Be Joyful!

Good Afternoon, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

Today it is pouring with rain; and glad we are now home again. We had to go out earlier and in our travels, we had a tidbitz chat with our lovely 'baker friend.' She has had her share of 'trials and tribulations'; so there is a genuine camaradie and understanding between us. She complimented us, by saying we are always so upbeat, joyful, and 'happy,' regardless of our circumstances. She also added that perhaps we are also being 'tested' by Him, to see what metal we are made of. Well, I reassured her that we would endure in FAITH and to TRUST Him in everything; as He has Promised to Direct our Path. You can refer to yesterday's post if you wish a bittidz of background.

It is, indeed, a fine line. ie. In the sense that we are 'waiting upon the Lord' to Provide Resolution; and at the same time, continuing in doing our due diligence in exploring new options, that have recently shown up. We are hopeful with these tidbits of possibilities; eventhough we know we are 'in the middle' (again!). That is, 'the calm before the storm'; thus, Alan and I will remain patient and Rely upon Him, for Solution. My posts of November 23rd and 25th, 2010 describe what it is like to 'be in the middle.'

Tidbit - Proverbs 3:5&6 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will Direct your path.' Wonderful message!

Bittid - Try this! Go to a mirror and smile. Keep smiling til you start to feel a bit better. Smiles are of good tid cheer; as they impact you and others.

Love the bright cheery photo image, with its illuminating insights. Also, what comes to my mind and heart is from Galatians 6:9 'And let us not lose heart in doing good; for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.'

Alan and I are thankful and appreciative for many bittids of Blessings! ie. The rain, which has contributed to the lush green surroundings; freshly sprouting plants (rhodos, hydrangea); and flower blooms (crocuses, daffodils) etc. New life and vibrant growth abounds! Also continue to be of steadfast good cheer, knowing and trusting that He IS always with us. (Once you invite Him genuinely into your heart, He never leaves you). We are constantly learning and growing in our daily walk in Him.

Peace and God Bless.

Endure with FAITH!

Good Evening, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

It has been several days since I last wrote a post. The time has flown by in a tidbitz! In a bittidz of a blink of an eye, methinks!

We are still in a 'waiting mode'. We have done the best we can, as humanly tid possible. Again, it is Him, whom we RELY upon to Provide Solution. In reflection too, we steadfastedly state, that He has SUSTAINED us through everything. So, would He do any less now, as per His Promise to us? The Psalms and other uplifting passages in the Bible, are a major daily encouragement!

As mentioned earlier, we have also been reading daily excerpts from 'Living Truth'. Charles Price's monthly 'Our Journey' provides wonderful insights. ie. Today's message: 'God Knows Us Entirely' was / is most comforting to Alan and I; just what we are going through! I quote an example - " If you have ever been musunderstood, misrepresented, or otherwise taken advantage of, you will be reassured to know that God knows."

To recap a bit, we have been misrepresented; and we are looking forward to 'justice being served.' ie. by Him; as 'He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Light.' 'By their words, actions, and deeds, they have convicted themselves', provides a further uplifting comfort.

One of our neighbours, sadly just passed away from cancer. I referred to her in an earlier post; she was not much older than ourselves. She fought a brave battle and we will be 'celebrating her life' with her family and friends this week.

We are also thankful for our other neighbours; they are wonderful! They have extended their kindness and 'generosity of spirit' to us in countless ways.

Tidbit - God KNOWS and WATCHES everything that goes on; so take solid and joyful comfort in knowing that the TRUTH ALWAYS shows up. He IS your Advocate!

Bittid - 'What goes around, comes around,' is also very true.

This morning, I enjoyed watching the Vision Channel. ie. 'Hour of Power', 'World Impact Ministries,' and 'Living Truth'. These international ministries, as well as others, offer such enlightening insights. Pretty much the bittids, we are experiencing! There are NO COINCIDENCES! I also look forward to embracing tidbits from 'Enjoying Everyday Life'; (I will access it online) and 'Door of Hope' etc. Many thanks to all ministries, who genuinely give so freely of their time, in spreading the 'Message of the Good News.'

We have a busy week coming up; so we are grateful, that today is a 'Day of Rest.' He IS our Refuge and Strength.

Love the above photo image! For your tidbit information, I say every night and every morning, 'The Lord's Prayer', as well as Asking Him to "Arm and Equip us with the Full Armour of God; and to Protect and Shield us from our enemies and foes." I also add a major THANK YOU, which includes ALL prevailing circumstances. (If you wish, you can refer to my recent posts for a bittid of background). If you try these tidbits, it is amazing how much better you will feel; as if a huge load is LIFTED from you. You enjoy a peace and a calm within, which radiates to all those you meet.

Will keep you updated on the bittids, when we have news.

Peace and God Bless.

He IS our hope and comfort!

Good Evening, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

As mentioned in the previous post, Alan and I are in a 'waiting mode'. Joyce Meyer sums it up wonderfully. If you wish, you can refer to my posts of Nov 23rd and Nov 25th, 2010; re: Joyce sharing her encouraging insights about 'In the Middle.'

Yesterday came and went; and today, we enjoyed a quiet day of R & R. Eventhough we are a bittidz weary, we have no complaints. Alan and I have left everything up to Him to Provide Solution, as per His Promise. We are infilled with a joyful confidence, as well as being thankful for our many Blessings. I feel such a comfort in knowing that He IS our Refuge and Strength. I love the verse from Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me," is yet another beautiful illuminating TRUTH from the Bible.

Alan and I appreciate the monthly booklet,'Our Journey' that we receive from Charles Price, of Living Truth (www.livingtruth.ca). We were particularly reassured by today's message,'The Authority of Jesus'.

Here are a couple of inspiring tidbits from 'The Authority of Jesus,' that uplifted our spirits. ie. "As Christians we are not without recourse. Satan, sin, and the influences of this world do not have to control us or enslave us. We don't have to be held in bondage. We serve One who is very much in charge. He's alive and He will respond to our cry for help and supernatural intervention." "Just as Jesus demonstrated His power and authority over the evil and the demons of His day in Luke 4:33-37, Jesus Christ is alive and He has the authority and the power to do whatever is necessary on our behalf. There's no such thing as a hopeless situation because Jesus Christ is alive. His power is available to each one of us today. He can and He will intervene on our behalf."

For those of you and / or those you know of, who feel saddened, hopeless, downtrodden, discouraged, etc, He is your greatest source of comfort. Once you invite Him into your heart, He never leaves; and you can call on Him any time, day or night!

We received four inches of snowfall last night; so it is a wintery scene all over again. Before I tid forget, we were surprised with the morning newspaper in our mailbox! A treat! As it happens, our neighbour (the newest one) has offered to give us his daily paper, after he has read it! We are thankful for his ongoing kindness and 'generosity of spirit.'

Hope these bittids bring you a tidbitz of good cheer! I love the above photo image of 'Seek and Ye Shall Find.'

Good Night, Peace and God Bless.

Being joyful and appreciative

Good Morning, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

Well a few new things have happened since Friday. We did some errands on Saturday morning; and then our good friend came over for a pizza and salad. Basically, Alan added to the thin crust pizza (from Costco) and I whipped up whatever greens and tomatoes we had left over for healthy salad makings. Our friend brought over some 'bubbly', which was a nice way of starting the evening.

After she left, I saw the last few minutes of the fast paced hockey game between the Canucks and Red Wings. I am glad I did not watch it from start to finish; as it was quite the 'pins and needles' game.

On Sunday morning we all slept in a bit; including our Blue. Eventhough I only watched a little of the 'Hour of Power' (www.hourofpower.org), the message delivered by Dr. Robert Schuller Snr was 'music to my ears'; just the extra bittid of reinforcement. Will share some bittids in another post. All I can say is, there are NO coincidences!

Sunday night, when I turned on the T.V. Vision Channel, I caught the last part of 'Enjoying Everyday Life' with Joyce Meyer (www.joycemeyer.org) and I was delighted to hear her speaking about / confirming various tidbit choices re: having a good attitude, making the best of things, having confidence in ALL circumstances. Once again, NO coincidences here folks! Tuned also into her online ( watched the video), and in a later post, I will share some tidbits with you. Pretty tid much what she was sharing, was exactly what Alan and I have been going through!!! Thank you, Joyce, for 'just what the doctor ordered!' Also, a heartfelt thank you to all others, who provide their time, ministerial teachings, and encouraging insights.

If you wish a bittidz of background, you can refer to my latter December / early January posts. I refer to a recent post (January 6th) 'Rejoice in all Circumstances'; where I never thought I would ever say to Him, 'Thank You for an empty bank account' and so forth. Eventhough, we are grateful and we say 'Praise Him in All Things'; I specifically THANKED Him for our various tidbitz 'trials and tribulations.' Amazing what has occured between then and now!

A few other solid programs I enjoy are 'Living Truth' with Charles Price, 'Door of Hope' with Rhonda Lazerte, and 'Beyond Tomorrow.' However, for knowledge first hand, methinks best to check them and / or other ministries out for yourselves.

Yesterday, was an awesome day for us! Will recap. Started with our friends who telephoned and invited us to dinner (for a prime rib of beef in the next few weeks). Mmmmmm! Have not had that for years!); and plus her husband will pick us up and drive us home. Originally, they offered to come over here; bringing the roast and the wine.(In turn, Alan and I would sear, then cook the roast and the dinner). They are the same kind friends who gave us the turkey, the homemade wine, and many other special tidbitz treats. You can refer to my post 'Giving and uplifting others', December 21st for info.

Next, our good friend sent us an email; with an encouraging message to 'Dance in the Rain'; and make the best of everything. I wrote her back with a grateful thanks; saying that 'as of late, we have been doing a lot of 'tap dancing' (LOL!); and that somewhere, somehow, we will make the best of everything and joyfully dance our way through it all.'

ie. Two inspirational quotes from 'The Rain' that are very true.

"The happiest people don't necessarily
have the best of everything;
they just make the best of everything they have."

'Life isn't about
how to survive the storm,
But how to dance in the rain.'

Tidbit - It is not the possessions and 'things' one has; and yes, you do your best to survive too; however, it is all in your attitude! Most importantly though, is the Confidence He instills within you, when you Trust in Him totally and ASK Him to Direct your path.

Bittid - When you Invite Christ genuinely into your heart, He never leaves. Know that He LOVES each and every one of us unconditionally; that we are all uniquely special; and that He has a Good Plan for each of us. Also, it makes life simpler too, when you 'cast all your cares upon Him.' He wants to carry our burdens.

Received another email from a dear friend who shared 'We all need a reminder - America during the years of 1935 - 1939.' A tidbit thought, best to be appreciative of what we do have; not what we DON'T have. Alan and I were not born during those times; save that we know we have much tidbitz to be thankful for.

Then we had a lovely call from a family member and Alan and I greatly appreciated hearing from them.

We also had to attend to some bittidz errands. I was 'rejoicing, because all I could hear in my head and heart, were the Biblical words from Romans 8:28. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good; to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.'

Upon tidbitz reflection, those wondrous words and other verses from the Bible, have been a constant comfort and empowering ecouragement to us throughout each and every day. While we were out, we saw our Greek friend (a street person), who waved, smiled, and gestured us to come over and visit with him. He was smiling from ear to ear; and normally, he is pretty glum. His spontaneous smile, his animated conversation uplifted me / us all the more! We then went next door to our local produce store; and I could sense the merchant's hands were cold (albeit she had gloves on); so I asked if I could take her hands, to warm them. She immediately removed her gloves (which surprised me) and I held her hands for only a few moments. Her big smile was warmly 'contagious' throughout! LOL! A tidbit ephifany, a smile warmly given costs nothing and yet can mean everything.

When we returned home, we saw that our soup container was outside the front door; along with a tin of older tennis balls (for our Blue). In the bittid soup container, were some freshly baked cakes. We had given our newest neighbour some of the turkey soup; and they wanted to eagerly express their thanks. Before too long, we will make up some more soup for them and others; from the frozen turkey that our generous friends gave us, back in December.

As mentioned in an earlier post, we celebrated Christmas dinner at my daughter's. We did not expect them to give us their left over turkey (carcas and all), which provided us with many a tidbitz meal; as well as the delicious turkey soup; which fed ourselves, our neighbours, and our Greek friend.

My son came over last night for dinner; and the steaks (a la Costco) that we had marinated for a few days were incredibly tender and very tasty. We enjoyed a lovely repas and visit with him.

On a sad note, we received the news (just prior to my son's arrival) that one of our neighbours, who is only a few years older than us, is passing away. (I have mentioned her in an earlier post). Her husband let us know that she has been in palliative care since Christmas, and won't be coming home. She fought the cancer as best as she could; and now it is just a matter of bittidz days. Apparently the family are planning her Memorial Service; which will be a wake in celebration of her life. Personally, I think that takes a lot of courage, and our hearts and Prayers go out to them. We will remember her as a vibrant and caring person; and we are thankful that we had the opportunity (albeit short) to have her as a friend.

This morning, we received a nice surprise! One of our neighbours (the newest neighbours I referred to earlier) put a COMPLETE TODAY'S newspaper through our mail box! A wonderful treat! (Our other neighbour also puts the sports edition, after he has read it, through our mail box). Alan loves to read and has read a paper everyday since a teenager.

We have been and are in a bittid of a 'waiting mode' for various bittidz matters. We know we have done our best; and now it is simply up to Him to Provide and Direct our path. A great peace and reassuring calm comes from 'within' knowing that. We are 'ready' to go with the flow; whatever that is; and currently, we are 'in the middle.' Joyce Meyer shares her insights about being 'in the middle'; and you can refer to my two posts of November 23rd and 25th, 2010 for her 'words of wisdom.'

It is so true: 'Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.'

Snow was projected for later last night; yet, with warmer temperatures on the bittidz rise, we may not receive the expected snowfall as forecasted. However, I love this lovely photo image of this tranquil winter scene. The restful picture looks so 'quaint' (have not used that word for a long time) and peaceful.

Peace and God Bless.

Giving a Helping Hand and /or Extending a Generosity of Spirit

Good Evening, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

A lot has been happening; and truthfully, I have forgotten some tid details; as quite a number of things occured. However, I will work with what thoughts come to mind (and heart!) at this bit time.

It is the weekend again! Glorious and hurrah, as far as I am concerned! The weather is 'iffy'. Rain, cold temperatures, snow? At this bittidz moment, there is a wonderful wind, and it feels as if we are in for a major storm. I love it when it is like this; particularly on the weekend. We are in for the night; and we will be cheering on the Canucks! Good on them for having such a positive team effort / attitude; they are all like invaluable links on a chain.

Before I forget, I recommend you see the incredible movie, 'The Book of Eli,' which Denzel Washington produced and starred in. We have seen it twice (last night being the most recent); and it provides a very provocative message. It may even add some 'starch.'

Yesterday is fair enough to share some tidbits about 'Paying it Forward.' I was totally elated! ie. Alan and I were miraculously given a 'helping hand' on making 'a few ends meet;' so I thought 'Pay it Forward'. ('Pay it Forward' is such an inspiring movie!). Because I had a little tidbitz change 'left over', I offered to give (buy) a small cup of coffee and some cookies, for three 'street people.' I sought their permission first and they were positively gleeful! Two of them appeared to be of Indian descent; one of them looked like the frightening image of the 'Hunchback of Notre Dame' (remember that magnificent classic book?) and the other, who was a Caucasian, (he had long blonde stringy hair, no teeth; not looking his best. I do not think you would want to run into him in an alley).

With the extra coin we had on hand, Alan could get his hair cut; while meanwhile, I went to the local mall. I browsed in the new Dollar Store (fantastic bargains!) and 'saving the best til the end', went to the bakery and treated myself to a small coffee and a bittidz sandwich - which I totally enjoyed and appreciated! That is when I saw the three men (street people / homeless people); and I was not fearful when I gently approached them. I told them a little of our story; and they were blown away; so in short, we related to one another. I had never bought a cookie from the bakery; and the owner who had been observing everything, when I went to buy a cookie, with the remaining coin, she gave me a cookie for free. Now, I think everyone involved was 'Paying it Forward.' (The bakery owner was not bothered by their peaceful presence; actually it was more money in her til! She gave the thumbs up!) I firmly believe in 'Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.' That is the TRUTH and His message to us!

Before I forget too, I think this is awesome, totally magnificent, that the 'street person', Ted Williams was given a 'second chance!' Wonderful wonderful life altering story; and he has, indeed, been Blessed with the GIFT of a beautiful 'velvety' melodious golden Radio / T.V. announcer voice! We thanked Him for providing Ted with a 'new lease on life!' I am thinking that this will be a boost / an uplift to those who have also fallen upon hard times and living on the streets. I am glad too for Ted's Mum, that she saw him turn his life around into something that he loves doing!

A rather sad thing happened, however, to me earlier today. I was / still am agog. I told a good friend about yesterday's joyful experiences and I was 'scoffed', even ridiculed by her. ie. In the sense, that it is 'people like me' who 'enable' 'street / homeless people' to beg, steal, whatever on the streets; and that these people just stand outside the shops and are public nusiances to the vendors etc. I was rendered speechless; as I could not believe what was spewing out of her mouth. However, I responded in a quiet, calm manner; knowing and having empathy that she has no real understanding in that regard. ie the plight of 'street / homeless people.' My friend is a lovely person; however, as 'intellectual' as ehe is, she is lacking or 'empty in Spirit.' I witnessed to her gently; but at the moment, it appears to have 'fallen upon deaf ears;' however, I will not give up on her; because she has a good heart. The KEY is, that she needs to unlock and open her heart to Him; and then her life would be a whole lot simpler and happier. Alas presently, it would appear that she is not a 'happy camper;' and that what is 'between her ears', is what is truly blocking her awesome potential.

Tidbit - When you have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, the thirst and the hunger in your heart, the door shall be opened to you; because you have 'invited Him in.' He will CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER.

Bittid - Always rejoice and be grateful for all your 'trials and tribulations'. ie. Even 'empty bank accounts'. Because, you are then in the position to Rely totally upon Him to Provide you with Solution, Resolution, Provision, as per His Promises to us. Do that daily; it helps greatly.

Took the above picture of our back patio, when we had the unexpected bittids of snowfall in late November or early December? Could be like that again, before too long.

Good Night, Peace and God Bless.

Rejoice in all circumstances!

Good Afternoon, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

Well, since the last post, the days have flown by - quite literally. You do what you have to do each day, living one day at a time; and then night comes and goes, and so forth. And here we are, to today; and it has been a wonderfuly rewarding one thus far! I will share some bittids, in the next post!

First of all, to recap. Earlier in the week, when I was reading through some of Dr. Charles Stanley's messages of Hope and Encouragement, I came across an awesome passage from the Bible: "Isaiah 58:11 (New American Standard Bible)

11"And the (A)LORD will continually guide you,
And (B)satisfy your desire in scorched places,
And (C)give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a (D)watered garden,
And like a (E)spring of water whose waters do not fail."

This verse has hugely refreshed my spirits; and perhaps it may do the same for those of you (or others you know = 'Pat it Forward'), who would like a bit of a tidbit uplift!

As mentioned previously in various and in recent posts, Alan and I have gone through a number of 'trials and tribulations'; and there have been some tid moments when we have been dismayed by unforseen and unsuspecting circumstances.

We must never forget that our loving Father in Heaven, through Christ, empowers each and every one of us with gifts and blessings, that are designed to help us in our walk to continue to share the message of the Good News of Grace and Everlasting Life. In this regard, Pastor Jim Penner, has been wonderfully Blessed. Also, He uses each of us regardless, whether or not we feel or think we are worthy.

Therefore, here is a tidbitz of a very appropro message, given by Pastor Jim Penner. 'You Can Have a Fantastic Future' is the theme. As a bittid of background, "JIM PENNER has been a member of the Crystal Cathedral since 1987 and, since 1994, has served as the producer of the "Hour of Power," and its executive producer since 1999. Also a talented and insightful speaker, Jim is now regularly delivering encouraging messages to the Crystal Cathedral congregation and on the "Hour of Power."

A bittidz suggestion: For greater clarity, methinks, it would be more beneficial to you, if you were to read a) more about Jim's background and b)read his empowering message in full. I am simply touching upon a portion of Jim's thoughts, which are a joyful uplift. Here is part of the message.

"So what you need to do is sit or kneel down somewhere and start saying, "'Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say rejoice.' Lord, thank You for this circumstance. Lord, thank You for this trauma. Lord, thank You that my bank account is empty because You're teaching me something. Lord, thank You that You're going to bless me tomorrow because You promised me blessings." Whatever you're going through, it doesn't matter. Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice.
So, you CAN have a fantastic future, and guess what? It's your choice. You can choose to check your attitude at the door and have your thinking become Christ-centered thinking. You can choose to roll up your sleeves and work hard for somebody else. You can choose not to be afraid of failure. And you can choose to glorify God in all things.

Now, how can you do that? That's a tall order. You may walk out and say, "Man Jim, that's tough."

I encourage you that you can do it because there's a promise right here in Philippians 4:13, and it says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." That doesn't say I can do SOME things; it says I can do ALL things. Repeat it with me: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Do yourself a favor this week. Take this book of Philippians - it's four chapters long, a very short book in the Bible - and read it. It will change your life.

Let's pray: Heavenly Father, we do have a fantastic future thanks to Your guiding hand. The best future is in Your loving embrace. And for someone listening (or reading) right now who does not know Christ, simply say "yes" today. Yes, I believe in You, Jesus, as my personal Savior. I believe You died for me, for my sin. Forgive me, Lord, for what I've done. I invite You, Jesus, to be Lord of my life. Take my life today and make it new, holy, and acceptable to You. Lord, let us go out today with our possibility thinking caps on knowing that we can do all things through You who gives us strength. Hallelujah. Amen."

I will read the four chapters of Philippians! This one verse, Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" has made such an impact on me!

Also, Jim's words in his Prayer, really touched a chord in my heart. ie. Thanking Him for our traumas, circumstances, empty bank accounts, etc, that was a major comfort. Never thought of Thanking Him for an 'empty bank account!' As soon as I repeated the same Prayer, my despair, overwhelming sadness etc, turned into a celebration of genuine rejoicing! It was as if a huge weight had been lifted from my heart; and instead, was replaced with a restoration of confidence, a calm, and a peace. I have always been an opptimist; however, the light truly went on!

As mentioned earlier, I will share in a later post, some tidbits / scenarios that Alan and I have experienced since having Prayed that particular Prayer. As well as the restful message from Isaiah 58:11 providing me with the positive and reassuring resolve to 'keep on trekking' - regardless. 'Praise Him In ALL Things' is more true than ever! All of us have many Blessings; and each and every day is like a 'mini thanksgiving'- regardless of circumstances.

The above fun picture is of our dear family member 'Blue', a six year young 'pup.' Eventhough, he is primarily an Australian Blue Heeler, he also has a bit of the Shepherd Sheep Dog in him. Great herders and smart! (A tidbit of info. LOL! Many people think he looks like 'Fido'). Blue has provided us with many a tid laugh! Pets certainly do have their bittid ways of keeping you in line. LOL!

Peace and God Bless.

A Happier Happy New Year!

Good Afternoon, or whatever is the best greeting to you, in your part of the world!

Well, it has been an interesting tidbitz time. To recap a bittidz since Tuesday, December 28th. Our neighbours loved Alan's homemade turkey soup! Our next door neighbour gave us some homemade pea soup, our Chinese neighbour took us out to 'Chinese Dim Sung' lunch on Thursday. The new neighbours apparently (Alan delivered the soup to their door), were blown away by this tid act of kindness; as well as the neigbours whom we hardly know. You can refer to my earlier post, for some bittids for more clarity.

Alan and I enjoyed a quiet and very very lovely New Year's Eve at home. We watched the hockey game and then later appreciated the 'nutty' humour of a couple of wonderfully funny movies. ie. 'George of the Jungle' (Brendan Fraser; he played the part well; and he looked good!) and then, 'It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World'; which was totally hilarious, with splendid stars! 1963 was the year it was filmed; and I think in Palm Springs / Palm Desert. I was barely a teenager then; and my parents were 'typical' of the 1963 'elegant party scene' era. I truly appreciated and still do the extra touches of elegance; regardless of circumstances. Methinks, if one can create a simple elegance and appreciate delight out of nothing, then, that it is a thriving Blessing, indeed!

We also enjoyed watching Sid Roth on the Vision Channel; an excellent program. Sid was interviewing Charles Vance; a very intriguing story. Both Alan and I gained an extra oomph of encouragement. Many thanks! Prior to the 'meltdown', Alan and I had been 'positioning' ourselves; and then when the unexpected 'meltdown' occured, a lot went 'sideways.' As if a 'perfect storm', with a devasting domino effect on many many unsuspecting people (ourselves included). Some institutions who 'were in the know', have been brought to task. Methinks too, it is still ongoing. That being said, we are going to keep on perservering in Him, as He is our Refuge and Strength. He is our greatest Ally in Overcoming ALL obstacles, as per His Grace and Promise to each and every one of us, who accept Him genuinely into our hearts.

Just before midnight, we opened our champagne, gave thanks for the past year (glad to see the end of it! LOL!), and then heartily toasted in the new year (good timing, as we just tuned into the channel for the exciting final count down towards the New Year. ie. '10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year!'). We raised and clinked our glasses with a new resolve and joyful hearts, to embrace the New Year!

We certainly have much to be thankful for! Just before a few minutes to the 'count down' on T.V., we touched upon our experiences (briefly) of the past year. We are hugely grateful that He Sustained us through some challenging 'trials and tribulations'. and that we learned much from those 'enlightening?' experiences. Eventhough, the challenges are still ongoing, we are going to be more resolute than ever to simply continue to have steadfast FAITH, HOPE, and TRUST in Him to Provide Solution and Direct our Path. He has a Purpose and a good Plan for each and every one of us! 'Our Father Knows Best.' We are sticking with that tidbit. You can refer to my most recent posts for some tidbits.

Also, one of the bittid 'trials and tribulations' arrived on our doorstep (under the shroud of darkness) last night. The attempted 'deceptive' entry was 'under false pretenses'; which we did not appreciate. A bit tacky comes to my mind. The expression: 'By their words, actions, and deeds, they have exposed themselves.' ROYALLY SO (methinks); eventhough, it did put a bit of a damper on the start of the New Year's evening celebration. However, we 'turned it around' by Thanking Him and 'Praising Him In ALL Things.' When I asked Him to 'Carry our Burdens', the burden was lifted immediately, which equipped me with a further resolve to 'keep on trekking.' Reflecting upon this 'out of left field' attack, the 'Truth showed up!' It always does! We know that God hates inequity etc; so we are looking to Him all the more to Provide Justice, Resolution, Help etc.

Inasmuch, as it is still the holidays, we will take a restful sojourn; and deal with 'stuff' next week. We had received a gracious invitation to an Open House party today between noon and four pm; however, we are giving it a pass. We simply do not have the gas money to get there (it is a fair distance away); and I was 'straight up' with our kind friend. She offered to bring us some 'leftovers' within the next day or two; so apart from her 'generosity of spirit,' it will be nice to visit with her in our home (still have the festive and cheery Christmas decorations up!). Also, my close friend ('partner in crime' LOL!) is coming over this afternoon, with a tid of 'bubbly;' so that will be fun to ring in the New Year further! Also, we look forward to my son coming over tomorrow morning for breakfast. Fortunately, we have some breakfast ingredients 'left over' from Christmas.

Tidbit - Ask Him to Uplift you, throw all your burdens upon Him. A huge weight lifts from your heart and shoulders.

Bittid - When one genuinely 'Pays it Forward', it comes back. ie. 'What goes around, comes around.' Even when you are faced with oppression, the same message applies: 'What goes around, comes around.' 'Plus, the Truth sets you free.'

The awesome Biblical verse from Romans 8:28 - "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" is a major boost of encouragement and hope to me.

The above picture is of our dear six year young 'pup' Blue, on Christmas morning. Poor him, being saddled with the 'antlers'. However, he has a very good diposition; and he wore / endured them well!

Also, a couple of other wonderful Blessings. My two (grown up) children called us today and wished us a Happy New Year. They beat us to it with their calls; inasmuch as we were going to call them! We believe this is a good tid start to 2011! Let us all move positively forward! Family, friends, neighbours, colleages, etc.

Well, I have to go for now. It is a gorgeous sunny New Year's Day here; what a glorious treat! Eventhough, it is cold and crisp; it is beautifully refreshing! We are looking forward to embracing a whole new refreshing New Year ahead of us, starting with today! Cheers! Again, Happy New Year to all those who read my posts.

Peace, and God Bless.