"I Love Chocolate" Giveaway!

If you've visited my blog within the last week or so, you know we've had some sad times at our house. I'd say it's time for something fun to balance things out. How about an "I Love Chocolate" Valentine's Day Giveaway??

You know me. I love chocolate, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Well, maybe a little ashamed, given the depth of my affection for it :) You can learn more about my chocolate obsessions by reading my pieces in the Life Notes issue going out this week (if you're not yet receiving it, sign-up is free and to the right).

Everyone who leaves a comment on this post by noon (CST) Feb. 13 will be included in a drawing for a $15 gift card to Godiva. If I don't know you personally or can't contact you via your own blog, you must include your email address in your comment to be eligible for the giveaway. For fun, tell me how much you love chocolate, and if you don't love chocolate, spill the beans on the tasty treat you do love.

Something else I'm not ashamed to admit? I love Jesus. He died so that I -- and you -- might live. I pray that my affection for Him grows deeper with each passing day. Anyone else?

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10

*Flickr photo by lovejanine

**Thank you so much for your prayers for our family during our loss of Don's mother. God blessed us in so many ways. I appreciate each one of you!

In Memory: Frances Barker

Our Energizer Bunny, the little lady who defied the odds time after time, passed away shortly before noon on Monday, January 24th. Don's mother will forever live in our hearts and memories and shine as an example of perseverance, determination, spunk, strength, and pure grit. In fact, her life was the "True Grit" movie we will remember.

Live on in heaven, Energizer Bunny! We miss you now but look forward to the day we'll see you once again...

"Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;" John 11:25

*Mom's memorial service will be Saturday the 29th at 2 p.m. Thank you so much for all your prayers. They have been -- and continue to be -- such a help. Thank you!

Prayers, Please

*Update: Don's mom passed away today (Monday) shortly before noon. We are so thankful that she is no longer hurting and struggling but would appreciate your prayers for the family. Saying goodbye is never easy...

Instead of a regular post today, I need to ask for your prayers. If you've been following my blog for long, you know Don's mom has struggled through crisis after crisis with her renal failure and other serious issues.

We call her our Energizer Bunny because she routinely defies the odds and just keeps going and going. I'm sad to report that our Energizer Bunny has run out of steam and is in her last days.

As of today, she doesn't seem to be in pain any longer. Please join us in praying for a painless, peaceful passing for her. We would appreciate your prayers for the entire family as well. Many of you know through personal experience what a difficult time this is.

Thank you for your prayers!

"We give thanks to God always for you all..." 1 Thessalonians 1:2a KJV

*Flickr photo by josephpetepickle

**The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out next week. Sign up is free and to the right.

Winter Comfort

Sometimes winter visits our souls at the same time it visits our neighborhoods. If you happen to be feeling the gray of the season in your spirit today, I pray that God will minister some winter comfort to you through the following poem I wrote several years ago. Be blessed, my friends, as you read:

The Wintertime

“O Lord, I need a touch from You
For it’s wintertime in my soul,
I feel so lonely and discouraged,
Extra stress has taken its toll.

Lord, it’s even winter outside
And the gray, cold days mirror my heart,
Father, please speak peace to me
And lovingly give me a fresh new start.”

As I finished my prayer
His voice I longed to hear,
But instead His touch I saw—
Snowflakes started to appear!

Silent snowflakes, pure and white,
Came drifting gently down,
Making the wintertime a wonderland—
God spoke to me without a sound.

“'I, even I, am he who comforts you...'" Isaiah 51:12a

*Flickr photo by lalofont

**The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early February. Sign up is free and to the right!

Never Give Up

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

Have you ever felt like giving up in your prayers for a certain person or about a particular issue? Maybe his or her heart seems too hard to ever desire a change or maybe that issue seems impossible and beyond all reasonable hope. You may feel like your prayers aren't making a difference at all.

We've probably all experienced discouraging thoughts like these about some of our prayer efforts. When we grow discouraged, when we grow weary in our prayers, let's remember that "...nothing is impossible with God." (Luke 1:47)

The next time we lose heart, let's be honest with the Lord and ask Him to refresh us. Let's share our burdens with one another and encourage each other. Let's determine to keep looking for the harvest. Let's determine to never give up.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

*If you have a prayer request you'd like to share, please feel free to share it in the comments. I'd like to ask your prayers for my mother-in-law. Her ongoing serious health problems kicked into high gear again on Christmas Eve, and she is not doing well at all. Please pray that things can go as easily as possible for her.

*Flickr photo by http://www.flickr.com/photos/angel_ina/

**The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early February. Sign up is free and to the right!

Reading: It's Always in Season!

Winter has arrived full force, and some things just aren't in season. Swimming, gardening, shorts, and flip-flops will all have to wait for another day -- a warmer day. But reading? Reading is always in season.

Since winter has a way of inspiring us all to curl up with a good book, I thought it might be fun to once again talk about what we're currently reading and to share what we'd like to read in the coming months. I'll go first :)

I'm about to finish A Sweetness to the Soul by Jane Kirkpatrick, a book I won last year in a promotion by WaterBrook Multnomah. It's categorized as a Western so I might not have chosen it on my own, but I've enjoyed the read nonetheless. Not too surprising given the fact that it won the prestigious Western Heritage Wrangler Award for Outstanding Western Novel of 1995.

My reading list for the coming year is growing quite lengthy since I've been downloading free books right and left to my new Kindle :) Don't worry, though, I'll still be reading plenty of regular print books, too. I'm not about to give those up.

In fact, I just bought Susan Meissner's White Picket Fences last week when I ran across a copy for $3. Couldn't pass that up. It was cheaper than I can get it on my Kindle right now, plus I still love the feel of a regular book. I'm anxious to read another by Susan since I enjoyed The Shape of Mercy so much. I just might have to dive into White Picket Fences next -- if I can hold off the urge to start reading on my Kindle :)

I've downloaded several classics, all the way from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women to Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist, and I've also found several books from the past few years temporarily available for free download. My problem now will be deciding what to read next!

So now it's your turn. What are you currently reading? What do you hope to read this year? By the way, I've downloaded three versions of the Bible to my Kindle as well. Let's pray God's Word is always on our reading lists helping us to "...be prepared in season and out of season..." (2 Timothy 4:2)

Aren't you thankful that reading -- and the Word of God -- are always in season? I know I am.

*Flickr photo by Zitona

**The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, will come out in early February. Sign up is free and to the right!

New Year, New Tricks

You know the old saying about old dogs and new tricks, right? Well, the new year has found this old... fashioned gal :) needing to learn a new trick or two.

Not only did my husband get me a Kindle for Christmas, but we bought our first-ever brand new car over the holidays (photos below for your viewing pleasure :)). It was time for an update, and we decided to splurge on brand new in honor of our 35th wedding anniversary last month.

Getting new things is always fun, but in today's world a new purchase many times means some sort of new technology to master as well. And for us old... fashioned folks :), that can mean quite the learning curve along with a measure of frustration. So even though I'm technologically challenged, I'm determined to do my best to learn the new tricks needed to stay at least half-way current with today's world -- and our recent purchases :)

I've already learned how to download books (the free ones!) to my Kindle and now I need to learn the ins and outs of navigating all its features so I can make the most of it. I'm also busy getting acquainted with our new car but still need to figure out how to input phone numbers for its hands-free Bluetooth technology. Oh my, Calgon, take me away! :)

Did any new gadgets come your way this Christmas that have you needing to learn some new tricks? Or do you have a goal this year of acquiring a new skill? If you're feeling a little overwhelmed or frustrated at the prospect of it all, remember to call on our Heavenly Father for help. Remember, He specializes in new things!

"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19

*Flickr photo above by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com; our photos below of our 2011 Nissan Altima.

Putting Christmas Away

If you're like me, this past weekend found you putting Christmas away. Since I love having our tree up as well as our other Christmas decorations, it's a chore I delay until New Year's Day. I soak up every moment of the beauty until the calendar tells me it's time to say goodbye to Christmas for another year.

I've discovered something, though. Even though we may have to pack away the lights and garland and precious ornaments, we don't have to put Christmas away completely. We can hang on to the spirit of the season all year long.

We can continue to reach out to those less fortunate, continue to wish strangers well, and continue to cherish our family and friends and shower our love on them. In our personal worship, we can hold on to the wonder of our Savior's birth, to the enormity of His love for us.

Last year I held on to the chorus of "O Come All Ye Faithful" and made it part of my worship time all year long as I changed the words to "I come and I adore you". I'll probably do the same this year because Christmas is not the only time to come and adore the Savior, is it?

What will you do to keep from putting Christmas away entirely? Join me, won't you, and hang on to the spirit of the season throughout the year. God's love can make every season bright!

"And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. " 1 John 1:4-5 KJV

*Flickr photo by mccheek

A New Year's Blessing

As we begin a new year together, may I pray these blessings from the Word of God over you? I so appreciate each of you and want the very best for you this year. So from me to you --

"'The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.'" Numbers 6:24-26

"May the LORD answer you when you are in distress...May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed." Psalm 20:1a, 4

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Corinthians 13:14

"May the God of peace...equip you with everything good for doing his will..." Hebrews 13:20a, 21a

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way..." 2 Thessalonians 3:16a

Amen and amen. Have a wonderful 2011!

*Flickr photo by LadyDragonflyCC - Tinsel Time!!!