March Musings - Day 29

One of my favorite things to do is discover what someone likes, and send a splurged gift to them every once in a while. For example, I discovered recently that John likes 3 Musketeers, so whenever he isn't around, I get one to surprise him when I see him next. Or if I discover a friend loves letters, I'll make sure to write them frequently. Or if a friend loves tea, I make sure to send them some every now and then. Well, I'm super excited today because I found out about a book one of my friends likes, so I decided to get them to add it to their collection! Ahhhh I hope they like it!

No One Told Me

No one told me I'd be sick for a year

and my love of dancing and singing would veer.

No one said that a daily migraine would be

something constant to keep sanity.

No one asked if I'd like to be sick

or if my tears would fall till my cheek was slick.

No one informed me that my fatigue

would feel like I'm constantly hiking a league.

No one questioned if I'd like this at all

but would you want to hang out this fall?

No one needed to ask me a thing

or tell me that this wasn't a one time fling.

No one let me know

that God would make me grow.

No one could tell me that my heart would break

and that some days I'd feel like a fake.

No one would say about the intimacy

I'd grow with God infinitely.

No one should ever get sick for a year

and let their favorite hobbies veer.

No one wants to have a migraine every day

yet I'd never ask God to not have His way.

No one knows that if it weren't for this

I wouldn't know letter writing bliss.

No one mentioned that this trial

would make me fight to find joy each mile.

No one explained each day I'm blessed with 

is truly a gift from God, (and that's not a myth).

No one comprehended how this would be

effective to my testimony and future ministry.

No one treasures sickness of such

yet I do as I have been strengthened so much.

No one may be able to say

Moriah lived joyfully each day.

Yet I pray that someone will say,

God worked on her faithfully each and every day!

Poem by Moriah Peters ~ Written the other day when pondering the past year as I've dealt with pneumonia, mono, and frequent migraines.

Photos by Josh Vanosdell ~ Hello, my name is Joshua Vanosdell. I'm just a beginner photographer. I was born and raised in Louisiana but now live in New Mexico. Thats where most of my pictures are taken now. It has been a culture change for me in New Mexico, but it has its perks. I've been living there now for 5 years and I just love it. If you want to check out more of my photography you can follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Google+.

Valuing Life: Beginning to End

Our guest post today is from the lovely Eden. She is 15 years old and enjoys studying God's Word, spending time with family and friends, dancing, singing, and much more! You can visit her blog at:

www.edensevaluations.blogspot.com

Life... the very word brings so many pictures, thoughts, and ideas into my mind.  One of these thoughts would, of course, be my life. I have one amazing family consisting of seven awesome brothers and sisters and two incredible parents.  I also have lots of fun cousins, aunts and uncles, and dear grandparents.

As I look over my family tree, I see a picture of a generational, pro-life family, who has always valued life, from conception to life’s completion.

All of this reminded me of the quippy Dr. Seuss quote, “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”* But to me, it seems like something is missing from that quote... something that we are going to discover in just a moment.

Life is defined by the one who created it... God.  Life begins at conception and continues until God decides that time is up.

Sadly, many people today do not believe that life is a precious gift; they don’t seem to understand that life is a blessing from the Lord. Unfortunately, from times past until now, we have seen the destruction and devaluing of human life through abortion, extermination, and euthanasia.

All around us, innocent lives are being purposefully killed and eradicated.

People are deceived and tricked... they do not see that every stage of life, from the womb to the end, is absolutely priceless.  Lisa Wingate quotes, “...Every child, no matter how tiny in the womb, must be welcomed into the world, for each child is a gift of love from God. Therefore, abortion is never the answer, for abortion kills.”* Nobel prize-winning author, Pearl S. Buck says,“Euthanasia is a long, smooth-sounding word, and it conceals its danger as long, smooth words do but the danger is there, nevertheless.”* Just like abortion and extermination, euthanasia is murder as well.

Now, looking back at Dr. Seuss’s quote, I would add, “A person’s a person, no matter how small... or big.”  Life is a miracle and a tremendous gift from God. We see this in Psalm 139:14 which says, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” We are knit together in our mother's womb, formed by the very hand and in the image of God Almighty! That is indescribable!!!

We have, are, and will always be in a battle for life.  So in closing, I urge you to continue the fight for the gift of life... to publicize to the world that life is incomparable, and therefore, we must always value it; from beginning to end.

Footnotes:

*“Horton Hears a Who!” By, Dr. Seuss

*www.miamiarch.org

*www.quotes.dictionary.com

A Hope Chest

There comes a time in a girl's life when she should start a hope chest. I started mine in a Rubbermaid shoe box, it grew to a tote a couple sizes up that is almost full. I have a real wooden one, but my sisters play with it! ( :~) And I don't mind a bit!)

The history behind the hope chest:

A hope chest, dowry chest, cedar chest, or glory box is a chest used to collect items such as clothing and household linen, by unmarried young women in anticipation of married life. The term "hope chest" or "cedar chest" is used in the midwest or south of the United States; in the United Kingdom, the term is "bottom drawer"; while "glory box" is used by women in Australia. 




This is what I have in my hope chest.

A couple Christmas dishes.

A teapot from my Great Grandmother and a homemade bar of soap.

A table runner and pillow cases made by my Great Grandmother. She did such an awesome job on my pillow cases and table runner.

A quilt made my by other Great Grandmother, and a couple sets of white curtains. The white curtains were given to me by my Grandma. I've used them in my room and for plays my sisters and I have put on.

A patriotic table runner I made, and a jar from my Great Grandmother. She stores macaroni hers. The cool part about the jar is it has measuring notations on the side. It can hold up to 2 cups. 

A set of tins from my Great Grandmother, and a toothbrush holder. The tins match so I could line them up. I'll probably store tea in the tins like my Mom does with her tins. :~)

A couple candle holders from my Great Grandmother (I have a matching candy dish, but I can't find it) and a set of salt & pepper shakers. I bought the salt and pepper shakers at a flea market or antique store. I saw them and I knew I would want a set for my hope chest.

This is a "welcome" pillow I made. It is about 10 inches long and 5 inches high. I made it to put by my door someday. It was one of the first things I put in my hope chest. It was with the patriotic table runner, salt & pepper shakers, and curtains for the longest time.

These are little figurines for fall. The 3 tall ones are from a sweet lady who moved away and the 2 short ones are from my Great Grandmother.

This isn't the best picture but it is what I got. It is a ribbon and a beaded garland. The garland is from a wedding in which I was a flower girl. I had it over my bed on the curtain rod with the ribbon for a while. I switched it out recently for a dark green balance.

This is what I have in my hope chest. Have you ever had or started one?

2 days till X'mas

Presents are bought, most of them wrapped.

Snow is almost a foot deep in some spots and 3 in others.

Sleds are out and ready to go when ever we want.

The house is decorated and pretty festive. Thought it doesn't compare to the people with 80 Christmas trees.

Dad has the week off!

We have Christmas dresses waiting to be set out.

And God is with us.

Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23
"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him "Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

5 days till X'mas

Ornaments!!

They make great gifts.

You can make Cinnamon Ornaments.

Or paper ornaments with sequins, and more!

What do you like to make to give as gifts?

Candy canes??

10 days till X'mas

A poll:

How many of you have made presents?

How many of you have bought presents?

How many of you have hid presents?

How many of you have presents in plain sight?

How many of you have wrapped presents?

How many of you are frantically trying to figure out what to do? ;~) 

“Three phrases that sum up Christmas 

are: Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men,

and Batteries not Included”. 

~ English Proverb quote

22 days till X'mas

We put our Little People Nativity sets up!

This is last year's picture, the manger scene is currently being played with, like it is meant to be! :~D

Matthew 1:18-25

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

25 day's till X'mas

Prophecy foretelling Jesus' birth

Isaiah 9:6

 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This is the reason for the season!!!!!

Young Ladies and Gentlemen

1 Timothy 4:12-16


¹² Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. ¹³ Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
¹⁵ Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶ Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

When you work for the Lord, do not feel bad that you are young.

Serve him with your gift the way he wants you to.

:~D

28 days till X'mas

An easy and cheap Christmas present!

It only costs $107,300!

That is right, it is that cheap.

I read 2 different articles on a popular carol.

The 12 days of Christmas.

According to one source:

Cost of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" gifts

• Partridge: $15 (last year: same)
• Pear tree: $189.99 (last year: $169.99)
• Two turtle doves: $125 (last year: same)
• Three French hens: $165 (last year: $150)
• Four calling birds (canaries): $519.96 (last year: same)
• Five gold rings: $750 (last year: $645)
• Six geese a-laying: $210 (last year: $162)
• Seven swans a-swimming: $7,000 (last year: $6,300)
• Eight maids a-milking: $58 (last year: same)
• Nine ladies dancing (per performance): $6,294 (last year: same)
• 10 lords a-leaping (per performance): $4,767 (last year: same)
• 11 pipers piping (per performance): $2,562 (last year: $2,428)
• 12 drummers drumming (per performance): $2,776 (last year: $2,630)

That is a lot!

Now if you want a cheaper version of this, go to your local library and see if they have "Emma's Christmas".  It is a sweet book about a girl who is given the gifts everyday for 12 days by a handsome prince. They fall in love and live happily ever after. The End.

So next time you want a cheap present, scratch the 12 days of Christmas off your list, unless it is the book! 

:~D

40 days till X'mas

Wrapping presents can be fun, funny, or just plain annoying!

A fun way to wrap presents is to wrap them in the comic section of the newspaper.

A funny way to wrap presents would be to wrap them in a box that is totally different than the object inside.

A annoying way to wrap presents is when you run out of tape.

Are you a "perfectionist" wrapper or a "who cares" wrapper? 

41 days till X'mas

A good old fashioned shopping guide.

I love Messy Mondays!

Email readers must click through to see the video.

Thoughtful Thursday: Stars

I am studying Astronomy, the first quarter of school. And every time I read, or watch something about stars and outer space, I am in awe.

Psalm 148:3-4

Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.
 Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.


Awe of what OUR God, the ONLY God can make.

Psalm 33:6
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

Planets in our solar system, each created uniquely, from
Jupiter's size to
Saturn's rings to
Mars' red socks to
Mercury so close to the sun,
and the rest, including dwarf, are equally fascinating.

Psalm 136:7-9
Who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
⁸ the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
⁹ the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.


The sun, a ball of gas, God strategically placed in the sky so we could live here.
It is our light during the day. "The greater light to govern the day." (Genesis 1:16)


The moon, an amazing rock, that glows at night. To "govern the night." (Genesis 1:16)

Psalm 8:3
When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place.

Stars so bright, you can see them from where we are.  "He also made the stars." (Genesis 1:16)

Psalm 147:4-5
He determines the number of the stars
    and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
    his understanding has no limit.

Galaxies, billions of miles away, but look through telescopes and see them like you can touch them.

Isaiah 40:26
Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
    Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
    not one of them is missing.

Say thank you to God for his "Starry host" that he created!