Really Excited!

I have to say it again, because I am feeling so excited today, and I can't keep it to myself. I have truly found the best business to be in. The more I become familiar with the company and the people, the more absolutely impressed I am. A debt-free company, founded by Christians, run by Christian ethics and principles, a GREAT training system that will serve you well no matter what line of work or business you choose to involve yourself with (better than a masters program in business or business management), a very aggressive compensation plan, and a team approach that means they are helping you succeed, as a team. Those who designed this business system have many patents and awards in other fields, have written best-selling books, and have designed this system based on their experience in multiple areas including network marketing. They took the best of all they had learned, dropped all the less desirable components, tweaked it all with their varied knowledge and genius ideas and ~ TADA! You won't find a better business to be involved with. EVERYONE needs to learn more about MonaVie. Read Paul Zane Pilzer's book The Next Millionaire; read Robert Kiyosaki's book The Cash-Flow Quadrant. Fascinating information about the current trends in economics and business. Check out this video, and this one, and then check out my personal business website. There is absolutely no downside, guaranteed. Okay ~ I'll stop. But seriously ~ do yourself a favor and do the research. You are in for a big surprise. As they say, "You don't know what you don't know."

And a Very Merry Tossmas to you!

You have to watch this video. It is very clever and very creative ~ two things I love. If you are not a Christian you may find this video offensive, and I apologize, in that I don't like to offend anyone. But, I guess for me, I can't figure out why even non-Christians want to change the name of the holiday. People have been celebrating Christmas for many a year without the slightest acknowledgment of Christ or his birthday. And I don't think they found it offensive ~ because "Christmas" is what the holiday is, however you decide to celebrate it. But I must say that I find it offensive when they change the name of the holiday to something else ~ keep the holiday but change its name ~ because they don't believe in Christ and/or don't want to offend those who don't believe in Christ. Why are they not concerned about offending those who DO. Anyhow, I like the video. Watch and enjoy, if you dare.
(Okay... I couldn't get the code for embedding it here to work for some reason so click here to watch the video.)

Lingering Impact

We are still paying the price for hitting that Michigan Deer. Still working with the insurance company. Still have only one vehicle. I am having to drive my husband to work every morning and pick him up every evening ~ 30 miles from home. Sure cuts a chunk out of the day, not to mention out of the checkbook. I'm sure it will all be over soon and we will have the insurance $$ to try to find another dependable used car. We have had some doozies (sp?) in the past. Anyhow, some time this week, hopefully, we will be able to resolve this and have that second car. I have to run now ~ gotta go get my husband from work. Have a terrific evening everyone. And watch out for those deer!

Psalm 23

The 23rd Psalm... Is there anyone (Christian that is) who hasn't memorized this chapter of the Psalms? I love this chapter in every Bible version (at least those versions I have read ~ there may be versions out there that I haven't read, but I have no reason to think I WOULDN'T love them, too). Well, I came across a video that is too precious for words. You just have to see it. Here it is. (It might take a few seconds to load, but it is worth the wait.)

Beautiful Day!!!

OMGosh! The weather today in Michigan is so incredible! The sun is shining and I bet it is in the 60s. It was snowing 2 days ago! I hear birds singing through my open windows, and I love the smell of the sun on the fall leaves. Just a gorgeous day. I hope the weather is as amazing wherever you are. I think I am going to shut up and go outside with my granddaughter and enjoy it. Bye for now!

Big Family

I am so grateful for the family of God. I love that we can pray for each other, comfort each other, care for each other ~ even though we may have very different opinions and ideas. I feel I can be open and honest with my brothers and sisters in Christ ~ no masks, no hiding. It is a beautiful thing. And when we do hurt each other ~ and I think that is inevitible ~ we can talk things through and forgive each other and usually end up with a stronger bond than ever.

And you know what is an even greater blessing? When someone you love in your earthly family is also part of your Christian family ~ it is like a double blessing. Sometimes in our earthly families the only thing we have in common is blood. Unlike "friends" whom you get to choose and with whom you may have LOTS in common. So many times I think earthly family members get hurt or frustrated and decide to walk away. Maybe you don't speak to your brother for years, or never call your mom... But when you add the extra dimension of having Christ in common, that usually seems to change the outcome. With Christ in the midst of the situation, both parties are usually more open to talking things through, working it out, forgiving each other, even agreeing to disagree on some things. And the bond of the "double family" is deeper than ever.

I love being a child of God. I love being part of a huge family. And I love that some of my earthly family have become my double family. I pray that my double family will grow in numbers. What a tremendous blessing. 

Like a Child

Look at this beautiful, innocent child (my lovely granddaughter, picture taken this morning). She hasn't really a care in the world. She trusts completely, she is content, she fully believes that the one who is in charge of taking care of her and protecting her and supplying her needs... will. Haylie (just over 5 months old) has been teaching me so many things. But one of the biggest lessons is trust. What it looks like NOT to be the one in control, and be okay with that, and just peacefully trust. Is this what it means to come to God like little children? These days, God speaks to my heart most clearly and most loudly through little Haylie. And I never expected that. I expected a lot of things ~ joy, triggers, heartache, laughter, good and bad memories from the past, worry, tears, love ~ but I never expected that Haylie would be my teacher. Everyday that I am privileged to babysit, Haylie speaks to me of God again and again. Here I am Lord. I'm listening. Show me more and more of yourself. And watch over this precious gift we call Haylie, and bless her great big. Thank you, Lord, for her life. You have blessed us all with this precious little one.

Because of His amazing grace,

Rewritten Princess

We Hit Our First Michigan DEER!

Can you believe it?! We have lived in Michigan now for 20 years and never hit a single deer. Our neighbors have hit deer, co-workers have hit deer, the boys' teachers have hit deer ~ but we never hit a single one. We have come close many times. We always live in the country and deer are quite plentiful. We even see them in our yard sometimes. We see them crossing our road in herds so large you can't count them. Especially this time of year we very often see them standing at the side of the highway or crossing the freeway, or quite frequently taking very, very long naps on the shoulder or in the median laying in what looks like very uncomfortable positions (cough, cough), but in 20 years we never hit one. Till now.

Sometimes you don't see them crossing the road ~ sometimes they just materialize like a spirit right in front of your car. RIGHT in front of your car. How they got there you have no idea, but what happens next is pretty ugly. I was not in the car when it happened. I was at home with dinner on the table watching the clock and wondering why it was taking my husband and son so long to get home from work. Then the phone rang... 

I will spare you the gruesome details except to say ~ man, deer meat is very tasty! Not tasty enough, however, to make us feel better about the damage to our favorite car. The car we used to enjoy driving ~ smooth ride, great gas mileage, no mechanical issues, low miles, low car payment, bought used and carried a higher value than what we owed. THAT car. Not the car we have paid off that has just shy of 200,000 miles on it and gets only 17 mpg. Soooooo... the insurance company totaled the car. I mean, it was just one deer, for crying out loud. But those deer are pretty solid creatures. So, today, we go car shopping and exploring our options. And life goes on... Thankfully!

I DID IT!

Well, it is finished. I finished my very first knitted garment ~ the sweater for my beautiful granddaughter. Here is a picture of her wearing it this morning.

And here is a picture of her doing with it what SHE thinks I made it for ~ to chew. She really seems to like it a LOT.

However ~ alas, it is BARELY big enough. It will probably only fit her a week or two instead of all winter. So ~ back to those knitting needles. I am thinking maybe slightly bigger needles will do the trick. I hope...

(As I type, Haylie is sitting next to me "talking" up a storm. I think she will be very opinionated, like her grandmother...)

I love learning!

I love learning new things! Don't you? All kinds of new things. I love "book learning" ~ reading new books, whether it be history or autobiographies or even a good novel (you can learn a lot from a good novel). I love learning new skills, whether it be a new craft like knitting, or learning to build something, or new leadership skills, or new people skills, etc., etc. I just LOVE learning. It's like I'm hungry for learning. And there are so many things out there to learn ~ you never run out. Am I strange, or is everyone like that?

Anyway, I have recently been learning to knit. Actually I sort of learned as a child (took one class at 4-H and then it was cancelled), and have done a tiny bit of dabbling since then on basic things like square potholders or straight scarves. But NOW ~ I'm knitting a sweater for my

 granddaughter! And it is SO much fun! I love seeing something new take shape. The sweater is actually almost done and it is really cute and even looks like it will fit! I can't wait to finish it and try it on her.

All that to say... I LOVE LEARNING!

Here are current pictures of the sweater... I'm so excited!

The Results Are In

Well ~ election day is over and we have a new president-elect. Wow! The intensity of this election is like nothing I remember for previous ones. I'm glad it is over. Passions were/are high, I heard we had record voter turn-out, and the process we believe in worked. But our responsibilities for this election are not complete. A couple of things spring immediately to mind.

1. Phil. 4:8 "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable ~ if anything is excellent or praiseworthy ~ think about such things."

2. Our nation and this new administration need our prayers ~ now more than ever.

Our God is still on the throne. Read Daniel chapter 4. God has a plan. It is He who sets up kings and takes them down ~ for His own purposes, which we can't fully know or understand, because His ways are sooooooo high above our ways.

Daniel 4:3 says, "How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation."

Daniel 4:17b says, "The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and He gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men."

As far as God is concerned, nothing has changed. He has a plan. And nothing takes Him by surprise ~ He knows the end from the beginning. His purposes will be served. No election of man can ever change that truth. I pray we all can rest in the eternal truths of God's word, and remember Phil. 4:8. No matter what changes we see taking place all around us, remember that God's word is true, and He never changes, never slumbers, never makes mistakes, never lies, and never leaves us.

Praise be to the Name of the LORD!

By God's oh-so-amazing grace,

The Rewritten Princess

Go to this website to join thousands of others (including myself) for 77 days of prayer for the new administration which will be sworn in 77 days from now.

Vote on Nov 4

I wish everyone would vote. I believe it is a right, a privilege, and an obligation. I was surprised to hear my 21 year old say recently that he didn't think he was going to vote. I absolutely can't understand this mindset. I am very passionate about voting ~ about being informed and having an opinion and casting a vote. He said he feels he doesn't have enough information to vote in good conscience. WHAT?! Okay ~ if voting is important (and it is) it should not be viewed as being optional. And if voting is not optional, then you have to take the time to become informed. I do agree you should not vote without knowing who or what to vote for ~ it shouldn't be like a pop quiz where the answers don't really matter. There are many, many ways to become informed, and it's not that difficult. And it's not like the election comes up unexpectedly ~ we have plenty of warning and plenty of time to prepare ourselves. One way to become informed is to check out the non-partisan voters' guides put out by focusvoter.com. They get the voting records of the candidates, they find out what organizations support each candidate, they get the actual wording of the proposals, they ask ALL the candidates the same questions and post their answers, and they put it all out there in one convenient location so it is quick and easy to learn a great deal. It is true there are no perfect candidates, but there are not perfect voters either. We just need to take it seriously enough to get involved and to vote.

My husband pointed out to me the other day that in Michigan, where we have the worst economy of the whole nation, and where our economy was a disaster long before the nation's economy took a down-turn, many people blame it all on Bush and the Republicans; and yet, we have Democratic Governor Granholm, Democrat Carl Levin, Democrat Debbie Stabenow ~ all career politicians in office here for many a year. Why are they not held responsible? And as for the nation, we have had a Democrat-controlled congress for how long? And apart from making excuses and blaming everything on Bush, what else have they done? But... those who have not taken the time to be informed are susceptible to being led around and manipulated by the liberal, "Democrat" media who certainly are not informing people of the truth about our candidates, our proposals, our economic condition and its causes, or our future. And we blame those the media says to blame, and we re-elect the ones who are actually responsible.

Be informed, vote, and then, no matter the outcome of the election, remember that God is not up for re-election. He can't be voted out. He always has been on the throne, and He always will be. And His ways are perfect, His word is true, He is just and faithful and merciful and eternal. Kings and kingdoms rise and fall, but one thing never changes ~ Almighty God. Our leaders can worship Him or deny Him, they can seek Him or ignore Him, they can trust Him or try to forget about Him, but that never changes eternal, absolute truth. God IS.

October 31

Wow ~ busy week! Our church has this event every year on October 31 called Treat Night. It is really an amazing experience. There is no admission charge, it is open to all who come (although it is targeted specifically to the innercity neighborhood where the church is located) and it is so much fun. We have a Moon Walk, hot and cold cider, popcorn, cotton candy, animal balloons, face painting, a hay ride, and a number of games ~ and oh yeah ~ CANDY! It is staffed entirely by volunteers. I don't know how many years we have been doing this, but every year we have more kids and more fun. It is such a delight meeting all the kids and parents and seeing all the smiles and hearing all the laughter. I must say though, by the end of the evening, we are all totally bushed. It is a whole lot of work leading up to it, then we are all on our feet the entire evening with setting up, staffing the event, then cleaning up afterwards. We all go home and drop into a comfy chair, too tired to even get ready for bed. But it is so worth it all that each year we are all geared up and excited to do it all over again. We have even thought of doing something similar during the summer, though that hasn't come about yet.

It is great to be part of a "family" who is so interested in offering family-friendly, wholesome entertainment at great personal sacrifice, and no cost to others. It is an expensive evening for the church, but that is not our focus. And this "family" is so supportive to each other in good times and bad times, not judgmental, not self-serving, no hidden agendas, just true love, concern, compassion, friendship and support. Perfect people? Absolutely not. Flawed, moody, broke, broken, disappointed, disappointing, imperfect people who have been knocked down, wounded, made mistakes, have regrets, can't pay their bills, struggle with their kids, etc., etc., just like everyone else. EXCEPT ~ they've given their broken, imperfect lives to God, trusted Christ as their savior ~ and that makes ALL the difference. That's where the miracle begins.

If you haven't accepted Christ's love and forgiveness, I highly recommend it. Contact a local Bible-believing church and ask the pastor to lead you to this loving Lord. It is something you will never regret. I promise.