~The Four Boyfriends A Great Story~

Once upon a time there was a girl who had four boyfriends.

She loved the fourth boyfriendthe most and adorned him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the third boyfriendvery much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her second boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate andpatient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.
The girl's first boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend, although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, 'I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, will I be alone.'

Thus, she asked the fourth boyfriend, 'I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will y ou follow me and keep me company?
'No way!', replied the fourth boyfriend, and he walked away without another word.

His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the third boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?' 'No!', replied the third boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!' Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the second boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?'

'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the second boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.'
His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.


Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.' The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!'

In truth, you have four boyfriends in your lives:


Your fourth boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your third boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it will all go to others.

Your second boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

And your first boyfriend is your spirit. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.
However, your spirit is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.


Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.

~The Pickle Jar~

The pickle jar as far back as I can remember sat on
the floor beside the dresser in my parents' bedroom.
When he got ready for bed, Dad would empty
his pockets and toss his coins into the jar.

As a small boy, I was always fascinated at the sounds
the coins made as they were dropped into the jar. They
landed with a merry jingle when the jar was almost
empty. Then the tones gradually muted to a dull thud
as the jar was filled.
I used to squat on the floor in front of the jar to admire
 the copper and silver circles that glinted like a pirate's
 treasure when the sun poured through the bedroom
window. When the jar was filled, Dad would sit at the
kitchen table and roll the coins before taking them to
the bank.
Taking the coins to the bank was always a big production.
Stacked neatly in a small cardboard box, the coins were
placed between Dad and me on the seat of his old truck.
Each and every time, as we drove to the bank, Dad would
look at me hopefully. 'Those coins are going to keep you
out of the textile mill, son. You're going to do better than
me. This old mill town's not going to hold you back.'
Also, each and every time, as he slid the box of rolled
coins across the counter at the bank toward the cashier,
he would grin proudly. 'These are for my son's college
fund. He'll never work at the mill all his life like me.'
We would always celebrate each deposit by stopping
for an ice cream cone. I always got chocolate. Dad
always got vanilla. When the clerk at the ice cream
parlor handed Dad his change, he would show me the
few coins nestled in his palm. 'When we get home,
we'll start filling the jar again.' He always let me drop
the first coins into the empty jar. As they rattled around
with a brief, happy jingle, we grinned at each other..
'You'll get to college on pennies, nickels, dimes and
quarters,' he said. 'But you'll get there; I'll see to that.'
No matter how rough things got at home, Dad continued
to doggedly drop his coins into the jar. Even the summer
when Dad got laid off from the mill,and Mama had to
serve dried beans several times a week, not a single
dime was taken from the jar.
To the contrary, as Dad looked across the table at me,
pouring catsup over my beans to make them more
palatable, he became more determined than ever to
make a way out for me 'When you finish college, Son,'
he told me, his eyes glistening, 'You'll never have to
eat beans again - unless you want to.'
The years passed, and I finished college and took a
job in another town. Once, while visiting my parents,
I used the phone in their bedroom, and noticed that
the pickle jar was gone. It had served its purpose
and had been removed.
A lump rose in my throat as I stared at the spot beside
the dresser where the jar had always stood.. My dad
was a man of few words: he never lectured me on the
values of determination, perseverance, and faith. The
pickle jar had taught me all these virtues far more
eloquently than the most flowery of words could have
done. When I married, I told my wife Susan about the
significant part the lowly pickle jar had played in my
life as a boy. In my mind, it defined, more than
anything else, how much my dad had loved me.
The first Christmas after our daughter Jessica was born,
we spent the holiday with my parents. After dinner, Mom
and Dad sat next to each other on the sofa, taking turns
cuddling their first grandchild. Jessica began to whimper
softly, and Susan took her from Dad's arms. 'She probably
needs to be changed,' she said, carrying the baby into my
parents' bedroom to diaper her. When Susan came back
into the living room, there was a strange mist in her eyes.
She handed Jessica back to Dad before taking my hand
and leading me into the room. 'Look,' she said softly, her
eyes directing me to a spot on the floor beside the dresser.
To my amazement, there, as if it had never been removed,
stood the old pickle jar, the bottom already covered with
coins. I walked over to the pickle jar, dug down into my
pocket, and pulled out a fistful of coins. With a gamut of
emotions choking me, I dropped the coins into the jar. I
looked up and saw that Dad, carrying Jessica, had slipped
quietly into the room. Our eyes locked, and I knew he was
feeling the same emotions I felt. Neither one of us could
speak.
This truly touched my heart. Sometimes we are so busy
adding up our troubles that we forget to count our
blessings.Never underestimate the power of your actions.
With one small gesture you can change a person's life, for
better or for worse.
God puts us all in each other's lives to impact one another in some way. Look for GOOD in others..
The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or
touched - they must be felt with the heart ~ Helen Keller

 - Happy moments, praise God.

 - Difficult moments, seek God.

- Quiet moments, worship God.

- Painful moments, trust God.

- Every moment, that passes, love God.

A Path To Healthiness!!

I have been on a new journey to improving my health and myself. I have lost 10lbs so far and I decided that since I was starting to lose the pounds I also wanted to lose the long hair....I don't know about you but I definitely have noticed being in my 40's that my body tempature is warmer and my hair has changed texture!! So this my friends is what I had done.....

I am by no means close to where I want/need to be weight wise but I am in it for the long haul.....I don't lose weight easily and can get very discouraging but I am pressing onward!!:0)
I hope you all are doing well nd I pray you are feeling Blessed where every you may be!!!
                                                                       God Bless!!
                                                                         Wendy

~LivingRoom Stencil~

 Hello everyone I wanted to show you some updated pictures of my livingroom, Steve did my stenciling for me, he's such a sweetheart!!:0) I got my stencil and paints over the summer but with doing all the siding work outside it got pushed back til this winter....I LOVE it!! I am so happy with the way it looks and pulls the room all together!! I hope you all are doing well and feeling Blessed where ever you are, God Bless!

The "W" In Christmas....

HAVE A VERY CHRIST CENTERED CHRISTMAS! May you all be Blessed with HIS LOVE!!! :0)


Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience.


I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing,

endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.



Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.



My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old.



For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."



I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation.



All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then.



Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.



So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats.



As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.



Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer.



So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title.



Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads.



Those in the front row- center stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.



As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the

letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."



The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a

small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W".



The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W".



Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together.



A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.



In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.



For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:







"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"





And, I believe, He still is.





Amazed in His presence... .humbled by His love.

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS SEASON!

John 3:16 A Wonderful Story

Another great story to share with all of you, very fitting for this time of year!!! God Bless!! :0)


I don't understand it.

A little boy was selling newspapers on the corner,
The people were in and out of the cold.
The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell
Many papers.
.He walked up to a policeman and said,
"Mister,You wouldn't happen to know where a poor boy could
Find a warm place to sleep tonight would you?
You see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and
Down the alley and its awful cold in there for tonight.
“Sure would be nice to have a warm place to stay."
The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You
Go down the street to that big white house and you knock
On the door. When they come out the door you just say
John 3:16 and they will let you in.
So he did. He walked up the steps and knocked on the
Door, and a lady answered. He looked up and said,
"John 3:16." The lady said, "Come on in, Son."

She took him in and she sat him down in a split bottom
Rocker in front of a great big old fireplace, and she went
Off. The boy sat there for a while and thought to himself:
John 3:16... I don't understand it, but it sure makes
A cold boy warm.
Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?"
He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of
Days, and I guess I could stand a little bit of food,"

The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table
Full of wonderful food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat
Any more. Then he thought to himself:
John 3:16... Boy, I sure don't understand it but it sure
Makes a hungry boy full.

She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub
Filled with warm water, and he sat there and soaked for a
While. As he soaked, he thought to himself: John 3:16 ...
I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy
Clean. You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my
Whole life. The only bath I ever had was when I stood in
Front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed it out.
The lady came in and got him. She took him to a room,
Tucked him into a big old feather bed, pulled the covers
Up around his neck, kissed him goodnight and turned out
The lights. As he lay in the darkness and looked out the
Window at the snow coming down on that cold night,
He thought to himself: John 3:16 ... I don't understand it but
It sure makes a tired boy rest.

The next morning the lady came back up and took him
Down again to that same big table full of food. After he
Ate, she took him back to that same big old split bottom

Rocker in front of the fireplace and
Picked up a big old Bible.
She sat down in front of him and looked into his young face.
"Do you understand John 3:16?" she asked gently. He
Replied, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it
Was last night when the policeman told me to use it,"

She opened the Bible to John 3:16 and began to explain
to him about Jesus. Right there, in front of that big old fireplace,
he gave his heart and life to Jesus. He sat there
and thought: John 3:16 … don't understand it, but it sure
makes a lost boy feel safe.

You know, I have to confess I don't understand it either,
how God was willing to send His Son to die for me, and how
Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand
the agony of the Father and every angel in heaven as
they watched Jesus suffer and die. I don't understand the intense
love for ME that kept Jesus on the cross till the end.
I don't understand it, but it sure does make life worth living.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.

2 Years Ago Today Mom.....

2 years ago today my mom went home to be with Jesus.....My life has never been the same since, although I have learned to go on there is a part of my heart that will always remain empty.
This song was her favorite worship song, she requested we play it the morning of her passing away, I still remember her lying in her bed worshipping her Jesus, her King of Kings, HE truly was her everything, so in honor of my Mom I wanted to post this for her.....I know you are worshipping at the feet of your Savior now Mom.......I will love you forever.