In Memory of Tracy Phillips

Tracy A. Phillips

1963-2008

I'm Free

Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free,

I'm following the path God laid for me,

I took His hand when I heard Him call,

I truned my back and left it all.

I could not stay another day,

To laugh, to love, to work or play,

Tasks left undone, must stay that way,

I found that place at the close of the day.

If my parting has left a void,

Then fill it with remembered joy,

A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,

Ah, yes, these things I too will miss.

Be not burdened with times of sorrow,

I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow,

My life's been full, I savored much,

Good friends, good times, a loved one's touch.

Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,

Don't lenghten it now with undue grief,

Lift up your heart and share with me,

God wanted me now, He set me free.

Our Trip

We arrived safely for our trip to North Carolina today. It is around 41 degree here and about 14 degree in Ohio. The degree switch is great. It is sunny and pretty here. I think that we can handle this for a few days!

Off We Go Again...

Today was supposed to be a cleaning and laundry day, but Beth called all excited about shopping at CVS, so off we go. I did better today. I bought about $57.10 worth of merchandise for $4.10 and that was only because the check out computer would not accept one of my coupons (it did for Beth) and my bill should have been $2.10. I can't be greedy, they need to make money! :) I just love it and it makes for a happy pantry and storage supply.

I was taught to have a pantry and I have tried to encourage my children that this is necessary. I remember, as a young girl, our walk-in pantry. It was such a neat place. So, it is kinda a tradition with us. My parents and both sets of Grandparents had pantries. Merrills parents and at least his Lavy Grandparents had a pantry. Some of them had cellars, which was a cold, dark place that usually had apples, potatoes, cabbage, beets and all kinds of neat stuff.

This CVS shopping brings back lots of memories of how my parents and grandparents put things by. Of course, dad's parents owned a general store, but they still had the cellar and grandma canned and put food away.

Anyway, it turned out to be a fun day!

"The way of the Lord is a refuge." Proverbs 10:29

Just For Today

Just for today, I will set my affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Just for today, I will not worry about what will happen tomorrow, but will trust that God will go before me into the unknown.

Just for today, I will endure anything that hurts or depresses me because believe God controls what happens to me.

Just for today, Iwill not dwell on my misfortunes. I will replace my negative thoughts with happy and hopeful thoughts.

Just for today, I will choose to do some things I do not like doing, and I will do them cheerfully and with a happy spirit.

Just for today, I will make a conscious effort to love those who don't show love to me and be kind to those who do not appreciate me.

Just for today, I will be patient with those who irritate me and long suffering toward those who are selfish and inconsiderate.

Just for today, I will forgive all those who hurt me, and even forgive myself.

Just for today, I will choose to be happy.

CVS Deals

Well, I did it! Beth is teaching me how to do the CVS coupon challenge. :) She is new at it and Heather Loper has been such a help to her. So... thank you so much Heather!!!

We had the sweetest cashier that checked us out. She was so patient with all that we had. So... thank very much Merri Anne, you're one of the greatest!!!

We didn't do quite as good as Heather by far, but we are working on it. I had over $50 worth of groceries and incidentals and paid $27 for them plus I have $10 ecb. I am so pleased since this is the first time that I went and I knew that I would have to put more cash into it to get started. Anyway it is so much fun. I just love to save money and especially on things that I need and not a bunch of junk. My purchases are pictured above.

When we were checking out a lady behind us said, "You look like you're buying the store out." What fun is that!!! :)

Never Trust A Goose

Our son Paul can give you lots of advice on what not to do around geese.

We raised beautiful white geese when the children were young. One day Paul was out at the barn and decided to look into the nest of eggs that our mother goose had laid. While he was bent over the nest, the large white mother goose ran up and gave him one big bite on the rear. Boy did that hurt!

I'm sure my son will advise you to never, never bend over a goose nest of eggs!

Growing Up...

When I was growing up, we four children loved to crawl on mom and dad's bed in the early morning hours and get them started telling stories about when they were young. Mom and dad tell the absolutely funniest stories imaginable.

This is a family tradition that went on in our family also. All six of our children would crawl up on our bed and we would laugh and tell stories. Sometimes, the girls and I would be especially annoying to my dear hubby and sing. Girls, remember, Speed Away? Of course we would doctor it up and drag it out and then laugh hilariously at how we sounded. What fun we had! Merrill just never saw the humor in it! :)

Well, I don't know if my children do the early morning story telling or not. I do know that some of them play board games with their children. That was another one of our family pass times. We went through more Monopoly, Sorry, Can't stop, Pit, Boggle,Candyland and Farming games than anyone I know. We were great game players for sure!

In fact, Merrill and I have taken to playing board games again. After all, what are old folks suppose to do? ;)

Fun Picture To Share

I go through pictures and more pictures when I am looking for photos for my birthday and anniversary slides. Just going through all those pictures, which I am trying to get organized to someday get scrapbooked, gets me in a memory binge. This picture is a picture of my boys working on cutting corn off the cob to freeze. This picture is dated 1982. Duane, Wayne and Steve are in this picture.
I wonder if they remember?

Memories...

Today, Amy and I were reminiscing about when they, our children, were all home and the fun times that we had. Of course, sometimes, we parents are glad that we did not know some things until later. We surely would have had graying hair sooner!

Amy and I were laughing about the time she and Steve killed a laying hen that I had. She killed it on a dare from Steve and then they put it in an old freezer. Merrill found it many days later. I told Amy that she should have come and told me and that it must have caused a great burden to her heart to hide such an act. She assured me that she didn't feel guilty. Surprise! Later today, Steve and I were talking about what happened and he just laughed. Surprise! If they would have confessed up, after the punishment, we could have all had chicken and noodles! :) Way....too late now!

They both assured me that they did not kill my strutting Rhoade Island Red rooster. He was probably killed by a fox. Of course, this happened many, many years ago.

Monday Morning Musings...

"Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12


Today, I took a slow start. You ask, "What do you mean by a slow start?" I slept in! It seems the older that I get, the easier I pick up little physical annoyances and I'm slower. My new philosophy is to take one day at a time, slow down and if you don't feel good, let the body, hopefully, heal itself. Otherwise, see a doctor. :)

The older I get, the more I muse. What is musing?
Musing (n): a calm lengthy intent consideration
Synonyms: contemplation, reflection, reflexion, rumination, thoughtfulness

I like to read. I like spiritual books and informational books. I don't read a lot of fiction any more, so I've decided to start again. Somehow, I think I need the balance of something imagined. When the children grew up and left home, I kind of got away from reading fiction.

The children liked Disney stories. We had little books and tapes that they read and listened to. We went through at least a couple Little House on The Prairie book sets. Those were the true stories that our children loved. Books non-fiction or fiction can take you a lot of places and let you experience things that you've never experienced and in some cases never want to experience in real life. Of course, if you are an avid reader, you already know that. See, I told you that I was musing.

Well, so much for these musings... From some of my schooling - keep it short - people do not like to read long blog entries or essays on the internet. I shall return...

"Pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace." I Timothy 2:22

Congratulations Amy!

Congratulations to Amy,RN! You've worked so hard and we all knew you'd pass that test!

Happy Birthday Wayne

Happy Birthday Wayne this blog entry is dedicated to you!

Happy Birthday Brett

Happy Birthday Brett! This blog is dedicated to you on your ninth birthday.

One Day At A Time

This song was on my mind this morning. It is a good reminder to take things One Day At A Time. Each day is different with new challenges and happenings.

One Day At A Time, Sweet Jesus

I'm only human, I'm just a man.

Help me believe in what I could be

And all that I am.

Show me the stairway, I have to climb.

Lord for my sake, teach me to take

One day at a time.

Chorus: One day at a time sweet Jesus

That's all I'm asking from you.

Just give me the strength

To do everyday what I have to do.

Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus

And tomorrow may never be mine.

Lord help me today, show me the way

One day at a time.

Do you remember, when you walked among men?

Well Jesus you know if you're looking below

It's worse now, than then.

Cheating and stealing, violence and crime

So for my sake, teach me to take

One day at a time.

Chorus: One day at a time sweet Jesus

That's all I'm asking from you.

Just give me the strength

To do everyday what I have to do.

Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus

And tomorrow may never be mine.

Lord help me today, show me the way

One day at a time.

"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart." Proverbs 15:30

My morning started early at about 4:00 a.m. Merrill took his dad up to Northern Ohio to see Grandpa Lavy's younger brother. I got up to help Merrill get off and fix his dad some food for the day so they would not have to stop. Merrill's back on his diet. He thinks that he has gained over the holidays. Surely not! ;) O.K. that's possible with all the get-to-gathers and his birthday party.

It's still very pretty outside, but the rain that is suppose to come in tomorrow will probably take care of the snow, if not the warm temperatures that will follow. It sure has been and up and down this year as far as temperatures go. Anyway, I'll enjoy the snow one more day.

The pictures are from Merrill's surprise birthday party. The top one is of his grandchildren tooting on horns as he came in and the bottom one is both our fathers. The great-grandpa's of the family in deep conversation.

Prayer Is The Key...

Often at night, thoughts just pop into my head. Sometimes, I am so tired that I just ask the Lord to please help me remember these thoughts in the morning and other times, I will crawl out of bed and come write it down at my desk.

Last night these thoughts about the scripture on sowing in tears and reaping with joy and the old song about prayer is the key to heaven just kept running through my mind. So, of course, the Lord reminded me this morning about the song. I want to share them with you in these early morning hours. Hopefully, it will encourage you today, especially if you're in a big battle.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." Psalm 126:5

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. "(Hebrews 11:1)

Prayer Is The Key

Prayer is the key to Heaven,
But faith unlocks the door;
Words are so easily spoken,
But prayer without faith is like a boat without an oar.

Have faith when you speak to the Master,
That's all he asks you for;
Prayer is the key to Heaven,
But faith unlocks the door.

Have faith when you speak to the Master,
That's all he asks you for;
Prayer is the key to Heaven,
But faith unlocks the door.

Some Thoughts ...

One of my goals this year is to learn more about older authors. Authors that have come from a more simple time. I think we can learn from some of their thinking, sayings and writing.

Over one hundred years ago, Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), Scottish essayist, poet and author of many fiction and travel books, who was also well known especially for his novels of adventure, supposedly offered some tips that are relevant even in today's world on how to be positive.

In my research I could not find this actual list and I haven't been able to find the web site that had this list, but there is a possibility that it is a paraphrased form taken in part from his Christmas Sermon. Anyway, the list is worth thinking about, no matter who gets the credit for it.

How to Be Positive

1. Make up your mind to be happy.
2. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.
3. Make the best of your circumstances. Everyone has problems. The trick is to make laughter outweigh the tears.
4. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t think that somehow you should be protected from the misfortunes that befall others.
5. You can’t please everybody. Don’t let criticism worry you.
6. Don’t let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself.
7. Do the things you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt.
8. Don’t borrow trouble. Imaginary burdens are harder to bear than the actual ones.
9. Hate poisons the soul, so don’t carry grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.
10. Have many interests. If you can’t travel, read about new places.
11. Don’t hold post-modems. Don’t spend your life brooding over sorrows and mistakes.
12. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
13. Keep busy at something. A busy person never has time to be unhappy.

Baby...It's Cold Outside

Well, it is very cold outside. The snow is still as beautiful as ever but I plan on staying in. I'm not much of a cold weather person. I go out and get the mail and feed the dog.

This is a picture of Merrill that I took for my girls. They wanted to see their dad holding the cat. Snowflake (her name for now) loves Merrill. She likes to play with his feet and lay on his lap. (I'm the bad mom with the squirt bottle that keeps her from getting where she should not be.) She will let me hold her up-side-down and rub her tummy and play with her paws and she will cuddle up next to me if I am laying down, but she likes Merrill's lap.

Happy New Year

We are now in our New Year. How exciting! A new year to journal and calendars to fill. The year is young and fresh waiting for adventure, excitement or just normal daily living and with no mistakes in it! Out with the old and in with the new!

We have a nice snow on the ground here in Ohio and everything is so peaceful and quiet. Today, I plan to just take it easy. To me the rest is a good beginning for a new year.

Enjoy your New Years Day!