Read the Bible in 90 Days!

Lately I have been pondering what I will do for my devotional time in the upcoming year. I knew I wanted to be reading in the Bible, and also add in some Bible Memorization, but hadn't come to a specific decision as to exactly what or how.

Some time ago I had run across a blog post where the person mentioned that they were reading the Bible through in 90 days. This really interested me--it was something I had never heard of. Reading the Bible through in a year, of course. But in 90 days??? Was it even possible? I mean, for a real person--not someone who gets to go to work every day and their job is to just sit in an office and read the Bible! But as I read this blog post, I discovered that there was a whole group of people doing this together--well, at the same time anyway, but using the internet to "connect" and encourage one another. Cool! But I had already missed the starting date. Rats!

Well, so I dismissed THAT idea. It was a crazy one anyway. I really didn't think I could do it, and if there was even going to be the remotest chance that I could, well, it was definately going to take a group to get me through! Well......fast forward to yesterday. Guess what I found? Another "Read the Bible in 90 Days" is forming! And they aren't starting until January 3, 2011. Cool! Maybe I should try this afterall. Yes, I may get bogged down in "real life" and not finish it in the 90 day time period, but so what? What's the worst that can happen to me--so I read part of the Bible? It can only help! :)

I've read the Bible through before, but slowly and over a long time period. Nothing wrong with that at all, but I think I am going to give this method a try. The whole purpose behind it is not to study the Bible in depth, but rather to read it quickly through so you are gaining a broad overview. A perspective that perhaps you wouldn't have gained if you had gone through that book of the Bible slowly. You can always jot down a couple notes to yourself if you run across something you want to be able to come back to later to study in depth.

I've placed a "Read the Bible in 90 Days" button in the side margin of this blog. If it all works properly, you should be able to click on it and read more about the program. Give it some thought and prayer--I'd love to have you join me!!!

GoD And DoG

Beautiful song and video. Hope you all enjoy this as much as I did. By the way--this video will only work if you are viewing it on my regular blog. If you receive this through automatic e-mails whenever I post, I do not think the video will work. So--come to www.tnquiltbug.blogspot.com

He Watches over You

This past week I was working in my kitchen and heard this loud "KerPLUNK!" I immediately knew that a bird had flown into my kitchen window, in spite of our having suncatchers hanging in the window to prevent this very thing. I peeked out the back doorway, hoping to see nothing. Hoping that whatever bird had hit would have been able to just hit and immediately take off flying again. No such luck. There he (she?) was, not only on the ground, but completely upside down with legs sticking straight up in the air. My heart sank. I was sure the bird was either already dead, or soon to die. I saw a tiny bit of movement, and realized that for now, it was still alive. I wasn't sure the best thing to do, as I didn't want to pick up the bird and therefore SCARE it into an early grave--yet at the same time I couldn't see just leaving it upside down either. I watched it for a long time, and saw no attempt to right itself. Finally, praying that I wasn't doing something harmful to it, I decided to pick it up. If it was going to die, I figured it could at least be more comfortable being right side up. I prayed that it would somehow know that I was a friend, not a foe. That I would not try to hurt it. The bird did not struggle at all as I held it gently in my hand. I called Alison to come and see it, and helped her to gently pet it's back with a finger. We called for Austin to bring his camera and take a picture (Austin--here's your photo credit for the above photo!). The bird just stayed in my hand for a very long time, just working on breathing. One of it's wings was hanging out kind of funny, but it wasn't obviously broken so I helped fold it up and tuck it in like the other wing was. And then we prayed. Jesus promises us that His Father in heaven sees when even a sparrow falls, so we claimed that promise and knew that the God of the Universe saw this little bird in my hand. We asked if it was His will, that He make this bird well again, and able to fly and live it's life.

Alison asked if she could hold the bird, so after transfering the bird to her hand I went inside to grab my camera. Coming out the back door again, I didn't think and let the screen door slam behind me--and the bird took off! We were thrilled--even if I didn't get a picture of Alison holding it! The bird flew to our maple tree just a little bit away, and perched there to rest for a while, long enough for me to get a picture of him happy!

I thought more about this bird as the rest of the day went on. This bird was knocked down hard by life (literally!). He was very vulnerable when he was down. I could have easily crushed out his life, and he would have been powerless to stop me. But instead I lifted him up, and tried my best to help him. Given a bit of rest, he was able to recover. How often are we like this bird. Knocked down by circumstances in life. Easily crushed. In need of someone to pick us up and help us rest awhile. How are we treating other people? When they are not doing well, do we crush them, or support them? Sometimes, we hold in our hand the power to lift someone up, or smash them down where they will never recover. May we always lift them up, as the true Lifegiver would have us to do.

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father." Matthew 10:29, NIV

Happiness is a Warm Puppy!

Today was finally the day. I have been WAITING for this day to come--when "Beto--World Famous CCI service-dog-in-training" would come to our house for me to puppy sit. One month and ten days ago we lost my son's sweet Lauren--his CCI service dog that he had been matched with when he was only six years old. What emptiness there is in my heart with Lauren gone--but because of the huge blessing Lauren was to Austin and our whole family, my dear friend and her daughter are puppy raising another CCI puppy. Investing. Giving to someone they do not even know, so that the blessing can keep going on. But my kitties aren't too sure about this whole idea......




After checking Beto out, with him safely tucked away in his kennel, Pumpkin decided he had better keep an eye on this thing. And the safest place seemed to be the top of the fridge! You know, close to the action but far enough away to retreat.















What a grand and glorious dog I am! I have a mission in life. I will grow and learn and go on to help make a human's life so much better.












I am learning so well too. See how good I can do the "Sit" command? And this is NOT easy. First of all, I am a puppy and therefore I want to MOVE, not SIT. Second of all, this floor is slick and therefore my feet slide if I hold my "Sit" too long!














Puppy sitting. Sitting and loving on a puppy.
Beto--CCI service-dog-in-training. A miracle growing up to change a life.

When Life Gives you Lemons--or is that Tomatoes?

Well, last week we had our first serious frost warning. And our poor garden--which we neglected due to being gone much of the summer, still had one row of tomato plants that were loaded with tomatoes! What to do? My parents often pick their tomatoes when there is a frost coming--and wrap them individually in newspaper waiting to ripen. But since 99% of mine were the small roma tomatoes, I did NOT see me wrapping each separate tomato--and THEN I read on-line that you are to unwrap each and check them each week. Not going to happen.



But neither did we want good food to go to waste. So after some thought, we decided to divide the tomatoes into a single layer if possible, in various boxes, and then just place a layer of paper over the whole layer. Had no idea if it would work and if they would ripen or not, but thought it was worth a try... And after a week in the basement, I was VERY happy to discover tomatoes ripening--even without being wrapped each one like all the experts tell you to do.












But then I had a new problem--what do to with them? I made several recipes that used them, but I still had more. Yet not enough to can, and I already had some in my freezer and didn't want to take up more freezer room. So finally decided to haul out the dehydrator! It's a good way to take care of just a few at a time. I've heard you can dry in a regular oven as well, though I have not tried that. My dehydrator just has gentle heat, and a small fan blows on them. You cut slices as uniform as you can, and it will dry them in around one day and night. (I think the oven method takes longer, as there is no fan blowing.)



You can buy extra trays for the dehydrator. I don't know how many it can go up to, but I know I have two extra trays for mine that my mother-in-law bought me years ago. The rest are ones that came with the dehydrator. Of course, the more trays you add, it takes a bit longer for the foods in the upper trays to dry.













The finished product--and believe it or not, my family snarfles these down like they were potato chips! I have to hide them if I want some to use by cutting small into pasta dishes. But I already have some hidden away (shish! Don't tell!) so I just let them munch these. You can't complain when your kids are begging you to let them eat a vegetable!

Meet Beto!

At long last, here he is! Beto--Canine Companions for Independance service dog in training! Beto is a Golden/Lab cross from CCI's breeding program. CCI choses their breeder dogs carefully, for the traits and temperments best suited for success as a service dog. There are MANY people involved in raising just one service dog to the point of graduation and being matched with a disabled person. My dear friend Kristal, and her daughter Briana (shown with Beto!) are volunteer puppy raisers for CCI. Beto is their fourth CCI pup to raise. Volunteer puppy raisers care for a CCI pup for a year to a year and a half. But it is not just feeding and pottying the dog--it is much more involved than that.






During the time that Beto lives with Kristal and Briana, they will pay for all expenses themselves--including vet shots, special food, and THREE sets of training classes. In addition to dollars, there is the additional "cost" of sleepless nights while potty training (try every two hours anyone?), and constant watching and supervision--not to mention hours and hours of training and practicing the basic obedience class things.












When Beto is old enough (around five months) they will start taking him out with them into the "real world". He will go to the grocery store, and learn that he cannot stop and sniff at the bread on the shelf. He will hear unfamiliar noises and learn that he must remain calm. He will attend church and learn that sometimes you just have to curl up and take a nap while you wait patiently for your person to be ready to leave. He will even visit resturants, and learn that you do not get to eat food that is not specifically given to you, even if it drops in front of your nose!










Later Beto will be turned in to the professional dog trainers, and he will learn to turn on and off light switches, open cupboard doors, walk behind or next to a wheel chair, and around--oh, fourty other commands!















And all of us who are fortunate enough to meet Beto, will pray and wait and watch. And maybe, if Beto agrees, he will become a Miracle. And will change someone's life forever.