As 2009 draws to a close I can reflect on all the good and the bad. When it is good it is good and when it is bad it is bad. Yet I can tell you I realize it is about neither of these things. It is about the lessons learned, the tears cried, the joy, and the journey taken. It is knowing that I am not alone in this journey I take called life. It is knowing that I am truly loved by my family, friends and God! Is it a simple journey and will everything always be easier, No and everyday I figure that simple fact out more and more. Each day you awake to another day is another day that you just have to keep moving and hoping that each and everyday is a better one than the last. So I hope that each of you have a wonderful New Year! And heres to hoping and having faith that this year will be better than the one that has just past.

Can read the full Synopsis HERE

I got an e-reader for Christmas so naturally I spent most of Friday uploading new books into it. I am so excited about the fact I no longer have to lug my books around:) For someone as busy as I am reading is something I don't get to indulge in very often. This one will not read to you like a Kindle but it will support audio books. So I can plug in my head phones and be taken away:) One series I uploaded was The Vampire Diaries. I do read a lot of YA fiction. No, not because that is my reading level but because of my daughter. She loves to read and it is the one thing we can share. So I do read a lot of the same books she does( when I can tear her away from Twilight) and then we discuss them. I had saw on another blog that CW has a series called The Vampire Diaries and that they were based on a book series. It looked like something Dakotah would love so I got the books to read first. I am a little leary of some YA books because they have sexual themes. She is only 11 but is a 10th grade reading level so I have to be careful. I told her I would read them and then if she could read them we would pick them up from the library.

They were very light reads and enjoyable. It is funny that there is an uncanny resemblance to Twilight even though this series was written before Twilight. We are introduced to a Vampire named Stefan who feeds off of animals and tries to be what could be considered a "good"vampire. He of course falls in love with our leading lady Elena, who is a brat. I am sorry but in the beginning of this series that is what I thought of her. She was cold, calculated, spoiled and well, a brat! Elena, reminds Stefan of his one true love. The only difference is his one true love lived over 500 years ago. So starts the struggle of loving someone but not wanting to be with them because you are a vampire. Sound familiar?

The first part of the first book deals with Stefan and Elena. It is not until she is almost raped in the cemetery that Stefan finally indulges his wantings a little bit ( again, sound familiar?) However, there is just a little hitch. Stefans brother Damon. He is as mean as his brother is good. He knows what he is and does not apologize for it. He was my favorite character:) Stefan has decided he wants Elena to. If you want to know why, you have to read the book. No spoilers here. Through out the first book we find that there is a darkness covering Falls Church. The next 2 books in the series deal with Stefan, Elena, Damon and the gang trying to figure out what it is. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't get into depth but even though the first book is a little twilight like, that is where it ends. The second and third book are a little darker and scarier. I did figure out early who was doing all the evil deeds but kids may not. Some parts of the books may be scary for younger kids ( around 9-11) so I would make sure you read the books first. I would also recommend the books to adults who like YA books. They are fun and easy reads to take up an afternoon or evening.

Over all I was impressed with the series. I will not be reading the rest of the books in the series because I feel the first 3 wrapped the story up nicely and I don't need to know what is going on with Elena's friends. I will definitely allow Dakotah to read it and I may even try to catch the TV Series.

This is the end of my light reading:) I just picked up a copy of Under the Dome by Stephen King and considering it is over a 1000 pages long I think I will reading that for a long time. Then again, I may need some light reading to take a break, lol.

Till next time:)

BDS

Ever heard that Perservance wins the race. I absolutely believe that is true. I have tried very hard to live my life the last week or so with that phrase in my head. Have I waivered from it once or twice, yes, but it is the truth. Its constantly pushing through all the bad stuff to find the good. And knowing that God always will find a way to bring you through it. He has found ways for me I couldn't find for myself lately. Just when you think you are about to give in and give up remember that you must perserve. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

I also want to take this time and wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope the new year will hold wonderful things for all of you.

As human beings we often forget that sometimes we need help. We forget to ask the people we love for help. Why? I believe that sometimes shame, pride, and anger prevent us from asking other people for the things we might need, not want, but need. My friend and her father have spent many years at odds because he was not the best father he could be to her, yet of late she extended a hand and offered him a relationship. Just recently though she finds out that after he pays for his rent in this little apartment he lives in he barely has enough money to feed himself and some days he goes hunger. After hearing this she says that her head tells her one thing but her heart says I can't let this man starve. She says she asked him why he didn't call and tell her these things. He says he didn't tell anyone. I think for him it is the shame he feels toward her about the way he treated her as a child. Things aren't real great for her financially, but I told her she needs to listen to her heart. When the heart is talking God is talking, and you need to really listen to it. By not listening I believe that the trials she is going through right now will only get worse. It is truly about the obedience of the heart to Gods will. So she went to the store and bought him some lunch meat, milk, bread, and a few other things. We have to learn when not to let our pride or shame get in the way. Every one needs a helping hand once in a while. It's also remembering when some one helped you and then extending that hand when some might need you. I also believe that when we have the ability to extend our hands we have to know its not ourselves that have allowed us this ability it is the Lord Jesus Christ and we should claim our helping hand in his name not our own.

Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen

While shopping in a nearby tourist town, I wandered into a small store stuffed with items all marked with the slogan " Life is good." Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of that simple truth.
When the work of earning a living, raising a family, maintaing health and fitness, and managing relationships start to overwhelm us, it's good to think about how small our part in the universe really is. While we obsess over our work, God quietly does His. He keeps the earth rotating, the planets revovling, and the seasons changing. Without help from us, He makes the sun rise every morning and set every evening. Every night He changes the pattern of night lights in the sky. He turns out the lights so we can sleep, and turns it on again so we can see to work and play. Without lifting a finger, we get to enjoy sunrises and sunsets. Every year the seasons change on schedule. We don't need to pray about or tell God that it's time to send spring. All that He does reminds us He is good (Acts 14:17).
Life will at times be difficult, often it is painful, and for now it is imperfect. But still it is good, for in all these things nothing can seperate us from God's lavish expressions of love (Rom.8:39).
Julie Ackerman Link ODB

Thank You, loving Father, for the good gift of life. Forgive me for making it complicated for myself and others. I thank You and praise You for all You do so that I can enjoy so much. Amen

Psalms 1
Blessed is the man that walketh not in counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in congregation of the righteous.
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

I am really sorry to all of you that I have not been posting more lately, but there are so many things going on right now. I really am trying to keep my sanity in tact. Things have not been easy the last couple of months and now with Christmas being on top of me I am just completely overwhelmed with life. I have so many questions for God and really have been trying to listen to the answers, but for some reason I just am at a lose. I recently even question my faith. Asking myself questions like Do I believe in something that is not real? or Is Jesus really there? I have wondered if all of the things I have been taught about Jesus are just stories people have made up and taught to people to make them be better people. Heres some of my reasoning so you will understand the bible tells me to ask and I shall receive, not ask and you will never get it or ask and you'll get it when I feel like it. And you should know on my behalf I'm not asking for material things, just that my needs be met. The other thing I hear is my faith is not strong enough, well the Bible says if you have faith of a mustard seed(do you know how small that is) and you tell the mountain to move, it will move. I can tell you that right now my faith is as small as a mustard seed and nothing is moving for me. Are all the things that I thought were blessings just pure coincidence. None of my questions in the last few days have been answered and yet I still continue to believe that there is a God above and eventually he will see me through. I really want to know what it is I did or what is it I am not understanding or maybe even doing to make things not move for me.
My friend yesterday though, when I was at my lowest, and God love her, because shes not truly sure about all of it either tries to give me all the reasons why should still believe. She tried hard to make me look little harder at what I might be missing. She has made me ask myself questions like Is this the enemies way of making me not believe?. All I can say is only time will tell for me. I can only ask that all of you will maybe say a little prayer for me that I God finds a way to meet my needs and that he brings me out on the other side.

This has some very interesting holiday tips:)
http://stress.about.com/u/ua/holidaysurvivalguide/holiday_shortcuts.htm

I thought I would share just a few ideas for some inexpensive Christmas ideas with you. Two years ago my cousin took mason jars and put the ingredients for smores in them. I have three girls so she also took a basket and placed three popcorn bags, three generic cartoon movies, and candy, she then placed a tag on it that said Night at the Movies. I took baskets one year and placed inexpensive hair care products, nail products and products for your feet in them and then gave them out to the women in my family.

Soon after her family left for the evening, Carol started to think that her hospital room must be the loneliest place in the world. Nighttime had fallen, her fears about her illness were back, and she felt overwhelming despairs as she lay there alone.
Closing her eyes, she began to talk to God: "O Lord I know I am not really alone. You are here with me. Please calm my heart and give me peace. Let me feel your arms around me, holding me."
As she prayed, Carol felt her fears beginning to subside. And when she opened her eyes, she looked up to see the warm, sparkling smile of her friend Marge, who reached out to encircle her in a big hug. Carol felt as if God himself were holding her tightly.
God often uses fellow believers to show us his Love. "We being many, are one body in Christ... Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them." (Rom12:5-6). We serve others "with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1Peter 4:11).
When we show love and compassion in simple, practical ways, we are a part of God's ministry to His people.
Cindy Hess Kasper ODB

Congradulations to our winner Dee. She has won the Outback Gift Certificate for submitting her cookie recipe. A big thank you to all of you that submitted recipes for the Holiday Cookie Swap. All the recipes will be put into a printable recipe book for you all to use this holiday.

Thanks Cissy

"I Jesus Christ, the Sovereign God,am totally in charge of all the details of nature, and all the details of mankind. Nothing is hid from my view. For many are the thoughts of man(and beast), but I alone direct all of their steps. So, fear no more little ones. You are all kept by My power exclusively."
"Sometimes I will allow you to stumble, fall, and make mistakes just to let you know that not one of you can make it without me. I am God Almighty, and not even your willful sins stop me from loving and caring for you.
"Therefore stop looking for security in these changing lines for I am the only one who never changes. I keep my promises to guard and protect you, meeting all of your needs. However, my promises hinge on your willingness to believe, trust and obey me. This is all I require of you."
"So seek after my perfect plan for your life. ( This is not something as difficult as you would think). In doing so you will free my hands to give you (in abundance) all that you need. Yes, more than you need or could ever ask or think."
"So, today challenge me, the only wise God. I am worth the risk! Trust and believe in me. I won't disappoint you."

Okay so I know I forgot a couple of days. So I'm just going to put all the quotes for the last couple of days on here, that way you can ponder on them a little.


"Not everything needs to be fixed."

"Think not alone of outward form;
It's beauty will depart;
But cultivate the spirits fruits
That grow within the heart."- D DeHaan ODB

God's Love still stands when all else has fallen.

Patience means awaiting God's time without doubting God's love.

The journeys that we take in life though unexpected they may be, If we commit to follow Christ, His works through us the world will see. - Sper ODB

For the Christian what looks like a detour may actually be a new road to blessing.

This is the time of the year when many people start donating to help families or individuals less fortunate.  Yet the number of people that donate becomes less and less each year.  I know that the economy makes up for some of it, but what about the rest.  Why is it that they no longer feel compelled to help someone in need when they know they can?  Have so many of them been hurt by other charitable acts that they have become so cold hearted to someone in need?  The bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:13 " And now abideth faith, hope, and charity these three but the greatest of these is charity." 
When we extend our hearts to someone else we might be allowing them to have faith and hope that God will move them to a better situation.  For some it might just be giving them the faith and hope in God they need.  It will be answers to prayers for some and others they might just learn how to begin to pray.
I know that for of us giving material things is financially impossible, but there are other resources.  You can volunteer your time at the local food bank or homeless shelter.  You could even just be a friend or a shoulder to lean to someone. 
Giving is the greatest thing you can do for someone, because you are sowing seeds of love, faith, and hope.
So remember this holiday to let your light shine and go out and sow some of those seeds.  You never know who or how many you may touch with one act of charity.  You also never know for that seed you sowed if God might finally answer some of your prayers.

When a fellow human being stumbles,
And he needs some help to stand;
Don't ignore his circumstances
Offer him your outstretched hand.   Sper ODB

Too many people go through life complaining about their problems. If we took 1/10 of the energy we put into complaining and applied it to solving the problem, we'd be surprised how well things can work out.

Complaining does not work as a strategy.  We all have finite time and energy.  Any time we spend whining is unlikely to help us achieve our goals. And it won't make us any happier.

Things aren't fair so make the best of it.