I cry out to You, Oh God!

My sweet, sweet Jesus. My precious Lord & Saviour.

"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call to you.

I call as my heart grows faint;

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe."

Psalm 61: 1-2

Father God, hear my pray and attend to my cry. I lift up my dear friend Carina and her family as they experience a new pain in the unexpected death of her father. I pray Psalm 61 for her. Lead her LORD to the rock that is higher than she.

I reviewed again Your promise that death WILL BE defeated and that death is the FINAL enemy and that CHRIST WILL PREVAIL and there will be death NO MORE. (1 Cor. 15:26 & Rev. 20:14). Your word is alive and powerful. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!

Dear God,

I pray also for my husband. He loves You. He trusts You. He needs You. God, as his earthly dad is soon leaving to join You in the heavenlies, prepare Ryan's heart to rejoice in the fact that Love never ends and to dwell in the knowledge that he (Ryan) is loved by his dad and that his dad is loved by You! Prepare a place for us, LORD, where we will dwell with You forever.

. . . Praise, I will praise You LORD with all my heart . . . let my eyes be focused on You. Let my words utter kindnesses from deep within regardless of any circumstance . . . praise You!

Chivalry or Shivalry (aka Pancakes)

Okay, this evening I will be soooo tired! Up early every morning (worked out - yea! Good for me!). Yesterday, met the BCO Ladies for lunch at Jillians - extremely good! An Italian grill which serves wood fired pizza etc... I had french onion soup & the signature salad. I love the soup because it reminds me of my mom taking me out when life was good and ignorance was in.
Anyway, went to the Newton Fire Dept for a tour with Melissa and her kids (Duane is a firefighter there). Really, really cool! Lorena's uncle is in the fire brigade in Germany so we got him a shirt and hopefully he will send one back to Duane! I am amazed at what they all do & have to know. Quite impressive!

So, the shivalry???? Went to Tara & Chad's at 11:00 pm for pancakes w/ mom & dad, Steve & Steph and kids. Quite a surprise. Quite fun. I will be quite tired I'm sure.

LORD, You are faithful. Bless me indeed. Indeed, let me blessing to others. Amen & Amen.

Lolly & the Girls

A brief run.down of Christmas tidings:

Manheim Steamroller - Kirk Office Party.

Ryan's Sr. Manager 40th Celebration.

R.D.'s Desk trashing.

KC Chiefs FB Game w/ Lolly, Dad, Duane & Melissa.

Erin & Emily's Christmas Concert.

Emily's 6th Birthday at Steve.Stephs.

Ellen Basketball games.

Library Board Christmas Gathering.

Bradbury Co Christmas Party.

Wed. Night Christmas Celebration.

Lolly's Winter Formal.

Piano & Dance Group Classes & Visitation.

New Spring's Christmas Eve Celebration w/ Yia Yia's Dinner beforehand.

Grandma Nikkel's Christmas Gathering.

Lorena Christmas Concert (Jamacian Noel was my favorite).

CLAY Christmas Caroling.

Christmas Eve at Eden (Ellen & Erin played piano solos & a duet).

Christmas Dinner serving in McPherson.

House Dilemas.

My favorite gift was from Lolly - a Marilyn Monroe calendar & a picture of Emily Michelle. Absolutely beautiful!!! Lolly is so talented and God, I praise You for her in our lives! I praise You in my own personal storm right now as well. You are so worthy. You are so Loving.

" . . . why do you say, O Jacob, and complain O Israel, 'my way is hidden from the LORD, my cause is disregarded by my God?'. Do you not know, have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired & weary and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall. But those who wait on the LORD will renew their strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint." Praise You LORD Jesus. King of Kings and LORD of Lords. You ARE Mighty to Save. Amen and amen.

My Favorites!

I have this pix in here because it's more fun to have a picture:) Love you miss Em!

This is what I gave the 11 ladies at SK's Annual Fav Party:

A Snuggie & some Parchment Paper with the following note ~

Hey Girls!

My fav’s this year are things to keep me warm--on the inside (use in baking) and on the outside (cover up).

Now, a few others:
Absolutely Love, Love, Love this song by Bryan Adams, Sting & Rod Stewart ~ All For Love. Seriously, I spent an absurd amount of money on this CD at an extreme emotional time for THIS SONG. Now, I can honestly say, it was worth it.

I love you.tube videos. I enjoyed 2 complete hours ‘you.tubing’ my favorite songs and watching them over & over (Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, Mark Schultz’s Closer to You, Phil Collins’ Against All Odds and so on . . . can you tell I am product of the 80’s???).

The very 1st cup of coffee in the morning. And, it’s much better if I’ve worked out, because then I eat something sweet with it!

Beth Moore bible studies – I can’t wait for her new one on James to come available.

Merry Christmas & God’s Blessing
on a wonderful New Year!

I thought it was a neat idea! SK gave a really cool plate - RED with the saying "Jesus is the Gift".

Other gifts included - Bath & Body, gum, honey, coffee mugs. Some I regifted (shhhh) and I gave my full permission to regift mine!

I still miss a good friend; however, very thankful I have one close by.

Ryan's 40th Surprise

This is the video I made for Ryan's 40th Birthday party - a surprise!
We had a quilt made from his old t-shirts. We went out to eat with the Mgmt Team at BCO (to an Italian Garden styled home, near Inman).
We did a surpise BD party - with full meal, quiz, roast, serenade (my dad impersonated Elvis & the girls were the Presley sisters) to the song "I've Been everywhere, Man" & video (which I feel honored his family very nicely).
We went to the KC Chiefs FB game the next day with my dad, Lorena and Duane & Melissa Helms - very COLD - Brrrrrrrr!
I survived the weekend.
I can't believe it! I told Ryan the next 'big one' we go somewhere!

Struggles & Thanks

11.22.10
I am Thankful. I have been saved by grace and God never grows tired or weary of me (Isaiah 40) and He will never disappoint me. Precious LORD, help me to learn the key to contentment; to satisfaction; to balance a desire to learn, grow, change, improve with the ability to stay, remain, be steady and content.
LORD, help me to not compare, to appreciate the things I have, but more importantly the people in my life. LORD, help me to forgive, to grace to move on to better things than being trapped in harmful mindsets & habits. LORD, thank You for Your Love and Grace over me and my family. LORD help me to run the race of perserverance and to get up each time I fall down. LORD thank You for Your Son, Jesus the Christ. Thank You for my freedom to love Him publicly and worship Him loudly. Thank You, LORD, for music that speaks to the heart of my soul. Thank You LORD for Ellen, Erin, Emily, Lorena, Ryan, Grandma, Mom, Dad, Shari, in-laws & out-laws, brothers & my sweet, sweet sister. Thank you, LORD, for giving me the ability to know & understand . . . that you are the "I AM". I rest in Your presence dear Jesus this day. Guide my feet, use my hands, speak from my mouth and live in my heart so boldly & so fully there is no room for ugliness--even in the recesses & corners. This day, Jesus, keep Your word in my thoughts; help me to practice 1st Cor. 10:5: making all thoughts obedient unto You and Your glory.
In the name of Jesus Christ, My, mine and mine again & again, my LORD. Amen.

Lorena Jonek