ALWAYS PICK UP PENNIES!!!

You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I've ever heard this twist on the story. Gives you something to think about..... 

Several years ago, a friend of mine and her husband were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home.  My friend, Arlene, was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house. 

The first day and evening went well, and Arlene was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. Arlene knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.

As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Arlene and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment.

Arlene wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?

Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mention ed that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.  A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see.. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?  'Look at it,' he said. 'Read what it says.' She read the words '  United States of America .'  'No, not that; read further.' 
'One cent?'  'No, keep reading.'
'In God we Trust?'  'Yes!'  'And... ?' 

He explained, 'And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that inscription. It is written on every single  United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him. Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as my response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful! '

When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, 'In God We Trust,' and had to laugh. Yes, God, I get the message.

It seems that I have been finding an inordinate number of pennies in the last few months, but then, pennies are plentiful! And, God is patient..

Our Precious Daughter

We celebrate your birthday, as you turn 24 today,
but we have got the gift, just the perfect gift,
that on this very special day, God gave away,
a gift of love from up above, so unique and so rare

God has specially made you to the very tip of your nose,
as precious as a flower, as tender as a rose.
Fulfilled and blessed our lives we have and all because of you,
as sweet as honey, so innocent and pure

The twinkle of your eyes is brighter than any star,
the smiles you leave behind keep our days bright,
though our laps you have outgrown,
you will never outgrow our hearts

We watch and pray as you grow,
in love and in faith, in beauty and in grace,
you bring us joy and pure delight,
just to gaze upon your lovely face

Our hearts you keep warm and are with you wherever you may go,
and as you go on life's journey, only happiness may you find,
you are the joyful moments through our sorrow,
you are our hope and promise of our tomorrow

'cause you are our pride, our unconditional love we pledge,
'cause you are our joy, our undivided bond we cherish,
'cause you are our sunshine, our embrace is your shield through the rain,
'cause you are our little girl, our hugs and kissed will take away your pain

We asked God for a flower and He gave us a bouquet
we asked God for a minute and He gave us a day
we prayed to God for true love and He gave us that too
we prayed to God for an angel and He gave us you

May God bless you dear angel
especially on this day, that marks your birth,
for all the special ways you bring
a bit of heaven into our world

May God bless you, Today, Tomorrow and Always
in Peace in Health in Happiness and in Love

With Love,
Momma and Daddy

FYI

You've no doubt heard about people who have been abducted and had
their kidneys removed by black-market organ thieves.

My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years
ago. I went to sleep and woke up with someone else's thighs.
It was just that quick. The replacements had the texture of
cooked oatmeal. Whose thighs were these and what happened to
Mine? I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs.
Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my
life in jeans. And then the thieves struck again.

My butt was next. I knew it was the same gang, because they
took pains to match my new rear-end to the thighs they had
stuck me with earlier. But my new butt was attached at least
three inches lower than my original! I realized I'd have to
give up my jeans in favor of long skirts.

Two years ago I realized my arms had been switched. One
morning I was fixing my hair and was horrified to see the
flesh of my upper arm swing to and fro with the motion of
the hairbrush. This was really getting scary - my body was
being replaced one section at a time. What could they do to
Me next?

When my poor neck suddenly disappeared and was replaced with
a turkey neck, I decided to tell my story. Women of the
world wake up and smell the coffee! Those 'plastic' surgeons
are using REAL replacement body parts - stolen from you and
Me! The next time someone you know has something 'lifted',
Look again - was it lifted from you? 

THIS IS NOT A HOAX. This is happening to women everywhere
Every night. 

WARN YOUR FRIENDS! 

P. S. Last year I thought someone had stolen my Boobs. I was
lying in bed and they were gone! But when I jumped out of
bed, I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in
my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my
waistband.

I thought this was too 'important' not to pass on. Have a
wonderful day - with a joy filled heart. Always remember to
Laugh!! Helps the heart AND the wrinkles!!

P.P.S.   Those same thieves just came into my closet and shrank my clothes!
How do they do that????

** My Mom sent this to me thought you would enjoy it :-)**

Another Tornado!!

Yep, another funnel cloud was spotted in our area!!  I was outside getting the pool floats & laying my umbrella down when the wind first started - it was pretty scary.  The trees were creaking and cracking, all I wanted to do was get inside!!  We have a few limbs down in our yard, don't know if there was anymore damage to my daughter's home (they haven't lived there since the last storms)!!  The house across from us has a HUGE tree down, it took their power line to their house down.  Hubby was at a funeral when the storm hit, he came home to NO POWER (7 hrs!!!).  So what do you do to occupy a BORED hubby - take him shopping, lol!!!!  Okay we had planned to do some errands off the mtn. after he got home from the funeral - we had a nice time, paid some bills, got a few groceries & went out to eat!!  The bad thing was when we got home the power was still off - oh boy, HE DROVE ME CRAZY!!!  I felt sorry for the power guys, everytime they stopped on our street he was out there "trying to find out some info", !!!  I read a book & enjoyed the peace & quiet, lol .

Shhh, I don't want to say this too loud - we are empty nesters again, I've been getting the spare room setup as a guest room & hubby's "MAN CAVE" is his once again!!

Well that's all from the mtn. for now, take care & catch ya later.

Have a Blessed Day & God Bless You!
Gretchen

Booked Solid!!

It was a busy month last month with Relay for Life, our church's team raised $2822!!  Our goal was $2500 - WOO HOO!!!!  The month of June is booked also, this week we are having a Brush Arbor Revival at our church, next week is Vacation Bible School & then the next week we have a ladies outing planned & we are cooking a meal for the Ronald McDonald House - whew I'll need a vacation after this month - oh wait I can't go on vacation I'm babysitting my grandson Kelsyn while my DS & DIL are working - oh well!!  Not much else going on around here, really don't have time to get to some projects that have been patiently waiting for me.  Well I better, that's all from the mtn. for now, take care & catch ya later.

God Bless,
Gretchen

Busy, busy, busy

I'm sooo sorry I haven't been around much   We have been very busy w/ Relay for Life stuff, there's only 15 days left before the big night & alot of fundraising still to do.  I do have fantastic news, hehehe I'm just giddy about it, my DS & his wife have found an apartment & are moving out on the first of June!!!  Yeah EMPTY NESTERS AGAIN!!!  And this time I have laid the law down - Can't come back, okay if you have to move back I'M NOT REARRANGING MY FURNITURE!!!  They will just have to live w/ what I've done to the room & STORE THEIR STUFF   Not much else to report on, slowly getting my home deep cleaned (babysteps), working on Relay stuff & church - that's my life right now.

Better run, that's all from the mtn. for now, take care & catch ya later.

God Bless,
Gretchen

A Little Update :-)

Our new grandson has been home for almost 2 weeks now.  Was enjoying it until last week when my DIL's mother was released from jail & showed up here.  She is now staying here, she has no place to go & I'm going insane!!!  I'm trying to do the christian thing but finances were tight w/ 4 adults now it's even tighter with 5.  She was suppose to go stay w/ another daughter but the boyfriend said no, my DIL's mother told my son & her daughter to drop her off at the park & she will stay there - talk about a guilt trip!!!  Hubby & I are going to wait for a little while & if I don't see her making some effort to find another place to live and get a job I'm sorry but she has to go.  We feel it is not our responsibility to take care of her.  She was in jail for not paying child support, her probation officer violate her (don't know what she's on probation for) she spent 90 days in jail & as it's looking now she'll probably be violated again by the end of the month.  Am I wrong for not wanting her here?  Am I acting un-christian like?

Okay I got that off my chest   We had our annual Live Auction for Relay for Life this past Saturday, despite the rain & small crowd we did real well, we raised $2200.00!!  I got a few things, I'll take pics & post later.  I am looking so forward to this weekend - why? you ask because our ladies fellowship is having our annual Ladies Retreat - woo hoo!!  We rent cabins at Fall Creek Falls & have food, fellowship, food, games, food, massages, food, devotions & did I mention food, lol!!!  This year I'm in charge of games & oh boy did I find some fun games to play - he he he he he!!!  Can't give them away just yet - prying eyes

Let's see what else have I been up to - I've learned to crochet - OMWord LOVE IT!!!  I've made 4 scarves, 3 dish clothes & I learned last night & have started a hat.  I'm a crocheting fool, lol!!!! I've also got a hand quilting project almost done, it's just a practice piece but I'm enjoying it too, this craft takes a little longer to do & right now the crocheting helps w/ my stress level, uh um^^^^^^^^(first paragraph)^^^^^^^^!!!!

Well I better run I have a few things to do today - cupcakes to make for Relay Team mtg this evening, laundry, dishes & straighten the house back up.  So that's all from the mtn. for now, take care, pray for me & catch ya later.

May God Bless You & Your Day,
Gretchen