My Sweet Solomon

A dear lady from my church told me about her friend who is an artist. She paints dog portraits. Since I lost my sweet boy in July and have missed him so much, I thought what a wonderful idea.

She was so fast and really cared about capturing the pets personality. I sent her the photo I wanted replicated and also several more.  She was able to get my boys personality perfectly.

Here he is !  This photo will always be a wonderful reminder in our home.

Sentimental Things & Moving On . . .

Christmas 2009 my husband bought me a beautiful PINK Dell laptop. I absolutely loved it. It was the perfect PINK! He even bought me a matching mouse. I was in my glory. I used it with such care. Never put it on a table without a place mat. I didn't want it to get scratched. HAH Well, the screen went ! I was so sad. So disappointed. I can't believe it is broken. It can't be fixed easily either. I spoke to several folks at Dell, The Geek Squad and my IT man at work. No go ! Broke my heart. It has sentimental value to me. I told Dell how disappointed I was that 1 year and 3/4 months hardly seems fair.

I hemmed & Hawed about what to do. I couldn't see myself with a new one. HAH

Well today I made the decision. Here is what I bought. It is beautiful too. hah It is an HP - Lord willing I will have better success with this one. Isn't it pretty?

I think I got a really good sale at Walmart.

Then they had such a terrific sale at Walmart on a HP printer that I picked one up too!

So I will need to let go of my PINK perfect laptop and enjoy this new pretty one. I told my hubby the perfect one he bought me will always be my favorite !

Life funny how "things" can mean so much to us. When in the end they don't matter at all.

All that matters is our relationship with Jesus . . .and how we love each other . . .

Middletown Memorial Park - 911

Many folks in my town and surrounding local towns take the train into NYC to work.  On that horrible day we lost many lives.  I recall the awful sight of cars left in the train stations parking lot because horribly their owners were not returning.  The town has done a beautiful job of creating a memorial park.  There is a memorial stone for every person who perished.  It is a very peaceful park and you can stroll through and read about each person and see flowers and tokens of love left by family, friends and I'm sure strangers.

  Here are a few photos . ..

View as you drive to the station

 The entrance to the walkway

 The walkway and memorials

 A beloved man from my church who I spoke about in my last post.

 A neighbor who's home is across from the park had their own beautiful memorial

Our town will not forget . . .

Remembering 911

Where was I on 911? I was at my job when suddenly my co-worker stood up and yelled my God we are under attack. This dear man had a young daughter who worked in NYC. (Thank God we learned she was fine.) We had TV's in our cafeteria so we all ran to see. The shock and horror of it seemed surreal. After about an hour they told us to go home to be with our families because we really didn't know what would continue to happen. I remember thinking the sky is the most beautiful blue and the birds are singing it is a lovely fall day yet pain and horror are happening just an hour from my home. Would life ever be the same again? Being single at that time I was heading home to my apartment to see my dog. Sadly and much to my shame ( I am going to be honest ) I thought of food. You see food has always be a source of comfort for me. Driving home I go to McDonalds and I'm thinking this is horrible people are dying and I want to eat. When I get to McDonalds the drive thru line is wrapped twice around the building. I see that I am not alone in this addiction.Lord help and forgive us. I go on home and watch this horror unfold on TV. Praying and really being in shock I just watch.

I soon learn that a Godly wonderful man who attends my church was on one of the top floors. He is a dad of 4 children and soon to be a granddad. I remember going to his home for bible study. His wonderful grace in letting all us crazy women converge on his home every Friday when he is just returning from a long day in NYC and his long commute. He stands in the kitchen trying to grab a bite to eat before he has to rush his young son out to boy scouts. Always with a smile. Always with a warm greeting.

My gosh, did he survive this? In the days that follow I find out he did not. But a story soon unfolds to his widow that would bring her great comfort. It seems this dear Godly man had a nickname at work. The Preacher. Because he was always sharing the Gospel to his coworkers. Many would reject and tease him but he lovingly persisted. Well it seems on this day when faced with their own mortality - who did these dear people seek out. "The Preacher" Two survivors called his wife in the days that followed and told her that the last time they saw him he had gathered people around in a circle and he was witnessing to them and sharing Christ. Praying and comforting others. He was a hero of faith. Well done good & faithful servant.

The towns around my area have 911 memorials. One town has steel beams at their Firehouse from one of the buildings. We can never forget. I thank God for President Bush who also fought the good fight and kept us safe, who took this serious. Who made decisions that were not popular and took and will always take ridicule for those decisions. In time people forget, they forget the horror, they get soft, they move on. But unless we stay vigilant this and worse can happen. I pray we always have a leader in our country who won't forget. Who will take this serious and remember . . .

Beth Moore Simulcast - 2011

I was invited to attend the Beth Moore Simulcast at Manahawkin Baptist Church with my lady friends from Grace Bible Fellowship.  It was wonderful!

Beth spoke about Luke and I learned so much about him as a man and BFF of Paul.  I never realized how good to Paul Luke was.  He never left him.  Luke mentions women, friendship, healing more than any of the other gospels.

I wanted to include a few of my notes so I won't forget.

The scripture text was Luke 1:1-4

1) We were created for good company

2) An individual calling can only be fulfilled in a "we" context

3) God never overlooks a single "me" in the bigger "we"

4) Jesus became a friend of sinners so that we could become a friend of God

5) We can revel in the certainty of the things we have been taught

6) Jesus has passed us the salt also

7) We can ALSO be many convincing proofs that Jesus Christ is alive

I love this - Beth said we are the flavor live so others "taste" the goodness of the Lord

If you have a heart to do His will you won't miss it (God's sovereignty)

Disobedience deforms the heart - obedience reforms the heart.

I've been graciously graced so I should never withhold it from others.  GIVE GRACE

The more you need Jesus the more you will seem Him revealed.

Here are a few of our ladies from Grace. 

Happy Labor Day

Paying tribute to the creators of so much of our Nation's strength, freedom & prosperity                               - the American Worker !

And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
Ecclesiastes 3:13

Six Word Saturday

My six words are:  I ENJOYED MARY POPPINS ON BROADWAY !

Labor Day Weekend - 2011

Hubby and I started out the day for breakfast.  Red Oak Diner.  Can't beat a Jersey diner !

Chocolate chip pancakes & apple crepes with a side of fruit. YUM

 Then off to NYC to see if we could get last minute tickets for Mary Poppins. You go to the ticket center on Broadway and get in line. Seems like a million people in line but I was shocked how fast the line moved.
We were blessed and got 1/2 off tickets for Mary Poppins. Not bad seats either.

 I got such a kick out of this pigeon.  Made it's nest on the statues head. It was there all day !

 They have the coolest seats on Broadway around 45th street.  My hubby bought one of the green chairs from Bryant Park just like the red chair you can see on the right hand side.

 They had pretty good band playing. We visited Planet Hollywood and the Disney Store while we waited for show time.

 Finally 1:30 pm time to go to the show.

 The Amsterdam Theater was just beautiful inside. This photo doesn't do it justice. Intricate details everywhere.

 Here's hubby and I and of course Mary . . .

The show was wonderful. The music was great, the costumes were colorful & bright. It had so many neat effects.  I loved the opening scene with Mary & the children in the bedroom.  The children were such wonderful actors.  Adorable.  Great little dancers and singers.  The actress who played Mary was lovely. She really was so proper ! hah  The actor who played Bert was great. All I kept thinking about was Dick Van Dyke.  . . . If you have the opportunity to come to NYC and see it - you won't be disappointed.  It's wonderful for children teaches some great lessons about sharing, caring, families, parenting, marriage.
The theater was packed with little children who seems to love it.