Hi Girls,
Boy, have I blown it this week with the blog, forgive me!!! I came home from the retreat and was just pooped and then I have been fighting off a cold all week. by last night, I barely had a voice for Small Group. I'm ashamed to admit that I have given in, thrown up a white flag of surrender and have tried for the most part, to rest this week. Unfortunately, things have fallen by the wayside, the blog being one of them!! So much for "finishing strong"!!!
Since tomorrow is Saturday this is gonna be my last entry. I have savored our journey and have really enjoyed getting to know some of you better. Thanks for hanging in there with me. I know 90 days makes for a long study, but hopefully we will all take some gems from this experience away with us and continue on the path to becoming "women that God wants us to be" (I speak for myself when I say I'm far from that finish line).
If you walked this journey for the past 90 days you have now establish a daily TAG, keep up the good work. Donna has a couple of other books out there that make good companions for your TAG (check out her website). Remember, if you need encouragement, I'm as close as your e-mail.
I've enjoyed our journey~
Nola
Friday, October 10, 2008
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Day 86
I had a bit of a rough start to this week, so I'm afraid I never got to the blog yesterday. The retreat was awesome, but quite frankly left me a bit tired! So I slugged my way through yesterday, got to bed early last night and am now back on track!
And that bring us to "Day 86"!!!
I really liked today's lesson. I love the whole idea of finishing strong, but without a Caleb Heart I don't really see the point. Ron and I are blessed to still have all 4 of our parents with us, although I gotta tell ya watching them age has not always been fun.
My dad, who is 85, is giving it all he has to finish strong, in spite of having a major stroke last November. We were blessed to spend some time with them (they live in AZ) a week ago and although it was hard to see my little daddy moving very slowly and dragging his right foot, he is a fine example of having a Caleb Heart. It may be hard for him to get around, but his spirit is still in tack. At this point in his life, I am grateful for each year the Lord gives me with him, but I am most gratful for his attitude and cheerful spirit.
Here's to not only finishing strong, but doing in such a way that we give glory to God all the days of our lives!!
Nola
And that bring us to "Day 86"!!!
I really liked today's lesson. I love the whole idea of finishing strong, but without a Caleb Heart I don't really see the point. Ron and I are blessed to still have all 4 of our parents with us, although I gotta tell ya watching them age has not always been fun.
My dad, who is 85, is giving it all he has to finish strong, in spite of having a major stroke last November. We were blessed to spend some time with them (they live in AZ) a week ago and although it was hard to see my little daddy moving very slowly and dragging his right foot, he is a fine example of having a Caleb Heart. It may be hard for him to get around, but his spirit is still in tack. At this point in his life, I am grateful for each year the Lord gives me with him, but I am most gratful for his attitude and cheerful spirit.
Here's to not only finishing strong, but doing in such a way that we give glory to God all the days of our lives!!
Nola
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Day 81
First off, my apologies girls, this Friday is our retreat and I have been slammed with last minute details!! Organization, anti-procrastination and time management have always been a challenge for me. I have been reading everyday though and have reaped some good gems out of this week's study.
Today's lesson on foolishness has hit close to home. We once co-signed for a loan and it came back to bite us in the end!! The good news is we learned at a young age in our married lives not to do that again. We have been asked many times to help bail a friend out here or a family member there and after much prayer and some thought we either do or we don't, but our mindset these days is never to give it unless we don't need it back. We always set up a payment plan and have been fortunate with re-payment, but we never give unless we can live without the funds being returned.
Nola
Today's lesson on foolishness has hit close to home. We once co-signed for a loan and it came back to bite us in the end!! The good news is we learned at a young age in our married lives not to do that again. We have been asked many times to help bail a friend out here or a family member there and after much prayer and some thought we either do or we don't, but our mindset these days is never to give it unless we don't need it back. We always set up a payment plan and have been fortunate with re-payment, but we never give unless we can live without the funds being returned.
Nola
Monday, September 29, 2008
Week 12
Well, was I the only one or did you find today's lesson a bit on the depressing side? I agree with everything she was saying, but the thought of living until I'm 100 and more then likely reaching that ripe ole age without Ron is not a pleasant thought to me.
That being said, I will admit that Ron and I have a plan in place for both retirement and in the event that the Lord choice to make me a widow. Planning for retirement has not always been fun for me, I'm a live for the moment kinda gal!! LOL!! But as we draw closer to it, I'm grateful that the Lord gave me a husband who was wise enough to know and understand the important of it early on (even if he had a cranky wife). Our reality is that Ron could retire in as little as 10 years from now it is a nice feeling knowing that we will not be a burden to our kids!
All that said, it is wise to plan ahead and in so doing being able to laugh at the future.
Nola
That being said, I will admit that Ron and I have a plan in place for both retirement and in the event that the Lord choice to make me a widow. Planning for retirement has not always been fun for me, I'm a live for the moment kinda gal!! LOL!! But as we draw closer to it, I'm grateful that the Lord gave me a husband who was wise enough to know and understand the important of it early on (even if he had a cranky wife). Our reality is that Ron could retire in as little as 10 years from now it is a nice feeling knowing that we will not be a burden to our kids!
All that said, it is wise to plan ahead and in so doing being able to laugh at the future.
Nola
Friday, September 26, 2008
Day 75
Hard to believe we have been at this for 75 days!! We only have two more weeks, are you still out there?
Today's lesson brought back a sweet memory. When I was in high school, I was a part of a youth choir at our church. We would practice all fall and winter and then in during the spring, we would go on "tour". We would perform at local church churches and then at the end of our season we would go away for the weekend and have our last hooray. When we did these trips we were always at the mercy of the local church body to give places to stay.
In my Senior year, we went to Chula Vista (just south of San Diego, literally within walking distance of the border). To say that this community was poor was an understatement! Or don't get me wrong there were some very nice houses, as there are in any community, but for the most part, the people at this particular church did have much, yet they opened their homes and their hearts to us.
I and a girlfriend got to stay with a military family who had two small boys (dad was overseas at the time). They didn't have much! Their house was a simple 2 bedroom bungalow with cold tile floors and sparse furnishings, but the mom's hospitality outshone all that!!! She had opened her home to strangers and had taken us in and feed us. Even though she didn't have much, she shared what she had with us. It spoke volumes to me about how we are to serve one another.
Today's Tip ~
Don't Be Robbed!
Don't be robbed of the blessing you will receive when you give what you have to others!! If the opportunity ever arises, open you home to serve others!
Nola
Today's lesson brought back a sweet memory. When I was in high school, I was a part of a youth choir at our church. We would practice all fall and winter and then in during the spring, we would go on "tour". We would perform at local church churches and then at the end of our season we would go away for the weekend and have our last hooray. When we did these trips we were always at the mercy of the local church body to give places to stay.
In my Senior year, we went to Chula Vista (just south of San Diego, literally within walking distance of the border). To say that this community was poor was an understatement! Or don't get me wrong there were some very nice houses, as there are in any community, but for the most part, the people at this particular church did have much, yet they opened their homes and their hearts to us.
I and a girlfriend got to stay with a military family who had two small boys (dad was overseas at the time). They didn't have much! Their house was a simple 2 bedroom bungalow with cold tile floors and sparse furnishings, but the mom's hospitality outshone all that!!! She had opened her home to strangers and had taken us in and feed us. Even though she didn't have much, she shared what she had with us. It spoke volumes to me about how we are to serve one another.
Today's Tip ~
Don't Be Robbed!
Don't be robbed of the blessing you will receive when you give what you have to others!! If the opportunity ever arises, open you home to serve others!
Nola
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Day 74
I gotta tell ya, Ron and I have been opening our home(s) (we have moved 10 times in 30 years of marriage) for years now and I do have to admit that as a young wife and busy mom, it was not always with a gleeful heart, but we have been blessed in spite of my attitude.
Now, years later the Lord has blessed us with a house that accommodates groups nicely and we joyfully open our home. After living in Las Vegas for 4 years, I am grateful that the Lord brought us back to California and we have been blessed to be able to use our home for him.
I do have to confess that my home is not always "company-ready", but then again who's is? So don't let that stop you. Most people are just happy to have a place to fellowship. It's doesn't have to look like Martha lives there!
Today's Tip~
Check out FlyLady.com!
I know I have sung her praises before, but she gives tips, that if followed will help you be ready any time to open your home.
Nola
Now, years later the Lord has blessed us with a house that accommodates groups nicely and we joyfully open our home. After living in Las Vegas for 4 years, I am grateful that the Lord brought us back to California and we have been blessed to be able to use our home for him.
I do have to confess that my home is not always "company-ready", but then again who's is? So don't let that stop you. Most people are just happy to have a place to fellowship. It's doesn't have to look like Martha lives there!
Today's Tip~
Check out FlyLady.com!
I know I have sung her praises before, but she gives tips, that if followed will help you be ready any time to open your home.
Nola
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Day 73
OOPS!!! Where did today go? Sorry to be blogging so late in the day.
I kinda thought today's lesson was a wee bit scary! I mean I'm all for opening my home and being a gracious hostess, but I think the gal Donna introduced us to this morning was the first cousin to Martha herself!!!
Let's not forget that whether we supply 2-ply TP or give cute little wrapped gifts to our house guests, our real mission is to be willing hostesses, opening our homes and showing the love of Christ to our guests.
Today's Tip~
Save the Soap!
Whenever I go to a hotel, I always bring the little soaps, lotions and shampoos home with me. I keep them in a plastic shoe box and whenever we have overnight guests, I place the items on a folder bath towel and wash clothes that I leave on their bed.
It's just a little something to make them feel special and it didn't cost me a dime (except the price of the hotel room, LOL)
I kinda thought today's lesson was a wee bit scary! I mean I'm all for opening my home and being a gracious hostess, but I think the gal Donna introduced us to this morning was the first cousin to Martha herself!!!
Let's not forget that whether we supply 2-ply TP or give cute little wrapped gifts to our house guests, our real mission is to be willing hostesses, opening our homes and showing the love of Christ to our guests.
Today's Tip~
Save the Soap!
Whenever I go to a hotel, I always bring the little soaps, lotions and shampoos home with me. I keep them in a plastic shoe box and whenever we have overnight guests, I place the items on a folder bath towel and wash clothes that I leave on their bed.
It's just a little something to make them feel special and it didn't cost me a dime (except the price of the hotel room, LOL)
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