2009 FBC Secret Prayer Sister Banquet

We had our Secret Prayer Sister Banquet

last week. We had a lot of fun, although we

were down just alittle in attendance. I understand

the busyness of the season. This time of year

is just a very busy time for folks. This night is

a special time for our ladies. Of course,

we pray for our "secret sister" all year,

getting her little gifts and cards, to let

her know that we are praying for her. But

on this night, we reveal our identity. I

was surprised at how many had guessed rightly

this year. (I guess, we are going to have to be

really sneaky next year!)

We sure had a great time of fellowship! (pun intended)

Emily and one of her friends from church.

(They are not yet participating in the

Secret Sisters~they just came along to eat!)

Sister Amy Williams did our devotion this year.

She did a wonderful job of inspiring each of

us to give the Lord the first and best part

of our day. (After her devotion, there were

several ladies who gave testimony of how

the Lord has blessed their lives in the

private time with Him) It was a wonderful

and sweet time for our ladies!

I just could NOT get the whole group in one

picture~I should have asked a waitress but

they were working soooo hard, I hated to bother

them.

We played a game like "hot potato" where
we passed around a present needing to unwrapped
while christmas music played. When the music stopped,
you pass the gift to the next lady. The one who
gets to the original box gets to keep it. Above, Carrie was the
lucky young lady gets to keep the gift.
(I wrapped this gift for over 45 minutes~and it was
taped VERY well!) :)





Trying to unwrap it!! :)

Carrie just before she gets to the final box.

We played a game where Mrs. Robin read

a Christmas story about Mr. and Mrs. Wright

where you pass the gift left and right each time

you hear the word. This game was a lot of fun

and hilarious to watch because so many kept

getting their directions messed up.

Sister Helen was the one who got to keep this

one.

Here she is with her pretty apron!

Later, I will post some pictures of individual

ladies that were taken. For some reason, I

get big spaces between my pics if I post too

many at once. Please bear with me, I'm not

all that computer savvy.

It's Snowing

I woke up early...stumbled to the kitchen to make

my coffee, passed the sliding door, glanced out and saw...

SNOW!!!

Okay, so I know it's NOT a big deal to some of you who

live where it snows all the time. But, for some of us, even

a few snowflakes get us EXCITED!!! My daughter, Emily,

was sooooo excited, she could hardly wait to get out in it

and play. And, even though it wasn't much, it was still

very pretty and oh, so much fun, while it lasted!

Emily smiling...because it

finally snowed!

Emily doesn't get much opportunity to use her

sled...didn't work very well, but we tried!


Emily and our teeny snowgirl...she named her Barbie

Emily loves to make SnowAngels!

SnowAngels are even more cool when made

on a snowy trampoline!

Just a few little flakes...but enough to make

my little girl very happy! And what a

beautiful way to start the day!

Festival of Trees

We took Emily to the Festival of Trees in Knoxville. She had

loads of fun. We have never gone to this before. All the proceeds

from this event go to support East Tennessee Children's Hospital.

It was beautifully done and such a worthy cause. It's nice a have

a specialized hospital so close to home where children can be

treated. Anyway, here's just a few pictures ( not very good

quality, I am afraid, took them on my phone, FORGOT MY

CAMERA!!!)

Emily and her Daddy

She is a "Daddy's Girl"

Getting her face painted

Cute snowman on her face

Decorating a small tree

The finished project

Getting a "princess" manicure

On the carousel

Making a craft

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day!

I have much to be thankful for. In our

Sunday morning service, many folks

in our congregation testified of the

goodness of God in their lives, while

going through difficult times. Many,

many people said that it had been a hard

year. So many of our church family have

been in very difficult and trying

circumstances. Some have lost dear

loved ones, some have faced sickness,

some have faced sickness of loved ones,

and the list goes on and on. YET, in every

testimony given, none failed to praise

our wonderful Savior for His goodness

and grace in their lives. Sometimes life

is hard, but God is ALWAYS good and faithful.

I am thankful this year, for all the times

in the past when God has answered prayer

and strengthened me. These times will

help to remind me, when I need it, for

renewed strength in the upcoming year.

I also want to say thank you to the

sweet readers of my blog. It is a blessing

to me to know that there are some dear

christian friends, some of whom I have never

met, that are praying for me and my family.

I have very much enjoyed getting to know

these new "friends" through our blogs.

~This note is for Tammy~I apologize for

not updating before now about the status

of my Dad. Things have been alittle hectic.

He is to take chemo for three months before

he has his bladder removed. The doctors

at Vanderbilt said that this would be better

because if they do the surgery and find more

cancer cells, he would have to wait until he

is completely recovered from the surgery to

take chemo, and they have already labeled

his cancer as "aggressive". So, in taking the

chemo before, they will taking care of the

other cancer cells first. I hope this makes

sense. Anyway, that's where he stands now.

Daddy is still experiencing some pain, we

hope this will improve in the coming days.

He and Mom are in pretty good spirits,

all things considered.

I do appreciate your continued prayers. I will

try to keep my blog updated as much as

possible. So, Tammy, if I forget to update,

just send me a little reminder now and then. :)

Once again...

I am thankful for all my new blogger friends.

It has been very encouraging to me to be

able to "meet" you all, and get to know you

through your blogs. It is also, a blessing to

my parents, to know that there are people

all over praying for them.

God Bless You All!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I Love You, Lord

I thank You, Lord, for all You've done,

I don't deserve Your love;

When I was lost You saw my need,

And left Your home above.

I love You, Lord,

I love You, Lord,

because of Calvary;

I love You, Lord,

I love You, Lord,

You're everything to me.

You proved Your love on Calvary,

You bore my sin and shame;

I'll live for You through all my days,

I'll praise Your holy name!

Words and Music by Ron Hamilton

These words sum up my feelings these

days. The Lord has been so good to me.

My heart and soul has, at times, in the

last several weeks, has felt uneasy

and troubled by circumstances.

BUT, in all this, my God has given

strength and encouragment to

trust in Him. Truly, with my all

my heart, I say

"I Love You, Lord"

I am so glad that when I am in

trouble, I have a refuge to run to.

How do those, who do not know

the Lord, make it when they

are facing dark days. May

I live my life, always, in sweet

communion with my Lord, so

that when I am in despair, I am not

hindered by unconfessed sin

and broken fellowship. May I

give Him my heart and life daily.

Again, I say,

"I Love You, Lord"

Update

I haven't posted anything in the last few days.

We had to wait over a week before we could

hear back from the pathologist about Daddy's

surgery. We finally got the report back today.

Unfortunately, the news was not very good. He

has Stage III Bladder cancer. At this point, we

are not sure what all will transpire. We DO know

that he will have his bladder removed. He and

Mom have an appointment next week to meet

with a doctor at Vanderbilt to discuss his situation.

Of course, this was not what we wanted to hear.

It would have been wonderful to hear "we got it

all" and that he was going to be fine. But, in this

life, sometimes we face difficult times. This is

one of those times. Our family is grateful that

his doctor in Cookeville set up the appointment

for him at Vanderbilt. The doctor there is supposed

to be one of the top in this field. Just one more

blessing of the Lord. How blessed our family

has been, to have had good health for so long.

Now, in what may be our most difficult trial yet,

may we be found trusting in the Lord, the source

of our strength, and may we be found giving HIM

the praise that HE deserves.

So, in this season of Thanksgiving...I am

thankful for the many, many years of blessing

the Lord has bestowed on my family, for parents

who loved the Lord, and passed the baton of

faith to their children, and most of all, for being

a loving Savior that I can run to when I need Him.

He has always been faithful, I know that whatever

we face, He will carry us through it.

Unexpected Blessing!

My parents have always loved the Primitive Quartet.

They had recently bought tickets to go see them while

they were singing nearby. As it turns out, the night of

the singing was at the same time that Daddy would be

the hospital from his bladder cancer surgery. My nephew,

who had planned to attend the singing with my parents, decided to see

if they could arrange a visit from a couple of the fellows

who sing with them to come by Daddy's room. My uncle,

who knows the Primitives fairly well, worked out all the

details. Last night, two hours before the singing was to

begin, Daddy got a visit from Bro. Reagan and Bro. Norman.

I cannot tell you how much this meant to my parents.

The look on their faces was priceless. It was such an

encouragement to them. They both spent a few minutes

encouraging them in the Lord, shared some scripture,

and then took the time to pray with them before they

left. I am sure that they had a lot to do before the singing

but, what a blessing it was to my family for these men

to do this. Here is a picture I got on my phone.

Bro. Reagan and Bro. Norman

of the Primitive Quartet visit

Daddy in the hospital.