Just thought I would say Hi....

I wanted to stop by and post a little something and to let you all know that all is well and I am still alive. I don't really have anything on my mind today or lately. I just have been trying to catch up on some house work and some much needed rest. The body and the mind can get weary when we run, run, run from one thing to the next. The last few months have been that way, although I have enjoyed every project, duty or obligation. So for this week I am just trying to be a wife, a mother, and a grandmother as I wade through the house catching up and cleaning. Nothing heroic or out of the ordinary, but I must say I have enjoyed this week a lot.

Until Next Time
Joan

I've Been Shopping

I went to CVS this afternoon and purchased M&M's and made money. You ask me how did I do that? Well I am glad you asked. The M&M's were on sale and I had a coupon for $1 off 2 bags, then I had $1 ECB. So my M&M's were $3.39. I got home and looked at my receipt and I had 2, $2 ECB's and not 1 that I was expecting.

We then went on to Hickory to eat supper on a gift certificate that we had. I had a coupon for the restaurant also. We were also were able to stay on our diet. Whew. Supper was $1O for the 2 of us and that included the tip.

Before supper I went to Target while Alan went to Best Buy. I really scored there. My total was $65, and I only paid $15. This is what I purchased.

6 - 32 oz. All Liquid Detergents - 4.94 but they price matched to Big Lots of $2.50 then I had coupons for $3 off 2. So I got the detergent for $1 each.

4 - Nivea Body Washes - $2.99 - Target coupon for $1 off each, and manufacturing coupons for $2 off - so my body wash was FREE.

3 - Reach Access Flosses - $2.29 - $1 coupon each, so this was $1.29 each.

3 -Travel Size Tide Detergents - .97, I had a $1 coupon for each. FREE!!!!

1 - Johnson and Johnson Lotion Travel Size - .97, I had a $1 coupon. FREE!!!

1- Johnson and Johnson Shampoo Travel Size - .97, I had a $1 coupon. FREE!!!

2- Johnson and Johnson Band-Aids Travel Size - .97 each, and I had a $1 coupon for each, FREE!!!

1 - Olay Shower Lotion - $3.99, I had a $1 coupon, $2.99, pricey but I wanted to try this.

This was a savings of 77% not that I am counting. I was so excited with my purchases and I felt like a Proverbs 31 woman by being wise and frugal with our money.

In, With and Through Christ
Joan

There Is A Fountain Ladies Conference

Well our first ladies conference at Calvary Baptist Church is now only a memory. A very good memory. I enjoyed it so much and felt honored and humbled all at the same time to be a part of this conference. We had about 240 ladies in attendance for our conference.

Carol Kent was our keynote speaker. She did a fabulous job and such a sweet person. We had one speaker that is a retired missionary form Haiti and we were able to take up a special offering for the Haitian people. We challenged each lady to give $5, our total offering was $1700. Way to go ladies.

Thank all of you that worked so hard to make this conference a success, and thank all of you that attended to make this conference a success.

God is so Good
Joan

Super Busy/Super Tired

Well as we wind down this week for our 1st Ladies Conference at Church it is a busy week. We have done all the preparations that we could previously but there are always a few last minute things to accomplish.

But, yesterday, I bought groceries,took my daughter in law out to lunch,ordered the food for our conference, made several telephone calls, and had to return several more phone calls, cooked supper, Alan helped me work on what I am going to say at the conference for Friday night, and had Bible Study and prayer time with him also. Today, I have to go have a root canal, or have the tooth pulled. I have a hair appointment this afternoon, and then we are meeting at church to try and finish up our last minutes details. Wednesday and Thursday are Clayton days, and I imagine we will have some loafing to do but he is such a good traveling buddy he will hang with Gram and we will get done what we need to accomplish.

Then it's our Ladies Conference, and I do hope you are praying for us as we try to minster to the ladies that will be in attendance.

Until next time,
Joan

Ministering to the Hurting

Someone dear and precious to my husband and I is going through a difficult time right now(none of the situation is of their own making). My husband said to me this morning I am going to send them a text today that says Numbers 6:24-26. I am ashamed to say that I had to ask him what it said. He told me what it said and I also looked it up for myself. He did text this individual this scripture along with that this was what he was praying for them today.

After reading it, and pondering on it all day I have decided that this is scripture worth remembering when there are no words to be said to those that are going through difficult situations of any kind.(After all what better is there to quote or say than God's words). I am afraid sometimes we say nothing, or we say way to much. Sometimes we say all the wrong things and say way to much, but most people don't know what to say and wind up and saying nothing. When we say nothing people feel as if noone cares about them. People are hurting all over the world, just look around and you can find many to care about and minister too.

I ran across a statement when Nikki first learned of Joahnna's diagnosis that said simply "God is Faithful" and I have learned to use it a lot for others in any situation because God is faithful.

But, after today I will also tell others that I am praying numbers 6:24-26 for them.

Numbers 6:24-26
The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

So this is what I am praying for, for all of you that are reading this today.

Joan

Up and At IT...

I've been on the go since 5 this morning, and still have much left to do. I actually began waking up before the clock went off. I guess I was so excited to get up that early. Alan and I had our Bible Study together this morning, had a time of pray together, and then we were at the gym on the treadmill before 6AM, that's right 6AM.
Since he had to return to his teaching job this morning we had to get up and at it really, really early. I cooked a healthy breakfast for him when we returned,we had a few moments of down time and then he was ready and out the door by 8.(Whew, I'm tired).

While at the gym I was listening to "There is a Fountain" by Selah on my ipod. I found myself having to resist singing along with it, I wanted to world to know about HIM and that my sins are gone. This morning as we read Psalm 4 and discussed it, one of the things Alan pointed out to me was where David is talking to God in verses 1, and where David is talking to people in verses 2-6. I had not seen that in my reading.

David is telling those to whom he is talking to:
How long are you going to turn Gods glory into shame.
How long are you going to love vanity, and lying.
You need to stand in awe of God and the things of God, and sin not.
You need to trust the Lord and not yourselves

Does this sound like our world still today? Oh, that I would get a deeper grasp of God this year, it would change me and those all around me. So maybe I should have told someone at the gym about God today. David was bold and told those around him.

In, With and Through Christ

Happy New Year

Well today is the 1st day of 2010. Ten years ago some thought the world would stop because of the computer age turnover for the millennium year.I don't recall any tragedy's and has it really been 10 years ago.

But, today marks a new year for us all. Old things behind us and new thoughts dreams are ahead of us. What do you suppose this year will hold you? I'm sure it will be full of laughs, and heartaches for us all. But, God is so faithfully in ever situation and He and He alone knows what is ahead of us. I for one am glad that I can't see into the future and know what is coming.I honestly don't think any of us could deal with it if we knew what was ahead, we would try to avoid many situations, and hurry up and try to do many other things. But God is His divine wisdom knows exactly how to handle us all and every thing that we must go face.

For me some of the things I am looking forward to this year is I am going to try to spend more time reading my Bible and praying.(I must admit I get busy doing, and get so neglectful of this)Shame on me.

I am going to try to consistently eat more healthy and try to focus in on 1400 calories per day. I must plan and prepare ahead of time to accomplish this. I want to get back to exercising. 50 pounds this year is my goal to lose and to get off one of my cholesterol medicines and avoid blood pressure medicine.(I'm borderline right now)The Dr. told me I was going to be collecting pill bottles. Ouch!!! I want to try to slow down and be less busy.I want to be more thoughtful of other people and caring for what they are going through. I want to find ways to let them know that someone does care for them and has prayed for them and thought about them on such given day. I want to spend more time with my husband, not doing anything in particular but just hanging out, and my children and their families. Just enjoying one another because time is swiftly passing us all by.

So what are some of the things you are looking forward to this year?
Joan