Blogger School Assignment #17

Our assignment from NANCY :   "What I want everyone to do is to go to this Wall of Prayer and either list someone you know to pray for or just pledge to pray for anyone or any family...especially for WIVES and FAMILY MEMBERS of service people."

I chose this soldier.  It touched my heart because I am a sister of 2 Army soldiers (both honorably discharged after their tour of duty was completed).  I remember the constant worry as they were off serving our country.  I copied this from the Wall of Prayer:

Service Member: Eric Cole

Comments: He just enlisted Leaves for basic training March 18.  He is only 18.  My best friend, my brother and I will miss him dearly.  They have already told him once he finishes his basic that he will go over to the war. Keep him in your prayers please.

Blogger School Assignment #16

To join Blogger Friend School visit Nancy's Blog.

"This week you are given $1000 PRETEND online spending money! The rules are simple for this assignment. Using ANY online store…write out a shopping list of what you would buy!  You can even post pictures of the items you're buying, if you want, it's not required.  These things should be things for YOURself ONLY!

List the name of the website with a link and include product item # and cost…you must use all your $1000 without going over!  As a bonus every commentator will have their name put in a basket and I will draw three names of people who have signed the Linky and commented to receive a special prize in the mail from me!  Have fun and my assignment is below as well."

I've actually had an ongoing list of things I need to purchase when we get the money, so this one was pretty easy to do.

I would purchase a much needed computer from Dell.com.

Dell Inspiron Laptop — $799.00

Then I would order this laminator from  Ebay for $196.85 (with shipping) so I could keep my precious keepsakes from my daughter safe.

GRAND TOTAL:  $995.85

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." – Matthew 6:33

Blogger School Assignment #15

You can find the weekly BFS assignments at  Nancy's Nook.

The assignment was to tell a tale about the family button collection.  I have a mason jar that is slowly filling with buttons, but my collection was inspired by a lady in our former church.  We all referred to her as the "button queen" although I was never really sure why.  I had worked with her 4 children for years.  They were such neat kids!  I loved teaching them.  We'd spend hours after classes just discussing things that were going on in each of their lives.  Sometimes I'd order a pizza and we'd spend Sunday afternoon at the church together talking & playing games.  I treasure those memories.

Back to the buttons...It was the night before my DH & I were to have our photo taken for the newspaper engagement announcement.  I had a really pretty ivory dress suit.  The top had a beautiful scalloped bottom with lovely lace and it was longer in the back than in the front.  The skirt had the same scalloped bottom with lace as the top.  I LOVED that suit!  I was laying it out so that it would all be ready to go in the morning when I discovered that a button was missing on the top.  I frantically searched everywhere for that button, but could not find it anywhere.  My Grandmother was out of town (she had the button collection in our family).  I didn't know what to do.

Then I remembered Peg, the button queen.  This lady was (& still is) one of the sweetest, most humble servants of God that I have ever been blessed to know.  She was the one who did so much around the church that went unnoticed.  She was a silent servant – never seeking praise or blowing her own horn.  She was always prepared to step in and teach if someone was sick.  She was just a wonderful ray of sunshine!

So, I called Peg.  It was now around 8:00 p.m.  She said to come right over & not to worry – we'd figure something out.  Now this was such a blessing to me because, although I'd been the right hand gal for so many of my friends when they were getting married, I didn't really have that when it was my turn.  They'd all moved on in their lives.  I was on my own.

When I got to her house she whisked me down to her basement.  It was there that I discovered why she was called the "button queen" at church.  She had a shelf that went all the way around her basement that was full of mason jars.  These jars were filled with every sort of button you could imagine!  She had them organized by color, size, style...it was unbelievable!

It only took us about 5 minutes to find a button that matched the others on my top.  However, Peg had something else in mind.  She pulled down a beautiful antique music box.  Inside she kept her most treasured buttons.  There were 4 buttons that were just so exquisite!  They were mother of pearl with tiny, sparkling rhinestones surrounding them.  They were gorgeous!  She laid them against my top & they instantly transformed that suit into a true bridal ensemble.  I asked her where she had acquired such gorgeous buttons and she told me that they were from her great-grandmother's wedding gown.  Once I heard that I told her that I couldn't accept them.  She ignored me & proceeded to remove the buttons from my suit & replace them with her precious buttons.  They were the perfect size.

When she was done I was crying because I couldn't believe that she would allow me to use something that was so precious to her.  I'll never forget what she said.  "These buttons are very special to me, but you are more special.  All I'm giving you are buttons.  You've given so many hours to my children.  How can 4 buttons ever pay you back for that?"

She gave me buttons, but more than that she had showered me with love.  She didn't know it at the time, but I was really needing that act of kindness.  I was feeling abandoned by friends who were not "on board" with my choice to marry my DH even though I had stood by them & their choices.  I was overwhelmed by trying to plan a wedding in just four months because DH had won a honeymoon & we only had until June 30th to take it or it would be lost.  I truly needed a random act of kindness, and it came in the form of four oval shaped buttons.

Matthew 25:34-40

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;  I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’"

So technically I wasn't naked, but Peg did clothe me that night with her love & generosity...& 4 buttons!

Blogger School Assignment #13: Meet My Bible

Blogger School Assignment #12

Assignment: Write out some goals that you would like to accomplish. These goals should include your personal goals, but also goals as a family.

While setting goals, try to write out small attainable rewards for each goal accomplished!

I have a problem doing this assignment.  I've never been one to cop out of doing homework with some lame excuse.  I was always the girl who did extra work like write 10 pages when only 2 were required...you know, the geek.

I used to set goals for myself all the time.  Being a perfectionist, I would work hard to reach each & every goal at work, in ministry, at home...but things have changed.

This year has been a tough one.  The reality of having MS has set in.  I had managed to put it out of my mind while I was caring for my Dad before he died, then caring for my Mom as she mourned.  With the multiple attacks of this disease this year came the huge REALITY  CHECK in my life -- I have MS and I can't pretend it's not there any longer!

Most of the goals I had for this year are still not accomplished.  It would be much easier to set goals if I knew that from February 10th to March 28th I would not be able to walk, or during the month of June I wouldn't be able to use my hands.  That's not how this works though.

So, I guess my main goal this upcoming year is to set smaller, more attainable goals and not beat myself up if I don't reach them in my time frame.  Here's what I have so far:

1. Prayerfully God will reveal the ministry He wants me to do.  I have focused too much on the ministry I've had to leave behind due to the MS.  It's time to move forward and to be faithful in the work He has for me to do.  Reward – Heavenly one.
2. Be more bold in telling others about Christ.  Reward – Heavenly one.
3. Relax over Gigi's schooling.  She can sense when I'm tense over not reaching a certain point by the end of our school day.  Reward – a happier, better educated child and a calmer me.
4. Faithfully keep our weekly Family Nights in play (family game night, family movie night, family ministry night).  Reward – prayerfully keeping our family close.
5. Prayerfully make a close friend who lives nearby.  My friends all moved away and I really am feeling lonely for a girlfriend.  My best friend (DeeDee) lives in England, so I can't just pop over there whenever I want to chat!  My closest friend is about an hour and a half away.  We only manage to see each other about four times a year.  I'd like to have someone who I could do a girls night with or scrapbook with.  (I love my blogger friends...just needing someone I can hug for real.)  Reward – not sure...perhaps another splash of joy in my life?

I realize I used the word "prayerfully" many times above.  That's because I know I can only do so much on my own.  I desperately NEED God.  He's in control of my life and I'm much happier when I'm not fighting Him along the way!

Stacey

Countdowns