Because He Lives we can say...."Happy Resurrection Day!!"

This is one of my favorite hymns!


God sent his son
They called him Jesus
He came to love
Heal and forgive
He lived and died
To buy my pardon
An empty grave
Is there to prove
My Savior lives

(Chorus)
Because he lives
I can face tomorrow
Because he lives
All fear is gone
Because I know
He holds the future
And life is worth the living
Just because he lives

(Verse 2)
How sweet to hold
A newborn baby
And feel the pride
And joy he gives
But greater still
The calm assurance
This child can face
Uncertain days
Because he lives

(Chorus)

(Verse 3)
And then one day
I'll cross the river
I'll fight life's final war with pain
And then as death
Gives way to victory
I'll see the lights
Of glory and
I'll know he lives

(Chorus 2xs)

A Question For You! ???????????????????????

As we celebrate Spring, and think of summer, and plan outings, and maybe vacations, and such...as we budget and plan, and maybe lament that we can't take our beloved vacation.....could we all ponder this question???

"When you and I come to the end of our life, supposing that we had ALL of the wealth in the world, and supposing we took all of our PERFECT vacations, would we look back and say that ANY of that brought us satisfaction?? Can we measure success in that way? If there is a poor orphan dying because they have no food, or a young fellow in your neighborhood going down to hell because he has NO ONE to show him the way to heaven, wouldn't serving those people be a better way to live than accumulating great wealth, or having taken great vacations?"

Looking back on the little things in my life as of late, I would rather have them than all of the gold in the world. When I come before the judgement seat at the day of reckoning, my "success": will be measured in no other way than by what the gospel of Jesus Christ has enabled me to do. Christ has led my husband and family into some of the bleakest places on earth, but we have NEVER been sorry that we have obeyed His call. The truth is, I don't have to wait to get to heaven to get my rewards. I get them every day in the satisfaction of living out the mission field that God has me in. By serving my husband, and mothering my children, I know that I am doing something that the Master approves of. That is what He did while He was here on earth....He helped people, and if we want to follow Him, that is what we have to do, too! Every time one of my orphans that I call my son or daughter, cares for another orphan with such love and compassion. Such amazing encouragement that they NEVER received before coming here, I see God's love in action, and this my dear friends, is worth ALL of the gold and precious jewels in the world!

  

Our Jonny Boy is Double Digits Now!! Wow!!

Yesterday was a double celebration. We were excited to celebrate Jon's 10th birthday, and also the last snow storm of winter, too! Jon didn't mind at ALL to share his special day with lots of snow!! Below are the preparations the night before!

 Here is Jonny Boy taking off his final ring from his birthday chain that seemed to last a loooonnngggg time!

 Remember how long it was 2 months ago???? It was 59 days until Jon's birthday! That seemed such a long time away...especially to Jonny!

But there he is...no more rings left! The day has actually come!!

 On the menu for Jon?? He was so excited to choose foods from our new THM eating plan!!
Breakfast was...Trim Healthy Pancakes (and yes..I made Jon a giant one, and yes..I snuck in a few chocolate chips, too, for the birthday boy and other kiddos!) and yes...we used our own maple syrup, too! Yum! He also chose grape juice and bacon, too! Yummy!

 Jon talks with Grampa who called from Florida to wish Jon a Happy Birthday!!!

 Oh yes...and I forgot to mention...the muchly anticipated coffee for the birthday boy! Because..what would using the fancy china be like if we couldn't use the coffee cup, too?? Right?

 The whole gang at breakfast!!  Oh yes...and another bonus of the snowy day...Glenn stayed home! Yeah!! Such a blessing!

 After breakfast...it was present opening time!

 Edward helps to read some cards!

 Here he is in some of his camo gear he got for his birthday! Wow! Can you see him now???

 He got a really cool water bottle filled with lots of great survival gear!

 Here he gets a call from his Big Sister Brittany wishing him a Happy Birthday, too! What a popular guy he is!

 For lunch he picked tuna salad, and then some cream pops for dessert! Yum!

 Here are the chunky cream pops...a highly recommended THM recipe!

 shots of the snow! Soooooo beautiful!

 For supper Jon picked cheeseburger pie, a garden salad, oopsie rolls, and peanut squares for dessert! Great choices Jon!

 After supper Jon asked if we could play Uno Roboto. A really fun version of Uno! And...the team of "the busy bees" (Jon and Edward) won! Yeah!!!

 What a blessed day! Jon...you are an amazing young man, and it is so neat to see God's plans for you in action! I can't believe you are 10! You truly are an amazing part of our family, and we love you sooooo much! (even though by this time next year you'll be MUCH taller than any of us, we predict!)

A fun thing Jon got yesterday are: 2 M.R.Es... which are meals ready to eat! Military issue. He got marinara sauce with meatballs and chicken and dumplings. His plan is to take them to church with us on Sunday and share them with his kindred spirit in military things...Michael Collomy!!! 

Happy 10th Birthday Jon!

I prayed for a Ninja!

 "Ask and it shall be given unto you! Seek and ye shall find!"....Matthew 7:7.

 Have any of our heard of a Ninja? What comes to mind? Are you surprised that I would pray for one? Well...before you think I have gone off the deep end.......this is a Ninja...........

Ninja QB900B Master Prep Revolutionary Food and Drink Maker, Gray

by Ninja

4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (256 customer reviews) | Questions? Ask the owners and get fast answers

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List Price: $49.99 Price: $46.75 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping. Details You Save: $3.24 (6%) In Stock. Sold by Glorious Montana and Fulfilled by Amazon. Gift-wrap available. Want it Tuesday, March 19? Order within 35 hrs 55 mins, and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details 12 new from $34.19 2 used from $29.98 48-Ounce blender and 16-Ounce food processor bowl with interchangeable power pod Ergonomic operation with one touch pulsing puts all of the power in the palm of your hand Ninja blade technology for uniform cutting and ice crushing action to create creamy frozen drinks and desserts Anti-spill splash guard and non-slip bases Removable parts are dishwasher-safe

 

You see...My family and I have been on a new healthy eating plan for the last 2 weeks.

 

And on this eating plan there has been a LOT of chopping, blending, mixing, and smoothie making! I mean a LOT!!!! And so...I was using my tried and true low end black and decker blender and food processor. They have now taken on a permanent place on my counter! Several of my friends have and love their Ninjas. So...I had been praying that God would provide me with a Ninja...if He would be so kind!

So...fast forward to yesterday. Glenn and I were on some errands and we stopped at one of our favorite places to poke around. It's lovingly known as "the barn". It's 3 stories of indoor yard sale paradise! Jim, the owner, does estate clean outs, and buys things in lots and such, and puts it all in the barn! Some might say it's junk...but to others it is a treasure hunt! That includes us! It's open on Saturdays and Sundays, rain or shine, dead of winter of heat of summer!

 

Okay...so we went to the "barn", and poked around. I was specifically looking for a small piece of furniture that I could organize Rosie's toys on in the living room, AND...a step stool for my friend Louisa so she can reach her kitchen cabinets! So.....I begin looking around and I was soooo excited to find this...

(Of course I've already put it into place)! Isn't it lovely? The bottom is a nice deep drawer that I put toys in, too. Out of sight! I just LOVE it! My rule is...whatever fits in the little bureau are all of Rosie's toys that are allowed in the living room.  So that was only $6.00! And...I am remiss in not buying the matching one, as I love this one so much I am thinking I'd have a spot in the living room for the matching one, too. Maybe it will still be there next week when I go! It's the kind of thing where..."I should have bought it when I saw it at the barn!".....So......I kept poking around. Sorry Louisa, I didn't find a step stool for you there, but God had other plans for that...I'll fill you in later! So...I found the blender container part of a brand new Ninja in the kitchen supply area of the barn. "Wow!"...I thought! This is soooo cool. So I went to "Bubba"..one of the guys who works in the barn. Yes...his nickname really is Bubba. Isn't that the perfect name  for someone who works at an old barn selling junk in NH?? Maybe some folks think they are down South for a few minutes when they hear his name. However, being only 15 degrees outside yesterday, and having this be a very old barn with lots of leaks, you could see your breath in there and you new you must be up North. Okay...so I digress...so Bubba says..."Hey...that came in a big box on Saturday here, and I didn't know where all of the parts were so I didn't put them together. " So he fished around and found a couple of other parts. We tried and tried to get them to work...but alas...parts were missing. So...I thought to myself...that's okay...God must have other plans of answering my prayers, and I went on my way looking around some more. Then Bubba's friend was able to get the Ninja working, and I went back to that section with Bubba to look around for more parts again. We scoured the area, but no other parts. Then God prompted me..."Look up, Mary...look up"..and so I did. Bubba saw me looking on the top shelf and he said..."The only other thing that came in that box last week as this other big huge commercial blender!"...Looking up, I saw 2 words that jazzed me right up...."Vita-Mix" ....Oh my...I thought....This is a wonderful thing! Have you heard of a Vita Mix? Let me share this with you!

Vitamix 5200s Black : Featuring Variable Speed Control and Large Capacity 64oz Container - 

by Vitamix

4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews) | Questions? Ask the owners and get fast answers

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Price: $468.95 In Stock. Ships from and sold by OhYeah Trading Company. 23 new from $453.75 1 used from $459.00     So....do you see the starting price new???? This one is on Amazon! It's an amazing blender! Well...This is what I saw on the top shelf at the barn!   So..you can see...It has the 2 blender containers. One for dry and one for wet mixing. The blades are different. It also came with the plunger. (that's a whole other story that I'll tell you in a bit)--A total God thing! So how much do you think they wanted for it??....Would you like to take a guess???? You aren't going to believe this!! Drum roll please............................................................

That's right......only $5.00!!! Oh my goodness! I had gone in there with $20.00 cash, and that was my budget. With the few other purchases (including tea cups and saucers for Maddie's bright light's group), I was now up to $10.00. So I could afford this gift from the Lord. I call Glenn over in a quiet voice. You see...we had checked out Vita Mix blenders a few years ago, but didn't buy one due to the amount of money! I showed him the blender...still up on the top shelf. still up where God showed it to me....I showed Glenn the brand and the price and Glenn said..."Let's get it!"...and we took it down and bought it. Now Bubba had showed me the black plunger. 

 

But we had NO idea what it was for. He thought it just randomly came in the box from the auction, and that it went with a meat grinder, so we didn't take it with our purchase. Fast forward. We got home, and I called my friend Louisa, who is also on the new eating plan, and asked her if she'd like to have my food processor, and my blender, and my coffee grinder and I told her about our wonderful find at the Barn. She couldn't believe it! She started telling me her sister in law has a Vita Mix and how wonderful it is! She then mentioned that it also has a special plunger to push the food down, and how great that is! "What???? I said......that was the plunger thingy that Bubba showed me!!!"...so I was so thankful that I mentioned it to Louisa, and she said that! Thank you God!! So back to the barn Madelyn and I went, and we got the plunger!

 Thank you God! Now about the step stool for Louisa. We didn't find one at the barn. But...Martha had one at home when we brought her home. So...we were able to get that for Louisa, too! What a wonderful day!!! Praise be to God!