Hodgepodge Wednesday

From This Side of the Pond

My friend, Linda at Just Simply Linda

(you'll find her link at the bottom)

links up with 

From the Side of the Pond

(you'll find her link above)

to answer random get-to-know-you questions.

I thought it would be fun to do this 

since I'm having a blogger's block today.

1. Do you manage your own money or do you have a financial planner who helps in some way? I do a horrible job of taking care of the money because there never is enough to go around and I must confess sometimes I rob from Peter to pay Paul when I go to see my children.  That's been alot lately.

2. The second week of October is Pet Peeve Week. Off the top of your head, share TWO of your current pet peeves. Clutter on the dining room table.  My family knows this.  The house can be a mess but the kitchen table must be clean and clutter-free.  The other thing that peeves me is people not being real.  Say what you mean and mean what you say is my philosophy.

3. What is one thing you'd like to learn right now, this very week if you could? As for life -lessons to learn, I'd like to learn to be content.  As for the how-to lessons, I'd also like to take a photography class. 

4. How concerned are you about the recent health related news concerning Ebola? How about Enterovirus D68? I'm more concerned with the state of our nations and our relationship with Israel.  I'm more concerned about terorrist attacks and the future of our country spiritually, economically, and with international affairs. 

5. Garfield, Nemo, or Tigger-your favorite orange cartoon character? I'm a hyperactive Tigger, and I'd like to adventure out like Nemo, but I let fear hold me back.

6. I'm going to see Gone Girl with my neighborhood book club this week. So often books made into film are disappointing. What's a book turned film you thought was well done, in that the casting was 'like you pictured' when you read the book, and the film plot remained mostly true to the book plot? The Notebook by Nicolas Sparks. Both the book and the movie were heart-wrenching.  One of those good-cry writes. 

7. What is one story your family always tells about you? The time I got tickled during family prayer time and peed in my pants. My daddy was praying and passed gas and kept right on praying. Me and mama got tickled and puddled the floor.  Seriously!

8. Insert your own random thought here. Blogging has become my favorite hobby.  Since my parents death, I find it hard to connect with "real" people, but I'm finding that the friends I've made here are more real than the people I meet on a daily basis or that I've known forever. Sad, but true.  I'm so tired of the pretense. 

Hodge Podge Wednesday with Linda

Ten Books That Influenced My Life the Most

Recently, I was asked to name

ten books that have influenced my life the most.

Now, I'm an avid reader 

and I read just about anything.

That is, when Ms. Callie doesn't get in my business.

All I need is a good cup of coffee

and I can read forever.

As you can tell, I'm a big Nicholas Sparks fan. 

He's the kind of writer that mixes in 

a little romance, family and a deeper message

than what appears on the surface.

His books are what I call easy reading,

the kind I read at the beach. 

I read alot of suspense and mystery, 

drama and action,

and books about the CIA and FBI.

Although reading those books is fun, 

they don't give me inspiration.

The following books have challenged and inspired 

me to live a life worthy of my calling

that is in Christ Jesus, my Lord. 

1. The Bible- I hid God's Word in my heart as a young child and the Holy Spirit uses it to remind me of His promises, His comfort, His help, and His love. 
2. Jesus Calling, Sarah Young- This book was given to me during one of the darkest moments of my life.  It's a go-to book when I need to hear God speak through His Word and I don't know where to begin to look.
3. Is it Spiritual Warfare? This has taught me that when there are problems with people that it is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of the dark, evil world.  
4. Believing God, Beth Moore-This challenged me to live a life of faith and to come boldly to the throne to ask anything in His name. 
5. I Love the Word Impossible, Ann Kiemel Anderson-Challenged me to love youth and inspired me to actively teach and live love by caring for the teen that noone else wants to reach.
6. Forgotten God, Frances Chan-Wow!  Through this book, I learned much about the Holy Spirit and began to see His active role in my live today.
7. The Shack, William Paul Young-Helped me understand the personalities of the Triune God.
8. The Five Love Languages-This is one that I've just finished teaching our career class.  It has helped me to understand and and appreciate the language that others speak, especially within relationships. 
9. Streams in the Desert, L. B. Cowan-A classic devotional book for encouragement during the storms.
10. God Loves Broken People, Sheila Walsh-I have lived in brokenness the past five years, losing both parents, Christy and Troy's sickness and infertility, finding my idenity without my parents and children.  I have found that there is hope and transformation even when life is at its darkest.

Grab a mug of coffee or tea

and read along with me. 

Tell me, what do you read?

Bonnie:)

Ironstone and Primitives or Lace and Promises?

I hear the rumblings of rain.

Oh, how we need it.

I miss my children on Sunday nights 

more than any other time in the week.

So I blog and find connection.

It's here that I find the community 

that I so long for. 

I found this great book at Goodwill in Nashville.

Thumbing through the pages, I thought of Francine 

at Primitive Stars.

Meet Francine

The book is full of Primitives. 

I love ironstone and primitives and white lace and promise

so I flipped to my favorite pages. 

Yesterday I found this pretty ironstone platter 

in one of the shops.  Two platters for $4.

I love the scalloped edges. 

I recently added a stack of saucers to my collection 

of ironstone.  I will go back and pick up 

the stack of plates if they are still there this weekend. 

When the kids were little, mama always grilled hamburgers

 after church on Sunday nights.

When my parents became "little", I made

breakfast on Sunday nights. 

Feeling a bit melancholy tonight.

Blessings for a great week, 

Bonnie:)

ann kiemel: Excerpt: "I'm Out To Change My World" Ann Kiemel...

ann kiemel: Excerpt:  "I'm Out To Change My World"  Ann Kiemel...: Excerpt:  "I'm Out To Change My World"  Ann Kiemel, 1974 June one day a girl came in on her bicycle. she had another frie..



I am sitting her crying after reading about Ann Kiemel Anderson's death.  I started reading her books in 1975.  As a young teenager, I wanted to be Ann.  She was a simple young woman, with a simple message that she shared everywhere she went.  She, like me, was a Nazarene PK who simply wanted to share Jesus.  I read every book she ever wrote.  I went to see Ann in Augusta, GA in 1978.  I started my own Ann Kiemel/Jesus crusade, knocking on doors of young people and inviting them to know Jesus.  At the time, our youth group went from 35 to about 50 in only a few months.  I wrote her a couple of times and I got back hand-written notes.  I followed her journey as she shared her desire to be married as she candidly shared her desire for intimacy and longing to be loved completely and all the temptations that come with those God-given desires.  I followed her as she found Mr. Right.  I followed her as she struggled to have children with one miscarriage after another and the depression and addiction that followed.  I followed her as her mother faced Alzhiemer's Disease and she lost her preacher-daddy.  Somewhere along the way, I lost touch.  Tonight I couldn't sleep and I decided to look her up.  She died last month.  I am so saddened by this.  If there every was a young woman who made a difference, it was Ann.  She had a world of disappointments and heartaches and the Christian world was often harsh and condemning.  I pray that she found peace, however I know that she knows REAL PEACE as she is now safe in the arms of Jesus.



Ann, I loved you.  You were the first young woman that I desired to emulate.  Thank you for making a difference in my life.



Bonnie



Her books can be found on Amazon.  My favorite is I'm Out to Change My World.  Others include Hi! I'm Ann, Stronger, I Love the Word Impossible (my other favorite), First Love (about her father's death and her struggle with addiction).  There's another one about her infertility and miscarriages.  I can't think of the name of that one. 

Lord, Teach Me to Stand

We are in a war!

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood.

As Christians, our struggle is against the powers 

of the dark world.

I am studying the book, 

"Lord, Is It Warfare? Teach Me to Stand."

by Kay Arthur

Over the past 3 years, I have picked up

the book many times, only to lay it down again.

Each time I've tried to study it, I would 

face the enemy in a way that is hard to explain.

Instead of putting on the armor and pushing 

through, I fell back in retreat.

"Finally , be strong in the Lord and in the power of His mighty power.

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand

against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not

against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the

authorities, against the powers of this dark world

and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Ephesians 6:10-13

We all face struggles everyday.

That's life.

But how do we know when it is spiritual warfare?

I awoke one morning to the words

"Satan, has asked that He may sift you as wheat..."

I went on to face one of the greatest battles that I had 

ever fought before.

A year or so ago, God spoke to me, 

"You will not have to fight this battle, you need only to be still."

I knew a storm, a sweet word for a battle,

was brewing.

The past few years, 

I lost both parents and watched them suffer, 

one quietly, one with questions, fears and doubts.

My son-in-law had cancer
and my daughter and her husband
have fought infertility.

Both of our children
have had miscarriages.

My husband and myself faced health issues
with insurmountable doctor bills.

I have been without a job
and our credit is shot.

I've had my faith shaken to the core.

I became disillusioned with the church.

I encountered a dark world of depression.

I fought the enemy in dreams and visions in the night.

I walked in fear instead of faith.

There was misunderstanding upon misunderstanding 

between me and family members and friends.

 I resigned all my positions in the church that 

my daddy started and Satan said, 

"No one cares."

I faced a secret temptation of the mind

that no one knew about but God.

Attacked on every side

from within and without.

This, my friend, is spiritual warfare.

Read Ephesians 6:14-18.

The past week, 

I have stayed in the Word.

I have prayed without ceasing.

I know Satan's end.

He does not win!

I highlighted the Scripture that spoke of Satan's end 

and said them aloud.  

When faced with Spiritual Warfare, 

Remind Satan of this...

Christ has rescued us from the dominion of darkness.

(We have been saved and protected by the power of Christ.)

(Colossians 1:13)

When Christ went to the cross, He disarmed all powers 

and authorities of darkness and made a public 

spectacle of them triumphing over them.

(As Children of the Most High God, we have the power

to demolish the strongholds! (2 Corinthians 10:2-6) 

The prince of the world (Satan) will be driven out.

(We know his end!)

(John 12:31)

Jesus destroyed the power of death-that is the devil.

(Hebrews 2:14)

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

(1 John 3:8)

Remember Satan is a liar and the father of lies. 

He comes to steal, kill and destroy.

Jesus came to give LIFE and LIFE more abundantly.

When faced with a battle, remember THE WORD OF GOD

is your offensive and defensive weapon.

Read it, memorize it, speak it!

The mind is a battlefield.

We have been given divine power 

to fight the enemy.  Take captive every thought 

and make it obey Christ.

(2 Corinthians 10:3-6)

We're in a battle. 

I'm with ya, sista!

But, praise God, we know who wins!

Prayers for You, 

Bonnie:)

Today I Am...

I got my blog inspiration today from
Patty at Reasons for Chocolate.

Her post was uplifting
 with a promise and a rainbow.

1.  Today I am reading the newest
novel by Doretha Benton Frank,
Porch Lights.

Her novels are set in the Low Country
of South Carolina.
They are filled with romance, humor
and a little mystery.

2.  I am praying for my children.
I pray daily that God will build a
hedge of protection around them,
my sister's family,
and my brother's family.

My daughter Christy and her husband Troy
have decided that now is the time
to proceed with IVF. 

There seems to always
be some sort of delay for them, so
today I ask you to pray specifically
for perfect timing.

Thank you for your prayers already!

3.  Today I am listening to
Charles Billingsly LIVE album
from Thomas Road Baptist Church.

https://twitter.com/cbillingsley

Praise and Worship is my heartsong.

4.  Around the house I am doing no
cleaning or decluttering.

As usual, I'm just adding a little
of this and  little of that.

5.  I am thankful for so many things.

My son was appointed to run a new clinic
at St. Thomas Heart at Midtown
in Nashville, TN.
His work is to assist with diagnosis
and treatment of Atrial Fibrillation.

Chad has such a giving heart.
The wife of one of his patients who was upset
about her husband's diagnosis
said, "Thank you for being so kind."

Chad told her,
"You know how some people are called to
be preachers or missionaries?  I feel that
God called me to help sick people."

My daddy had the same diagnosis
and Chad was his granddaddy's heart.

He said that one day a man came in
who looked very much like his granddaddy,
had all the same medical conditions,
and who had lost his wife recently.
He said, "I started to cry and I had to turn away."

I said to him,
"Don't turn away."
As the saying goes,
"People don't care how much you know.
They want to know how much you care."

I adore my family.
They are my joy and my delight.

6.  The Thing I Fear the Most 
is that I will miss God's calling for my life.
In 1987, he called me to "teach women."
I am still waiting for open doors.


Share who you are!
I'd like to hear:)

Bonnie:)

The Crazy of My Days

Today I got the sweetest photo from my daughter-in-love. After a horrendous day yesterday, it made my today.

Yesterday was a continuation of the events of the past month. I am truly trying to make the best of the crazy of my days. Yesterday I went to sit with my little lady. We went to the gym. I drive her car. She does a Senior Sneakers exercise program on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I usually walk on the treadmill. I just haven't been feeling well this week so I told her that I would remain in the car and read. I hear this buzz three times. I think, "That's odd." So, I think, "Maybe I need to crank the car." NO THING happens. Turn ignition again, No thing! Dead Battery. Thankfully her SIL owns a shop and jumps it off and replaces the battery. She says over and over again, "I don't how that could have happened. It's never done that before." She has dementia. Some things she forgets, but this she does not! She continues to remind me that this has never happened with her before, getting angrier and angrier. Anything different throws her for a loop. I start to crank MY car to go home. NO THING! Mr. H works out of town. I think to myself, "What would my daddy do?" (It's the day of the 3 year anniversary of his death.) I start to cry. He would call Mr. Howard. Mr. Howard owns a parts shop. I call and he sends someone over. Of course, he's busy and it takes 30 minutes or so for him to find someone to come so I knock on my lady's door. "Can I stay with you while someone comes to bring a battery for my car?" "Of course, you can!" Sweet as pie, she laughs and laughs at the day we have had. I come home and cry. I feel awful and go to bed. Feeling more flu-like, I take my blood sugar and it is sky-high. It's not the flu, I know. Just stress! You know stress can pop it right up there! I so want to better control this malady. I am seeking a nutritionist and a new endocrinologist. Mine retired last year. Maybe I can get back on track. Diabetes led to my parents death. I refuse that curse! In Jesus Name. So today, I had my hair colored with highlights and trimmed and enjoyed some of my friends. Tonight Me and Mr. H went to Red Lobster and I got the broiled shrimp and veggies. So I did good. The face of my baby boy reading the book I made, made my day. Thanks for letting me share, Bonnie:)

A Red Book: Is It a First Edition?

I love to read.

I love Book Sales 

at the local library.

I like to find

boxes of books

under tables at

estate sales and auctions.

I like the thrill of the dig.

I enjoy technology that is available

with the click of a button, 

I must confess.

I have a Kindle

and I read even more now.

But it will never be like turning the pages

of a good book.

Effective Speaking,

is well written and practical 

even for today.

The book was perfectly bound with only

a little wear around the edges. 

I don't know about antique books

or First Editions.

The copyright was 1908

and showed no other dates of publishing.

Does that make it a First Edition?

I always read the dedications.

If I were to write a book, 

it would be dedicated to my mama

who taught me the beauty of expression

in the written word.

A red book and a red bow is about

as close to decorating for 

Heart's Day as this girl's gonna get!

Happy Weekend!

Bonnie:)

Some Things I Like, Some I Don't

I'm not a big fan 

of this not-so-creative
faux mantle.

However, there are are parts of it
that I do like,

some of my favorite love stories,

an early photo of my parents,

a coffee mug
and a photo of a man and woman,
my husband's parents.

Don't you just love the old black and whites?

 a sentimental symbol of
the love of sisters,

and the words on my canvas.

I sing to my Connor
(as I will all my future grandchildren)

I love you, 
a bushel and a peck, 
a bushel and a peck
and a hug around the neck,
a hug around the neck,
and a hug around the neck.

I DO LOVE Daddy's old level
that I used to prop up the canvas.

But this, I don't like.

It's already down,

replaced with the old.

Looking for something RED
to speak
"Happy Valentine's Day,"

Bonnie:)

A Blue Pitcher and Bowl

I'm getting my wish for "COLD."

It's freezing at 17 degrees.

The wind-chill factor says it's almost ZERO, 

so says Mr. H.

I'm loving it!

He said, "Of course, you do.

You get to stay in bed."

I'd much rather have a job!

Staying in bed is not much fun today.

I have vertigo and my world 

is spinning even as I type.

I do have a few shots of 

one of my favorite pieces 

of my mother's.

I hope I haven't shared it before.

Mama collected pitchers and bowls.

This one is a small piece, 

maybe 3 or 4 inches tall.

The "bowl" is more of a saucer.

A closer view, 

isn't it pretty?

Marked too:)

Gives me a warm fuzzy feeling 

on this coooold January day!

Stay Warm and Cozy, 

Bonnie:)