Jessie Anna 2005

It’s hard to imagine that it has been 6 years since these high school senior class pictures were taken.  The photographer freaked us out when he photo-shopped my smile into your mouth!!!!  As you can see we choice the braces over my teeth in your mouth, because that is who you were at the time…now you are a senior in collage and on to graduate school.

Jessie Anna: 2011

The Only Psalm...

PSALM 62, IS THE ONLY PSALM where the word “ONLY” IS SIGNIFICANT.

Truly=Only

Simple faith=confidence in God.

This Psalm talks about one of David’s greatest heartaches. A time in his life that was very dark.yet he is living above the storms, shocks, and stresses of life. This psalm has been a good one for me through some dark times too.

V.1 Only God can give salvation through faith.

V.2 He only is my rock and my defense I shall not be moved.

V.3 they the mischievous men, are running over him as a mob runs over a fence, but he says it’s all right if it is God’s will

V. 4 two faced-friends but still if God has permitted it so he would trust him even when they only consult to cast him down.

V.5 my soul waits only upon God; for my expectation is from him. David was truly in prayer because of the word expectation. Praying without ceasing for what truly is best.

V.6 He “only” is my rock

V.7 -8.Only God is my salvation, my glory my strength, my refuge.

V.9 Only God can be trusted because he is not fickle. As soon as we take our eyes off of only him and towards men then is when discouragement, disillusions and disappointments set in.

V.10 Men or material things are undependable….only God.

V.11 Only God has the power to do anything.  He has all the power and He can do anything he wants.

V.12 Only unto thee, O Lord, belongs mercy; for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Just a Gentle Reminder...

When you think of promises, you don't want to think of what's broken, of brokenness. It's human nature to want a sure thing and for someone to back up the certainties, guaranteed, no questions asked. But it's just like God to think of the unthinkable, to show us that the impossible is possible, that there is one kind of brokenness that holds everything together and in which promises are kept.

Great Idea and I Have Already Started A Pair.

The winter holiday probably has you and your friends dashing all over town to tie-up lots of little details. Take a much-needed breather and give those tired feet a rest with a homemade brown-sugar foot scrub and a pair of cozy Mary-Jane-style house slippers. The scrub will bring softness to overworked feet, and the house slippers will surround your toes in warming comfort.

Gather your Friends
Your friends will probably welcome the chance to sneak away from the winter holiday bustle. Invite them to your house to reconnect over these simple holiday craft projects that can make thoughtful homemade gifts. The adorable Homemade House Slippers made from felted wool sweaters may require some light sewing, but if you’re all thumbs with a needle and thread, try your hand at the Brown Sugar Foot Scrub. Use this handy Shopping List for all your project supply needs.
Project 1: Homemade House Slippers
Give old wool sweaters new life in these toasty House Slippers.

• Step 1: Get Materials: Look no further than your very own closet or a thrift store for a pure wool sweater, blanket, or coat to felt. Tightly-woven, 100% wool works best, so try to shy away from polyester blends. Buy some batting for insulation and a strip of hook and loop tape for the strap. If you love a few details, collect some extra buttons for accents.
• Step 2: Felt the Wool: Put your 100% wool sweater, blanket, or coat in the washing machine and wash it with a little bit of soap on the longest, hottest wash cycle. Then dry on high heat for as long as possible, but don’t forget to clean your lint filter several times throughout this step. Feel free to have everyone do this step at home before they arrive.
• Step 3: Cut Patterns: With your felted piece lying flat, trace the outer edges of each of your feet, twice for each foot, and cut out with scissors. These are the “soles” of your slippers, so leave a little bit of room on the outside edge to allow for seams. Cut two of these same-sized pieces from the batting. Then cut two “over-the-toe” pieces and two “strap” pieces.
  
• Step 4: So Sole-ful: Place one of the soles right side up on a flat surface. Top this piece with another sole lying right side down, and top this with a piece of batting. Using a needle and embroidery thread, whipstitch these three pieces together, or, if you feel like a tighter stitch, use a sewing machine. Leave space near the toe open, with enough room to turn the entire piece right side out. Once the right sides are facing out and the batting in is the middle, use a pen or pencil to shape the batting into place. You won’t have to close the top, since you will do that when you attach the top piece to the sole. Repeat for the other foot.
• Step 5: Top It Off: Fold the right foot over-the-toe piece in half, right sides touching, so the piece looks like a candy cane. Pin together at the toe and heel, and sew the heel edges together with a gradual curved line. This will start the heel. Next, pin the hooked edge of the “candy cane” to the center of the right foot sole at the toe (the hook should be facing in toward the slipper). Flip the over-the-toe piece inside out, and pin the heel of this piece at the corners at the sole. This shapes the heel of the slipper.
  Tip: To add some decorative reinforcement to the heel of the slipper, cut off the ribbed cuffs of your sweater, trim to fit around the heel and stitch on.
  Using a tight whipstitch, sew together the touching edges of the top piece and the sole. Repeat this process for the left foot pieces.
  Attach the straps across the tops of the two slippers with hook and loop tape and garnish with a button or two. Enjoy and stay warm!

Chritmastime Past.

 It's All About the STAR.

Homemade Christmas Fun 2010

What a fantastic five weeks I spent with Ma and Pa, this Christmas season. Wonderful in many ways, but mainly because I felt like that little girl that I was way back in the 50’s. Not long ago I found a letter that I had written to my Grandparents when I was twelve, telling them that I was putting up our tree, so it seems that even at that young age I was allowed to decorate.  I do remember that both my parents would be heavily involved in the production of our Christmas pageant. Ma was usually the costume designer and lead voice in the cantata.  Pa always had a new script to write and show to rehearse and produce.  The whole town would come and the birth of our Savior was portrayed each year to the thousands of natives from up and down the Amazon River and tribes that lived deeper in the jungle.

Obviously, I must have still “believed” in Santa Claus so the tree was very important to us to guide Rudolph to our home deep, deep, in the jungles of Brasil. And then what presents we all would receive.  Recycled wrapping paper (four years at least) and sometimes the gifts seemed a bit familiar as well…yet the thrill and JOY was beyond words and forever engraved in my memory