ICED IN!

We are getting slammed by a major ice storm. Right now we are without electricity, but have a generator, so I'm posting while I can, you may not hear from me for several days. We have limbs down all over the yard, and dead (thankfully) power lines across the driveway and county road.

We slid to Mom's to get her because she was without electricity, too, so we're all here together, at least we have tv for a little while! Say a prayer for all the people in our area, we have power poles that have been snapped like matchsticks, and power lines down everywhere you look. The square at Salem looks like a bomb has gone off, no tree is intact. Casey is still at work (North Arkansas Electric) and called to tell me not to expect her home for a couple of days, the Co-op is feeding them and they are taking shifts answering phones. I just pray that this storm ends soon so the electric guys can start repairing and replacing power poles and lines. The power crews just had to give up today because as soon as they got a line fixed the ice formed on it in another place and it broke again. They can't get out to our rural areas until the storm is over. We've been told not to expect power for at least 3 days, but probably more. We have no water, either, but I did draw up enough to get us through.

I have my cell phone, if anyone wants to call, though! LOL As long as we can get to gasoline we will have heat with the generator.

Read the Bible through

Week 4
I didn't post yesterday because I spent most of the day in the bed, but it's better late than never. Here are the readings for this week.

Sunday - Romans 7-8
Monday - Genesis 12-15
Tuesday - Joshua 16-20
Wednesday - Psalm 9-11
Thursday - Job 7-8
Friday - Isaiah 18-22
Saturday - Matthew 8-10

Miracles

I heard someone say once that God isn't in the business of miracles anymore, WRONG! He IS still in the business of miracles, we just have to acknowledge Him and quit trying to explain it away with science. Accept His miracles or He may stop trying to make them happen in your life!

Why did I say that? Because, right now, in Tulsa, OK, in St. Francis Hospital, there is a little 9lb 12oz miracle. Intrigued? I thought so, so go here and read Kelly's blog about her baby girl, Harper.

Look out boys, Mamma's got some clippers!

I'm not having a bad hair day, I'm having a bad hair month! I was all set for a new Christmas 'do, (had the appointment on Christmas Eve), but fate had other plans. I've gotten calls from stylists to let me know they were sick or had an appointment and needed to reschedule me, but Kathy (the best stylist, ever!) called December 21st to let me know she was going to have to reschedule me, but the date was uncertain. No one really knew there was a water line that ran through the ceiling, but they know now. Those first really cold days caused it to freeze, and the warm days that followed....well, you can guess what happened next. I can imagine the shock on their faces when the entire ceiling, lights and all, and gallons and gallons of water came crashing down! Thankfully they reopened Tuesday and I should get this mangy mass of unruliness lopped off next week. Too bad they didn't reopen in time to save my boys' manes. Yes, I decided they needed haircuts, and rather than find someone else to do it, I just bought some clippers. Cheap clippers. I got half of hubby's head clipped and had to recharge them. I really should have taken a picture of that one, he was sporting a mullet to rival Billy Ray for about half an hour. (okay, not that long in the back...but it was getting there) Being the resourceful mom I am, I parked hubby on a bench on the deck in 17 degree weather and proceeded to cut his hair. I have to say, it looks pretty darn good....for an amateur barber. Next on the list was the #2 son, the little one. I can manhandle him enough to get his hair done. I did have more compassion and make him sit outside: I parked him on the bathroom vanity, and started buzzing. He's 4, so hair or not, he's still going to be cute. Hubby has finally caught a little of my photography bug, so he snapped a few while I was working him over.

Week 3, read the Bible through

I just realized I forgot to post this week's readings, so here they are.

Sunday - Romans 5-6
Monday - Genesis 8-11
Tuesday - Joshua 11-15
Wednesday - Psalm 6-8
Thursday - Job 5-6
Friday - Isaiah 12-17
Saturday - Matthew 5-7

Prayers for a baby girl

Please say a prayer for baby Harper. She was born Friday weighing in at 9lbs, 12oz. She has pneumonia and was taken to a NICU. Her family has requested prayers as things are very critical. She was scheduled to be placed on an ECMO (heart/lung bypass) machine, but the last news I had, she was responding to other treatment (prayers at work)and was taken off the list for the ECMO. You can read more about Harper on her mom's blog here or on her grandad's blog here

I believe in the power of prayer, and I believe in miracles.

Week 2 - read the Bible through

I'd planned on posting several times this week, but it's been another busy one. Our semester tests were Monday & Tuesday due to a couple of snow days before Christmas. Wednesday night was Awanas & church, and I had to talk a little while afterward, and Thursday we took Austin to the allergy clinic in Little Rock. I guess it just wore me out! We did find out that he's allergic to dust mites, and pet dander, along with most pollen from the various plants & trees we have in the area. He also has mild asthma, but we're loaded up on asthma meds and will begin allergy shots in a couple of weeks.

Now to the good stuff, the readings for this week:

Sunday - Romans 3-4
Monday - Genesis 4-7
Tuesday - Joshua 6-10
Wednesday - Psalm 3-5
Thursday - Job 3-5
Friday - Isaiah 7-11
Saturday - Matthew 3-4

I got a little ahead this week because I just couldn't stop reading some of the passages. I went all the way through Job 8, and read from Matthew 1-4. When you look at the scriptures with fresh eyes and really try to get a mental picture of the happenings, it makes such a difference. Honestly, it was like reading a great novel to me, I just couldn't put it down! I pray that God will give me a zeal to really dig in to the scriptures and to make it real and personal to me. I pray the same for you.

Read the Bible through

Sunday - Romans 1-2
Monday - Genesis 1-3
Tuesday - Joshua 1-5
Wednesday -Psalm 1-2
Thursday - Job 1-2
Friday - Isaiah 1-6
Saturday - Matthew 1-2


As in most churches across the country, we, as Christians, are being challenged to read the Bible completely through in 2009. So many times I have made this resolution, and so many times I've gotten to the books where you have long lists of "begat a son....and the son begat....and begat...and begat..." until the only word I recall from the passage is begat. Then discouragement sets in and I think, "Maybe I'll skip this book." so I usually do, then I get behind, then something comes up and I don't get to read my Bible like I should. You know the old long list of excuses. This year, however, I am challenging myself to stick to it, to read the Bible completely through in a year. Not only am I challenging myself, but our pastor is challenging the whole church. He has even created a handy checklist and reading plan for our convenience. (talk about being spoon fed...I depend on that spoon.) Each Sunday I will do my best to post my list for the week. I hope you can join me and help hold me accountable to read the Bible through this year. And just in case you can't find the post, it will be the one with the Bible (because you know me, I hate to post without a picture!)

***OH, and one more thing, I challenge you to read your Bible for the true history book it is. Put yourself in the places of the people. Think more deeply about the lives and how they managed from day to day. What are some of the struggles of these people. They were REAL flash and blood and their voices should still be heard. If God thought we should know about them don't you think it's worth putting all your effort into?

New addition

I hadn't seen my sweet, new nephew in 4 days, so I had to have a baby fix this afternoon. Of course, I had my camera. It's so nice to have family on whom I can practice photography. I've never taken newborn shots, but I'll get to take Landon's pictures in a few more days. Logan is proud of him, too. I need to get him a t-shirt that says, "I'm the BIG cousin!" He's 4 1/2 and does not like it when someone calls him the "baby cousin", the first thing he said when he saw Landon was, "Now I'm not the baby!" I love the shot of Logan's hand and Landon's foot.