Drawing Near

“How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You, to dwell in your courts…..” Psalm 65:4

I recently found myself sitting on the couch in my den and having a conversation with the Lord….out loud. There have been times in the past when I have prayed in an audible voice, and not silently, but this time it seemed much different. I spoke with Him as if He were my own private counselor, sitting right across from me on the other side of the table. Yet, isn’t that one of His glorious names, Wonderful Counselor?

My sisters, isn’t prayer always supposed to feel like that? We have an audience with the Mighty Creator of the universe, and as we share what’s on our hearts with Him, we can tell Him anything (and I do mean ANYTHING), and it will not be conveyed to another living soul! How awesome is that!

On this particular occasion there were some things I desperately needed to share with Him, so I did just that, for almost an hour. What a cleansing experience that was! Since He is omniscient and always knows what we will say, think, or do at any given moment, He still invites us to draw near to have that intimate, sweet fellowship with Him. Of course, the challenge is not to do all the talking. That morning when I spoke with my Father, He spoke back to me…….through His precious Word!

The Lord is always with us. He promised us in the Old Testament that He would never leave nor forsake us (Duet 31:6), and He echoes that same promise in the New Testament , that He will always stand by us (Hebrews 13:5). Also, when we talk with Him, aren’t we supposed to see Him with our spiritual eyes, as if our Lord is sitting in the chair right next to us or right in front of us? He is ALWAYS there, but the busyness of life sometimes keeps us from realizing this marvelous promise that He is near.

In Lamentations 2:19, the writer tells us to, “….pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord….” I did exactly that on that memorable morning. What about you? Is there something burdening your heart or mind that you need to pour out before the Lord? He wants us to come close and experience His faithfulness and goodness each and every day!

Yes, we are truly blessed as the psalmist says in Psalm 65:4 when He chooses us to be a part of His adopted family, and draws us near by the blood of Christ our Savior. Because of His boundless grace and mercy found in Christ, we WILL forever dwell in His courts.

Won’t you draw near today?

Summer is OVER!

Bucket List #2

Whewwww.  One of our deacons in our church has been going through a nasty divorce for exactly three and a half years.  It has been a LONG JOURNEY.  I say long journey because, not only have we tried to be there for him......he has had us subpoenaed numerous times during the three and half years.  (This was NOT something that we willingly participated in.  We told him that we were not comfortable, but for some reason he felt that we could help his case.)

It has been such a long journey partly because the deacon had been married before and he and his first wife had a son, who is now grown.  His first wife got very sick and died.  He remarried and had two children with wife #2.

The divorce was with wife #2.  Neither party could agree on ANYTHING.  They could not agree with who got what, etc.

We got our court papers this week that told us to appear at the courthouse at 9:00 on Thursday, July 23rd and that this would be the final trial to grant the divorce.

Their trial took a little over four hours.  We were asked to sit outside the courtroom because we were witnesses.

Finally, after a brief break, they went back into session.  Then, Roger was called to testify, which took about ten minutes.  As soon as he left, I was called to testify.  I was scared to death................but it was not near as bad has I had anticipated.  It was over quickly and I got to leave.

Fifteen minutes later.......the judge walked out of the courtroom, followed by the lawyers and everyone else.  (Our fear was that it was to be continued.........we were already so tired of this journey.)

BUT....it was OVER!  The divorce had been granted.  They could not agree on anything, so the judge TOLD them what they would do.

It's OVER!!!  No more dreading going to the door in fear of another summons to court.  It's OVER!!!

For the second time this summer...........I had a first.  

• First - road the kayak. 
• Second - testified in real live court, under oath.
  
  Two things to mark off my bucket list that was NEVER even on it.  Smile.

I guess the moral to the story is.........You BETTER......... unlike me....... MAKE a BUCKET LIST...........or you will begin experiencing "FIRSTS" that you did not plan.  LOL.

Don't Give Up

We never have a very big garden, but we do try to plant a few things.  This year, because it kept raining, we were late getting our garden out.  Then it rained some more and washed the seeds away.  We were just about ready to give up and plow it up again and call it quits.................then suddenly, slowly but surely some of the things began to grow.

I was able to can one canning of beans and we had several messes of them.  If the ground will ever dry up enough, I am sure I will probably have at least one more canning.

Not a lot of beans.  But, we have beans left from last year, so God is only giving us what we need.

I have canned tomatoes, squash relish, and salsa.  I have also froze squash and okra.

The little garden spot that we were close to giving up on, has provided us with tomatoes, beans, squash, okra, zucchini, cucumbers, peppers, asparagus, potatoes and more.  What a blessing it is to pick fresh produce and prepare it for later by canning or freezing.  I LOVE it.  I think I've mentioned before...........one of my all time favorite sounds is the "pop" of a can sealing.

Look what joy I would have missed and what a blessing my family would have missed had we "given up" earlier.

Have we ever been guilty of giving up and throwing the towel in .......on people?  People we thought we were wasting our times on?  Sometimes it just takes TIME and PATIENCE to see God's work.

The end results are worth the wait......

Bucket List

Do you have a bucket list?  I don't think I have ever slowed down long enough to make one. I enjoy hearing about everyone else's bucket lists though.

Back in May, Roger and I went "tent-camping" with out son and daughter-in-law.  (We use to go often when the kids were growing up, but it's been twenty plus years since we have tent-camped.)  We had long gotten rid of the tents that had not just dry-rotted, so we took our son's two man pop-up tent and an air mattress.  ;)

It wound up and rained most of the time we were there, but we enjoyed it very much.  There is nothing like cooking over the fire....even between the rain.

Our son and daughter-in-law own kayaks and really enjoy it.  I, personally am terrified of them.  I do not like flat-bottom boats, canoes or anything like that.  However, our son and daughter-in-law decided to rent them kayaks and while they were at it they rented us one a piece also.  

To risk being a party-pooper, I decided I would "pull up my big girl panties" and try it.  We wound up and went the entire six miles down the Obey River.  Did I mention that mid-way it came two VERY HARD down-pours, while we were in our individual kayaks?

Actually when I finally sat back and relaxed, it was very enjoyable an relaxing (except for the times we had to paddle.....)

No one thought I could do it or would do it.  Not only am I terrified.......I am not athletic at all.

When we got back to the camp ground, I had a feeling of accomplishment.  It felt good.  I did it.  I kayaked the entire six miles down the Obey River by myself.

I even told my family that if it had been on my bucket list, I could mark it off, but I never knew I wanted to ride a kayak so it was never even there.  smile.


How many times in our Christian lives do we miss the opportunity to feel good and feel accomplished............because we are afraid? 

What blessings are we missing because we fail to "pull up our big girl panties" and allow ourselves to be used of God?

You Will Never Have This Day Again

I am posting this BECAUSE.....thirteen years ago I went back to work, when our son was in the 8th grade and our daughter was a senior.  (Roger works from home, so he was there for them if need be.)

Anyway, in the years that I have gone back to work, it is hard to "keep up" with EVERYTHING.  So....during the summer or during the breaks, that is when I would take the time to do some major cleaning, sorting and arranging......and boy, did it need it.  (It is hard being almost "60" and to work all day......never be at home at night because you are doing church work or visiting kids and grand-kids....)

I am a teacher so my last day of school was May 26th.  I love teaching, but I also enjoy being at home.  My first day back to school will be July 28th.  Where did the summer go?  What happened to it?

Did I get deep cleaning done like cabinets, or closets, or the study, or the pantry, or the laundry room. NEGATIVE!

I sat back this past week and thought to myself.............what is wrong with me?  Why did I not get everything done?

My conclustion was..........Because...........every second I could, I was visiting grand-kids, going somewhere with mom & grand-kids or keeping grand-kids.  I got to spend lots of quality and quantity time with them this summer.  Being one and a half and two and a half, they are old enough to "ask" to spend the night with Mimi and Grandaddy.  It melts my heart.

I would have liked to have gotten some of the deep cleaning done, but do I regret choosing the grand-kids instead?  NOT ONE BIT!  The house will be here tomorrow........the kids grow way too fast.

I plan to enjoy the moment and cherish all of the time I get to have.  If I have not learned anything else in my almost 59 years, it it............Don't Sweat the Small Stuff!!!  Enjoy that time with your children or grand-children.

Homecoming

Roger was asked by a Bi-Vo Friend that we had met seven years ago at the Bi-Vo Retreat to preach at his church's Homecoming last Sunday.  We live 30+ miles north of Chattanooga.  This homecoming church was in Lincoln Co., TN, which is southern middle TN..............and it happens to be about 20 minutes from both of our mothers, who live in Alabama.

We were very excited to be able to see our friends and to visit with them at their church.  It was also a wonderful time to visit with both of our moms during the weekend.  (We only live three hours from them, but with both of us working secular jobs and also being Bi-Vocational ministers...........it does not leave much time.)

However, on the way to our moms on Friday, I was telling Roger that I was excited about the entire weekend, but it was kind of strange that the pastor would invite us to Homecoming when that is usually reserved for former pastors, etc.

WOW.....what a surprise!  Upon arriving at the church, we discovered that the pastor's mentoring pastor was "the little boy" that grew up down the road from me years ago.  He, his sister and older brother would ride to church with my parents.  Also, we discovered that the church we were visiting was only 22 years old because it has split from another church...................a church that Roger had lead music in 30 years ago as interim.  Yes....you get the picture now...........we wound up knowing about half of the congregation and even had visitors from our home church that came just to hear Roger.

See, unknown to us and unknown to the church's pastor, God had everything all planned out.  ROGER was perfect for the Homecoming Service..............lots of ties and connections.

A lady about my age came up to me and told me that I probably did not remember her.....but she had talked about me and thought of me often.  She called me the "Worm Lady".  Let me explain...........thirty years ago, I taught the 4 years old at the church Roger was leading the music at during V.B.S.  When she rattled my memory, I still did not remember her, but I remembered her girls and the situation.  She brought her "un-churched" 4 year old twin daughters to that V.B.S.  They were very shy and cried most of the week, so mom stayed with them.  The middle of the week, I brought fishing worms for the kids to play with.  We even brought home our own personal fishing worm, with corn meal to feed to them as pets.  Her girls LOVED it and that was the breaking point.  From that moment on, the girls were all over "Mrs. Kathy".  I had made two friends.  

Shortly after that V.B.S., God moved us on to another church......and what I never knew was that because the girls loved V.B.S., their parents got back in church and today, dad is one of the deacons of the church we were visitors at last Sunday and the girls are now 34 years old.  Mom said that over the years their testimony has been that they were in church because of the "worm lady".

Many times we give it all we've got and do outstanding jobs at something, thinking we are really making an impact.....and we might be.  BUT.....it's been my experience that, many times it's the little things that people remember the most; the things that seem so small.

Also....it always amazes me (and it really shouldn't) how God always GETS IT RIGHT.  He led Bro Randy into inviting Roger................neither of them had a clue as to the connections that we would discover once we were there.  We have known them for seven years, but when pastors and wives get together at the retreat, we discuss our church but rarely name names..........

Homecomings.............wow....what a time to reflect on the past, on the present and on the future!

Pray for Chattanooga

Living just 30 miles north of Chattanooga,  this has weighed heavily on my heart and since it is national news.............need I say more?  

We need to PRAY for not just Chattanooga but for our entire NATION.  The last few weeks have brought forth many more disturbing headlines than I care to remember.

JUST PRAY.....and remember.........regardless of what the world thinks, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL!!!

A Reminder to Me

I have always loved getting caught up in a good, fiction book. Ted Dekker and Francine Rivers are two of my favorites. In recent years, I stumbled upon Lisa Samson in our local, public library and have found a new fave. (She's definitely worth checking out! Look for her newer "modern-day" stuff. I didn't like her older, historical stuff as much.)

This summer I have been intentional to read more novels and less social media. I've gotten a few under my belt so far and am glad to be on vacation this week to spend some more time lost in the pages of a good page turner.

As I was reading in the tub this evening, I realized the pastor's wife I was reading about was really too good to be true. I know the author didn't intend for her sweet character to add pressure to us ministers' wives, or to further perpetuate the stereotype of the typical piano-playing, solo-singing, hospital-visiting, pastor's wife. (And I only finished the second chapter!)

So maybe I am writing this more to myself this evening, or maybe you too need the reminder . . .

God has gifted and called me to be my husband's wife and to serve Him faithfully along side my husband. He did a good job creating me just the way He did.

It's more than okay that I don't play the piano and that I make a joyful noise singing from the pew. I am not as thoughtful as the fictional pastor's wife in the book, but I don't have to measure up to her or anyone else - in real life or just perceived.

Like the lyrics of an OLD Amy Grant song: "All I ever have to be is what He made in me."

By the way, who do you like to read?

A New Way (To Me At Least!)

I've kept a prayer journal for well over a decade.

I started in small, pretty books, but soon found I was most comfortable and confident to fill the college-ruled pages of a single-subject, Mead, spiral notebook. You know, the one with the double pocket inside the extra-strong, front cover?

Over the years, I have filled probably two dozen or more writing on both the fronts and backs of each page. My format has not varied much since before my oldest daughter was born in May of '03. I've traditionally written a verse from my Bible study or devotional with my response, and then, by each of their initials, I would write specific prayers for each member of my little, but growing family. I'd record funny things my toddler would do or say. I'd tell God on my husband when I felt he needed it. I'd pray for the salvation of my daughters from before they were born . . .

I would draw a "fancy," squiggly line underneath these prayers and then "bullet" five or six more requests - for our head pastor, for my grandfather's failing health, for my mom, my brother, my Sunday School class, work. . .

Often I could feel the Spirit's gentle nudge as I would write. Sometimes He would remind me of my Father's promises. Sometimes He would point out my sin. Sometimes He would answer my prayers as I wrote them down. . .

These journals are priceless to me in so many ways. Yet, you may have noticed that I am writing about them in the past tense.

You see, this spring and summer I stopped writing in my journal.

I came to a place where I was becoming legalistic and self-righteous about my journals, especially as the demands of mothering three, working part-time and trying to be there for my husband wasn't leaving me much time to write to God. On top of it all, I found that when I missed a day, Satan would try to make me feel guilty.

However, God has been so gracious. He has patiently and gently shown me that just because that has been the main way we have communicated for so many years, that it isn't the only way to spend time with Him, hear His voice and enjoy His presence.

I've started getting up early in the morning to walk my neighborhood. When I started, honestly, my main purpose was to lose the baby weight from the last Vinson I birthed. But as I listen to worship choruses on my playlists, I find myself communicating with my God in a whole new way. Now, when I miss a day, not only do I feel it physically, I feel it spiritually. There's no guilt at this point, just a deep desire to go the next day . . .

My purpose in sharing all this with you is two-fold. First, if you haven't tried consistent prayer journalling, it is definitely worth a try. Second, just because you have always experienced Him one way, doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't seek Him in other ways. Another "way" may be worth the try too.

After my morning strolls, I am starting to pick up my journal again. I've ditched the format that had become so restricting and confining to me. I'm still striving to be honest when I write and I am letting myself know that it is okay on days I don't.

I'm just thankful I have a God who is faithful to pursue me on the pages of a notebook and on the asphalt of a middle TN neighborhood. Isn't He good?

Unforeseen Plans and Answered Prayers

I wasn't sure what to think as we drove by my husband's grandmother's old house when he exclaimed that it was for sale. We were curious to know the asking price and then surprised when it was quite a bit less than we had anticipated. The next thing I know, we are walking through it and dreaming about how this house would work for our family.

Literally in three days time we went from content in our home, with no plans to leave it, to having an offer accepted on a new one.

That was about 5 weeks ago and I find myself still scratching my head wondering how it all happened. Now, we find our current house is "under contract" and we are anticipating two closing dates.

My relaxing summer with my daughters has been overcome by a hurry-up-and-wait chaos of cleaning, house showings, meetings with contractors, gathering boxes, taking another load to Goodwill, packing, and more.

We had both felt for some time that God was preparing us for something. I assumed that it would involve a move, but thought that meant out-of-town, if not out-of-state. Yet, my husband's parents' health has not been great and we feel needed here more than ever. We wrestled with the struggle of honoring them and laying aside everything to follow Him. How could we do both? What was God asking of us?

Life change is not anything any of us takes lightly. Usually we pray and pray for weeks and even months over large decisions like moving and purchasing a house. However, for us, this time when God said, "This is my way, walk in it," we were ready.

While we had not prayed this direction specifically, we had been praying, not for weeks or months, but actual years. He had prepped us and prepared us so we could respond in action when He finally revealed to us His will. We just didn't know what He was doing as we watched Him close doors and seem so silent for so long.

He has confirmed His plans to us in so many big and little ways over the last month or so. Literally the timing of everything has been perfect. The details have simply fallen into place as we continue to walk in faith.

I believe with my whole heart that the many months of seeking His face has brought us to this place. While it was unexpected to us, it was not to Him. He wastes nothing, including time. Hang in there dear friend. You may not know how or when but God is hearing and answering your prayers. Remember God has a bigger plan for you than you can imagine.

Pound Them or Make Pound Cake??

I mentioned in my previous Blueberry post that the blueberries we picked were initially quite sour….but I didn’t mention the fact that the bushes themselves looked quite pitiful!  I expected nice, full, tall bushes…but these?  These were scrawny, ill formed, bug bit, pathetic looking bushes.  They were so short I had to bend over to pick...which, by the way, hurt this aching back of mine!  The looks of them, however, in no way deterred us from trudging along in the muddy, insect infested rows to fill our buckets with blueberries.

We decided to make blueberry pound cake right away with the sour blueberries!!  Take a look!!  Yummy, yummy!!

 

Right out of the oven!!  Can't wait til it cools!!

 

It looks like a bite was taken out of this side!!  Nope!  It's where part of it stuck to the pan!  Don't you hate it when that happens??

 

 

There are people who remind me of these blueberries and the bushes that hold them.  They can be sour, bitter, and distasteful.  They might bite or scratch or cause you to bend over to reach them.  These people might be in your family or in your church.  They might be serving on staff with you or they might be your neighbor.

So….what do we do if there are people in our life that are not as we expected?  What if you have deacons in your church who are pushing against your husband at every turn or a staff member who is the proverbial "thorn in your husband's side" or that lady that knows exactly what button to push that makes you want to 'pound' her??

Pound them??  Or make blueberry pound cake??  Turn the sour in to sweet!!  Turn what appears to be pitiful into something beautiful!! Go ahead, bend over (backwards if that is what it takes) to reach them....in the long run....with all of the 'ingredients' that God adds....He will make good!!  He promises that doesn't He?  We KNOW He causes all things to work together for the good of those who love God and who are called according to His  purpose.

Run, don't walk....it might be good to drive....to the nearest blueberry picking place or Sam's or your grocery store and get you some blueberries and make this delicious blueberry pound cake!!  You can have it for breakfast, lunch and dinner and pray for those sour people in your life as you savor every bite!!

 

 

Blueberry Pound Cake

 

1 cup softened butter

2 cups sugar

1 tsp vanilla

4 eggs

½ tsp salt

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

½ cup pecans (optional—not for me—I do without them!)

2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (if frozen, do not thaw)

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs, 1 at a time and beat until light and fluffy.  Add vanilla.  Sift 2 cups flour, salt and baking powder.  Add to butter, sugar mixture and beat well.  Fold in pecans (if you want them….I don’t!)  Mix 1 cup flour with blueberries, then fold into batter.  Grease tube pan or bunt pan and coat with sugar.  Spoon batter into pan and bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Blueberries

This week is mimi camp.  Each year I get to keep each group of grandkids while their parents are off doing fun things like going to youth camp or a mission trip….sometimes we have mimi camp just because the parents want some time alone!!

Yesterday we went to pick blueberries.  I LOVED picking blueberries when we lived in Tennessee!  Each summer my friend and I would endure the sweat in order to gather buckets of the yummy blue healthy bites….that was after we ate a bucket or two while we picked.  (which was legal, by the way)!

The first year we moved to Indiana and blueberry season rolled around I began to ask the locals to find out where was the best place to pick blueberries.  The answer….Sams!!  Yep!  Sams!  No so much fun and so I kept pursuing!

The website www.pickyourown.org was super helpful finding a place to pick blueberries….so, one cloudy, cool Saturday July morning (yep, you read that right!!  I never recall using the words cool and July together in Tennessee) my husband and I took off on a road trip in search of the amazing blueberries I remembered from Tennessee.  After driving and driving in the middle of no-where for hours we finally pull up to the pickyourown site.

I could hardly contain my excitement!!  Rows and rows of blueberries!!!  Beautiful, round, blue and just waiting for me to take home and make yummy blueberry pie or blueberry pound cake or simply eat by the handful!! 

The nice man showed us where to begin and gave us two buckets….off we went.  For some odd reason we did not eat any of the round beauties until we had picked a bunch of them….and when we did eat one…Yuck!!  Sour!  Not sweet at all!  What in the world???  You mean we drove and drove and picked and picked and the berries were not even sweet?  Not even good?  Oh, and did I mention we were freezing???  July and freezing!!  Rain had started as well.  I was bound and determined to keep on….picking sour blueberries in the cold rain just because it seemed wrong to return home without them. 

Here’s the deal….once those blueberries were added to the sugar and other not-so-good-for-you ingredients…the blueberries tasted great!!  Side note--Every year since then I have gotten my blueberries at Sams!!

Fast forward to yesterday….and we are picking blueberries at a new place I found much closer to our home (and an Abuelos Mexican restaurant!) and the kids and I were off to once again pick blueberries.  We start our row….I taste immediately (yes, they allow eating and picking in Indiana too) and, sure enough, they are sour!!  Grrrrr.  (I did mention to the great folks weighing the pounds of blueberries we picked that the blueberries in Tennessee are much sweeter than Indiana’s.  Sure hope I didn’t hurt their feelings!)

However…..this time…..by the time we got home (and after they sat in the warm car while we went to the park and Abuelos for lunch) they were amazing!!!  Delicious!  Super sweet!!!  In fact, they didn’t compare at all to the blueberries I had already bought at Sams!!

Sometimes ministry, like blueberries, can be cold and sour and not at all what we expected and we want to throw the whole bunch of it (them) away or, better yet, leave them on the proverbial bushes for someone else!  Sometimes it is cold and uncomfortable and we want to give up and go home.  However, sometimes, like blueberries, ministry just need a little time…..sometimes ministry just need a little more ‘ingredients’ to go with it….sometimes there are things and/or people in our lives that appear/taste sour…not good at all…yet, with time and/or ‘working together’ we can see/taste the ‘good’ God has in it after all.

Keep picking my friend!!  Your toil is not in vain in the Lord!!!  Besides, it just seems wrong to return 'home' without them.

Welcome our newest little American citizen, Jude Michael.  

Today, as you run out the door to family gatherings to celebrate Independence Day, I ask that you pray for our nation, our military, and our leaders. Pray for each other that we may stand strong in our Christian beliefs.  Pray for our children and grandchildren that they may continue to live in a land with the freedom to worship the One True God.  Pray for people who have left their Christian upbringing to return to their roots.  Most importantly, pray for a spiritual revival to sweep across this land and around the global so that all people may hear the gospel and have a chance to respond to it.

Here is a reminder of what 2 Chronicles 7:14 states, "and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Happy 4th of July!

Renewed

Okay girlfriends, time for me to get real honest with you today.  I told my husband last night that this preacher’s wife is ready to pack up her M & M’s supply and runaway.  Yes sisters, exhaustion has hit.

I literally have been on the go since the middle of May with absolutely no break.  I attended relative’s graduations, babysat my two-year old grandson, made final preparations for our 11 day Brazil mission trip, went on the mission trip which was a strenuous trip which included walking up and down very steep hills and stairs all day long, very little sleep and hosting bible school.  When I returned from the mission trip, I went into full Vivi mode as our newest grandson, Jude Michael, was born two days prior to our return.  I have had company three times since returning from our mission trip a week and half ago. Then last week I taught V B S mission to preschoolers.  Now it is the end of June with July looming on the horizon with all its responsibilities.

Today, I want to pose a simple question to you and one I constantly ask myself.  I want your honest answers to this question.  Why do we, busy wives, mothers and ministers’ wives, allow ourselves to take on so many activities and duties?

Isaiah 40:31 says, “but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.”   I am so glad I have a God who renews my strength daily and allows me to somehow juggle everything on my calendar.  I am thankful that when I am weary, God reminds me to slow down and walk with Him.

Today I am thankful that I can simply sit and rest.  I do not have any place I need to be.  I have no one asking me to do this or that.   My housework can wait until tomorrow.  Yes, God has given me this day to do what Vickie wants to do.  I choose to simply be renewed.

Blessings sisters!