come to the end of our road, when in reality it is just a bend in the road, and you never know what wonderful blessings may be just around the bend. I hope you enjoy this poem as much as I do.

When we feel we have nothing left to give

and we are sure that the "song has ended"

When our day seems over and the shadows fall

and the darkness of night has descended

Where can we find the hand that will dry

the tears that the heart is crying --

There's but one place to go and that is to God

and, dropping all pretense and pride,

We can pour out our problems without restraint

and gain strength with Him at our side --

And together we stand at life's crossroads

and view what we think is the end,

But God has a much bigger vision

and He tells us it's ONLY A BEND --

For the road goes on and is smoother,

and the "Praise in the song" is a "rest,"

And the part that's unsung and unfinished

is the sweetest and richest and best --

So rest and relax and grow stronger,

LET GO and LET GOD share your load,

Your work is not finished or ended,

you've just come to a bend in the road.

- Helen Steiner Rice

P.S. Everyone is welcome to participate in the Spiritual Sundays meme. Click HERE to learn more.

LIMO FOR RENT

We saw this limousine Saturday as we were driving to a memorial service at our former church. I was glad I had my camera in my purse. I learned some time ago to always keep it with me because you never know when a strange looking limo might show up.

Who is Micey?

If you follow the Spiritual Sundays blog, you most likely know the answer to the question in the title of this post. If you don't know Michelle (Micey) I hope you will go to her blog and get acquainted. She recently changed the title of her blog to Stepping Out In Faith To The Nations. For several years now she has had her heart set on being a missionary, and now that dream is about to be fulfilled. Those of us who have followed her blog know that she has been a "missionary" for a long time, just not in a foreign land. Now she is looking forward to serving in Africa.

So, why am I writing my Spiritual Sundays post about Micey, who is also a friend of mine on Facebook? I have been inspired by her love for the Lord, her dedication, her testimony on her blog, and I want you to be inspired too. And, I want you to pray for her as she makes life-changing decisions and steps out in faith to follow the dream that God has placed in her heart.

You can click HERE to go to Micey's blog.

Romans 10:14-15 14 But before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in him; and before they can believe in him, they must hear about him; and for them to hear about the Lord, someone must tell them;15 and before someone can go and tell them, that person must be sent. It is written, "How beautiful is the person who comes to bring good news." (NCV)

You can click HERE to go to the Spiritual Sundays blog for links to other spiritual/inspirational posts. We hope you will want to participate as well. You will find instructions there on how to do it.

HIGHWAY TO SEDONA

I snapped this picture as we were driving up to Sedona a few days ago. Isn't it beautiful? I also took a new picture for the header of the Spiritual Sundays blog. It's the same chapel on the side of the hill but this one I took standing outside the car. The other one I shot through the side window as we were driving by it.

REUNION & AN AWARD

Hi Everybody. We just spent a couple of days in beautiful Sedona, AZ attending a high school reunion. I wrote about it this morning on my other blog and posted photos. If you're interested, you can click HERE to see that post.

Now I want to thank Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage and Inspirations for the lovely blogger award. Like Sandi, I want to pass it on to any and all of my blogging friends who are reading this right now. You know who you are. Here's the award.

IS THE NOBEL PRIZE A "NOBLE" PRIZE?

The majority of those polled believe this was political. What do you think?

I found the following article on the Fox Nation website.

What are the Nobel Prize Committee Chairman's Socialist Ties?

With the choice of President Obama for the Nobel Peace Prize inspiring such widespread befuddlement, it seems worthwhile to ask, just who are these people who made this choice, and what might their agenda be?
Accompanying news stories on the award were photos of a smiling Thorbjorn Jagland, chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, admiringly hold a photo of the U.S. president.

This is the man who spoke gushingly about the hope Obama has inspired. Who is Thorbjorn Jagland?

Some stories have reported that he is the former prime minister of Norway, and that he was the leader of the Norwegian Labor Party for 10 years. But he recently completed an even more interesting 10-year tenure.

From 1999 through 2008, Jagland was vice president of Socialist International. What’s that? It’s exactly what the name suggests – an international organization of socialist groups who advocate for far left policies. It also boasts of “consultative status” with the United Nations.

Everybody Everywhere Needs Somebody Sometime

Everybody Everywhere Needs Somebody Sometime is the title of one of Helen Steiner Rice's poems. I was just reading the poem, and thought "that is so true." I want to share it with you today for Spiritual Sundays.

Everybody, everywhere,

no matter what his station,

Has moments of deep loneliness

and quiet desperation.

For this lost and lonely feeling

is inherent in mankind--

It is just the Spirit speaking

as God tries again to find

An opening in the "worldly wall"

man builds against God's touch,

For he feels so self-sufficient

that he does not need God much,

So he vainly goes on struggling

to find some explanation

For these disturbing, lonely moods

of inner isolation . . .

But the answer keeps eluding him

for in his selfish finite mind

He does not even recognize

that he cannot ever find

The reason for life's emptiness

unless he learns to share

The problems and the burdens

that surround him everywhere --

But when his eyes are opened

and he looks with love at others

He begins to see not strangers

but understanding brothers . . .

So open up your hardened hearts

and let God enter in --

He only wants to help you

a new life to begin . . .

And every day's a good day

to lose yourself in others

And anytime a good time

to see mankind as brothers,

And this can only happen

when you recognize it's true

that everyone needs someone

and that someone is you!

-Helen Steiner Rice

And speaking of friends, there is no other friend like Jesus. He's the greatest friend of all, so if Jesus is not your friend, you need to make that your number one priority to get to know this wonderful Savior. Reading other posts in Spiritual Sundays will be helpful, and of course, the Bible is the best place to go.

I hope you will go to our Spiritual Sundays blog for links to more spiritual/inspirational posts. If you want to participate, you can find the instructions there as well.

ANOTHER BIRTHDAY

No, today is not my birthday. Tomorrow is. Just like a little kid, I couldn't wait. I intended to post this tomorrow but decided to go ahead and post today. I started celebrating last night and will continue on through tomorrow. Why make just one day of it?

Last night our kids took us to the Outback Steak House for dinner and then afterwards to their house for dessert. Carol had baked a peach cobbler in the new Le Creuset pan which was one of my gifts. Here are a couple of pictures.

Of course I wanted a picture of me holding the beautiful pan holding my beautiful peach cobbler. Oh, and what was in the box? Another smaller Le Creuset pan, and lovely potholder (glove type) and kitchen towel from Sur la Table.

I'll continue celebrating tomorrow which is my actual birthday. Hubby has already told me he's taking me out to breakfast and lunch. He's getting me a computer program I've been wanting. Life is good.

TWO BROWNIES

My daughter and I were both Brownie Scouts. I thought it would be kind of interesting to show our photos in our uniforms side by side. My picture on the left was a school picture back in the 40s. Carol's was taken in the 60s. I think we looked a lot alike. People say we still do. I consider that a compliment.