Believe in miracles.

Please take the time to read this post:
 This took place in Porto Alegre, Brasil, South America.
No-one should have to go through this, I am sure it will take time to heal. 
These are friends who work with Word of Life, in Brasil. 

Subject: God's protection... Agnes gun robbery!

Just wanted to ask you to pray for our family… (the last weeks has been hard, with trials in our life and ministry). Just a couple hours ago Agnes had a gun on her head while robbers tried to take her hostage (we call it here “flash kidnap”, when they take you just for a few hours to cash money from your bank account…). By the grace of God nobody else was in the car and Agnes was fast enough to step out while the guy was trying to reach the keys and she could run away… (just waiting for him to pull the trigger)! Praise God for HIS protection, nobody was hurt, police came and start looking for the car… nothing so far, please pray they can find it because we don’t have any insurance (like most of Brazilians don’t, because it’s too expensive…). God knows!

We are home now, Agnes is doing better, the kids are a little scared, but are all fine… living in Brazil is an adventure! Just thought I could share it with you. Thanks for your prayers. Your friendship and support makes all the difference in times like this. God bless you, Thomas & Agnes Heb 12:1-2

Global Portuguese Outreach (Small Steps through that Open Door)

GPO.

We are just in the baby-step stage of our new ministry called  Global Portuguese Outreach...so please check out our website...www.globalportugueseoutreach.com   And then please begin to pray for us we take this step of faith.

 

When in doubt, just take the next small step.

I should specify that this small step should be forward, with a plan and a goal that helps you along the way!!!

My first walking steps (they tell me)took place at the age of 9(nine) months.  And apparently (also they say) I haven't stopped yet. Maybe because where I grew up every step could have been onto something venomous.  As children we learned to keep our eyes always alert for snakes and spiders and poisonous frogs and if (our vision) they failed us we sure learned how to scream"bloody murder" yes, it would put any opera singer out of business for sure......but that will be for another blog.

Let's go back to as far as Moses in the Old Testament as an example for a small step.  And I bet it was a small one too, probably his big toe first; if he was a temperature-testing freak. But what an outcome it had.

Then I remember listening on our old Zenith radio, deep in the Amazon Jungle the famous,"Neal Armstrong quoting

"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind." as he became the first to literally walk on the moon..  One of my favorite TV shows is dancing with the stars...all those amazing dance steps.  I have threatened my husband into taking dance lesson because I am so impressed.

Of course even if there's a doubt about the future or direction you are going to take you won't know or/give it the benefit of that doubt, unless you do take IT!!! That SMALL step.  Trying is always the way to go.

Faith....is one of life's long time companion.Without it there wouldn't be Hope. And with out them life would be very boring.

That is me(below) in my designer diapers...worlds first bikini-cut style taking my first  small step.

Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

Whatever doesn't kill you....like driving through a tremendous rain down-pour to pick up Lawrence this after- noon.....saw a car hydroplane off the road,  the whole time thinking it's going to ME  next..  I gripped the stirring wheel so hard my knuckles turned white, and I had to practically peel them from the stirring wheel after I got there because they sort of froze in place.

Did it make me stronger?  Probably,  because of the experience-and the fact I arrived safely to my destination.(a little late, but none the less I arrived) with more courage to do it again.(maybe)

The whole time I kept saying why do I have to be going through this and Lord make it stop raining.

Such is life, there are struggles/fears/situations/issues  we will have to go through that we say I can't do this  it's "killing"me but in the end it really does make you stronger.

I promise!!!

Cindi's Very Simple Black Beans.

2 cans (15) black beans...I like Bush but most any are good. Progesso skimps on the beans...
1 small onion
2 chopped garlic teeth
2 fresh tomatoes or 1 cup of diced canned tomato
1-1 1/2 cups of beef or chicken broth
1 handful of slightly minced cilantro/cheiro verde
1 bay leaf
dash of cumin.
dash of chili powder (OPTIONAL)
salt and pepper to taste
olive or veg. oil

SAUTE: chopped onion, garlic.and tomato in oil until onion is transparent.
Add cilantro and bay leaf
broth
salt/pepper/cumin/chili bring to boil
rinse the beans and add to broth
turn down to a simmer and simmer for at least 30 min. as you make the rice.
Don't over boil it.
Sometimes I add bacon instead of oil for variety.
I serve garnished with Jack cheeses and wedge of lime...o and maybe a dollop of sour cream.
Enjoy!!
P.S. This goes especially with Pork of any kind... pork chops,Loin.pork steak. pulled pork roast

Time heals almost everything, give time time.

I've heard it say that everyone should allow any kind of tragedy at least  eight years to stabilize itself  into acceptance. In other words your life will feel normal again or will have adjusted to the present state of living. I will try to list some of these things that I assume would cause pain or that have me personally. Not all but some of these are personal or necessarily in this order.

Death

Divorce

Barrenness

Gossip

Being lied to

Cheating

Perverted film

Moving

Sibling  rivalry

Near death experiences.

Words

Own actions.

Boarding house Life

ETC.

"They"say to talk about how the hurt is affecting you both physically and mentally.  Then, "they" say, ask yourselves why you react this way and/or that way and it goes on and on tell the prognosis is blamed on something else or one.( which to me really doesn't fix it at all.)

My opinion is this if after,said eight years and the pain persists then it was there for the purpose of helping others heal. So at least reach-out and  help some one else. Lending them a shoulder to cry on or arms to hug could subdue pain a bit. But don't give up give TIME time.

Take a deep breath, it calms the mind.

Lawrence called yesterday morning informing that he had a arrived safely but very tired.. His luggage arrived too.  He is a trooper and goes with the flow, I even think he makes friends and it almost becomes a social affair for him on these incidences.. After what should have been a 8 hour day(turned out to be15) he barely hit the pillow before he conked out. Not me!When I am asked,  why don't you go....I don't like mechanical situations and then rerouting issues and  then worrying if the luggage got on the rerouted flight  to the same destination.  I don't love flying either.  I have had too near to crashing experiences. Nope, don't enjoy it much at all.  Now I like and will make the effort to see family members....  but the shadow of doom and gloom begins haunting me half way into the visit knowing I have to get on the plane to get back home...I know there is a name for this syndrome...that's right  Sindrome. But I just can't help it...I have this chant, as we are taking off mostly...I say, absent from the body present with the Lord...absent from the body present with the Lord....Psalms 139, is a good one too. My husband has this upgrade card that is so wonderful because in my mind, first class section won't crash, right. Lately', I have been taking Victoria Josephine with me, for some odd reason this 10 lb. Min Pin is quite the comfort.  I suppose it helps me take my mind off myself ....plus when I leave her home she sits wherever she knows I should be and howls her little self to death.. She looks like a coyote in a western film...this is what they tell me and it is so pitiful too I understand.  Plus, To-Jo(nickname) is such a good girl..yes she is;  yet no one jumps to dog-sit for her like they will for our Sofie Marie our nine year old Min. Schnauzer.

I have decided to post a reliable recipe every Friday blog...and for those that know me I have tweaked these to make them my very own  so stay tuned for Fridays Food Preparation Fun..segment.

What the famliy means to me....

Taking time to smell the roses can mean many things. But it means the most when you are around family.  I don't think I could be friends with anyone (well maybe almost, I should say, couldn't relate to...or it would be like the ying without the yang for me if...) that person could  just look at a beautiful, open, bloom of a flower and didn't take the time to smell it's fragrance. No, sis-ta that ain't right!!! No way, no how.

So it should be with our family. Each one should be enjoyed for what and who and why they ARE!!! Each has it's own special beauty and they are the ones that have had a special spot in my garden of life, and (I might add) will for ever be itched in my memory. I have so many wonderful people in my life that I hope I have taken the time to express that to ALL of them.

Like, for instance, today was one of my most precious sisters birthday.  Of all  my loved ones she ranks pretty high up there. Suely', you have been one of the rarest of all.  I thank you!

So, join me, if you like in ...this beautiful God-tied bouquet, that has been my Life.  ENJOY!

I better get to the news...hope all is well.  I also am waiting for Lawrence to call after his awful day of travel to tell he arrived w/baggage to his destination!!! 

Here's a shout out o my beautiful namesake...she doesn't know this but she has inspired me to start blogging...love you Cindi Lou Roo!!!

Taking time to see...

The Fall in the Adirondacks.