Nana On Caffeine

I'm Done

2011-02-12T09:23:00.001-08:00

I have thought about it for a LONG time. I just don't see a reason to continue this blog. It has been an awesome adventure and I have met (both virtually and in reality) some wonderful people who I now consider friends. I hope that won't end.

I hope to keep in touch with you all......and I hope you will do the same. I am on Facebook and you can find me there.

Thank you all for your comments, your prayers, your encouragement and your friendship. I wish you all God's speed and if we do not meet here, I pray we will meet one day walking down the streets of heaven.

Cozy Reader.....Nana on Caffeine.....signing off. See ya!!

A New Direction

2011-01-31T08:24:00.000-08:00

OK....I have thought and thought and now that I am using Facebook to post my immediate thoughts I am going to start writing some deeper thoughts here. They may not be worth reading but it will make me feel better. SO, here goes......

I am now a 57 year old woman. I have lived through a lot of stuff. I know everyone has "stuff" in their past......but this is my blog so they can write their stories on their blog.

I was raised in a loving home by a mom and dad who loved me unconditionally and taught me right from wrong. I never had to wonder if they were on my side or if they would be there for me....it was a given. That is truly a blessing.

I had one sibling, a brother. He was ten years older than me and I idolized him. He was very protective and kind. He left home when I was 7 and joined the Navy. When I was 13 he died of pneumonia as the result of burns he received in a house fire. We were all devastated. It was the first time I saw my daddy cry. Our lives were forever changed.

Life isn't always fair. I learned that at an early age. It was a lesson that was very helpful.

I married when I was 20. I was a mother by 22 and again at 24. Life was busy and good. My boys filled my life with so much joy. Being a mother was my life's dream so I was in heaven. Being married to a minister had its' challenges. Church people can be very kind and church people can be very cruel! It is just a fact. Most of the time we dealt with the kind ones. Fortunately, my children were not privy to the cruel ones in their early years. I am thankful for that.

Tragedy visited my family again in 1996 when our oldest son was killed in Valujet crash in the Everglades. I thought my heart would explode. I now understood what my own mother had felt. The hole in my heart is still there but the pain is less. You never "get over" the loss of a child. You just learn how to live with the pain.

I did not mean for this post to be so "down", I just felt I needed to vent a little. Today has been a difficult one. My husband and I are on the outs with each other. I feel a little melancholy and I thought putting my thoughts down would help. Sometimes age does not bring wisdom.....and that is what I feel today. I have no wisdom for my situation. It will resolve one way or another but in the meantime.........it sucks (pardon my language!!)

SO, I am still a 57 year old woman who has had some stuff to deal with and I will have more stuff in the years to come. What did women in the past do without a blog to vent on????!!!! I promise my next post will be more upbeat.

I' m Still Kicking!!!

2011-01-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

Contrary to what you may have heard......I'm still here, alive and well. I haven't posted anything in a while. I am struggling with blogging. I used to love it so and it still has appeal but I just can't seem to get back in the groove. I am doing some serious thinking about what I would like my blog to be. SO, there may be some changes to come........stay tuned.

In the meantime, I would like to share some pictures of the most beautiful grandchildren on the planet (a strictly unbiased opinion)!

My Two Favorite Boys!

2010-10-27T13:43:00.001-07:00

My son, Jared and his son, Elijah Thomas. They are both very precious to me!

On the Fence

2010-09-01T08:44:00.000-07:00

I have not posted anything lately and it seems the time between postings is getting longer. I am using Facebook a lot and it seems that is satisfying my needs.

SO, I think I will take a hiatus from my blog. You can find me on Facebook and I would love to communicate with you there.

I am not deleting my blog......at least not now. I'm just needing a break. Tah Tah for now!!!

Venezuela

2010-07-31T06:15:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Venezuela on Wednesday night and at our home on Thursday afternoon. We are SO thrilled to be here again. We love the country and the people.

My hubby is teaching in a seminar today and will be teaching in the seminary starting Monday week. That will be followed by graduation and a wedding. Our ministry assistant, Samuel, is marrying and we are so happy for him. His bride's name is Laura and she is a lovely girl.

I have been resting mostly since arriving but will get busy starting tomorrow with church. Being here is always such a blessing. We receive much more that we could ever give.

We return to the States on Aug. 19. Pray for Venezuela and the Evangelical church. They are under attack but we know God is in control. Our friends are strong in their faith and will face whatever comes their way with courage.

Opposites Attract

2010-07-18T14:35:00.001-07:00

My pets are terrified of thunder! The above picture shows our dog, Boo and the cat, Boxer. They didn't seem to mind that they were sworn enemies......they were both scared so they jumped on the sofa with their Mama!!!! Smokie, the wonder dog was at my hubby's feet!

Another storm is brewing this afternoon and Boo is on the sofa with me and Smokie is laying on the floor in front of the sofa and Boxer just got down to "take care of business"!!!!

Animals are SO entertaining!!!

It's Magic!

2010-07-06T18:20:00.001-07:00

My hubby and I decided to try a new product, magicJack! It is a device that plugs into the USB port of your computer. You plug you phone into it and then you have phone service! We have been increasingly dissatisfied with our land line. Our bill was just more than we wanted to pay. SO, we decided to give this a try.

The device itself costs $39.95 and then you pay $19.95 a year to use it. That's it! We don't know how it is going to work. We will let you know. If it works, it will be great!

Fresh Veggies!

2010-06-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

This is what the pasture looked like a couple of months ago. NOW, the corn is over your head and the green beans are coming in. My mother in law had the first tomato sandwich (of many) of the season yesterday!! We already have LOTS of squash and tomatoes are just starting to be ripe!

The fresh veggies are wonderful. The flavor is so much better than what you purchase in the store. I also KNOW how they are grown and what kind of fertilizer was used. That is a good thing.

This morning we made vegetable soup with some of our OWN veggies. That's a good feeling. If you are nearby, come on over, we have PLENTY to share! We planted it but God gave the increase.

Old Friends Are Like Gold!!

2010-06-22T05:35:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I had lunch with two high school friends, Virginia (center) and Lawana (right). Lawana I had not seen since high school and Virginia and I met for lunch several months ago. We picked up right where we left off.......talking 100 miles an hour with gusts up to 200!!!!

We talked about other friends we knew of and where they were, we talked about church and we shared our faith walk with each other. It was so wonderful. Virginia is very active in her church and it's ministry to people with drug problems. Lawana's husband is a Baptist minister. They are not serving a church at the moment. He is a consultant with Baptist churches around the state.

What a joy to have two such wonderful friends. I look forward to many more THREE HOUR lunches!!!!

Summer Time and the Living is Easy!

2010-06-15T15:51:00.001-07:00

Mix one part summer heat with a cute little pool. Add a very adorable little girl, her little brother and mommie and daddy. Sprinkle with a Nana and Papa. What do you get? A very lovely afternoon filled with memories to last lifetime!!

My Husband, Author Extraordinaire!!!

2010-06-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

My husband is good at a great many things but the thing he excels in is ministry. God has gifted him with the ability to preach, to train pastors and plan worship that transforms. Now, he has taken that knowledge and has written several books that can help pastors who want to offer the very best worship experience for their congregations. There is also one book that lay persons will find helpful. It is called, "Our Father.....I Believe", it is a fresh look at the Lord's Prayer and the Apostle's Creed.

The books are available at Lulu.com and Amazon.com. Maybe you can share the link with your pastor or, if you are a pastor, buy it for yourself.

I am very proud of him and his desire to be helpful to others who are in the ministry.

Nasty Varmint!

2010-05-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

This varmint (and a friend who will be caught tonight!!) got into hubby's chicken house and KILLED his 10 prized Americana chickens. That's $100 down the drain!

He has been trying to catch the stinker for several days and this morning, Hector, our farm worker brought this to our door.

I know he has cute attributes but NOT to us. This is war and I don't think hubby plans to take prisoners!!!

CUTE ALERT

2010-05-25T06:49:00.001-07:00

Meet the newest member of our farm family.
A beautiful baby goat.....a girl!!!

I Am Proud

2010-05-23T17:43:00.000-07:00

Today we went to our son's church. We go as often as we can. We want to be supportive and encouraging to him. I hope our presence is that for him!!

His sermon today was stirring. He preached on the passage from Matthew where Jesus talks about "as you have done it unto the least of these you have done it unto me." He began by pointing out that we all have been in the position of needing the help of others. Whether it is in finding a job, needing help with a problem, being sick and needing someone to take us to the doctor. We all have been "the least" at some time.

Then he moved on to talking about the "least of these" that do not look like us, do not dress like us, do not speak like us, do not live like us. These are the ones Jesus wants us to reach out to. He wants us to offer them HIM. He wants us to minister to their needs. He wants us to serve them as we would serve Him. No matter who they are they are His children just as we are.

In my opinion the most important thing he said was, "Some churches would not reach out to those who are marginalized, those whose skin is darker, those who speak a language we do not know. This will NOT be that church." He took a stand. He said to his people that we WILL be in ministry to ALL.

I am thankful to God for the call He has placed on my son but I am more thankful that my son has embraced the call and is fulfilling it. I pray God will continue to use him for His kingdom.

"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." 3 John 4

My Handsome Grandson

2010-05-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

Am All Thuft Up!

2010-05-19T08:55:00.001-07:00

I have a terrible cold and I am coughing and sneezing and feel YUCKY! The worst thing is I can't love on the new man in my life, Elijah Thomas!

How inopportune to catch a cold now! Oh well, I guess I will just wave a baby E and save the hugs and kisses for later!

I'm one bummed out Nana!

Same Song.....Second Verse

2010-05-18T13:36:00.000-07:00

I am following in the steps of "Flip Flop Floozie" and am changing my blog title and look hoping it will jump start me to get back to blogging.

I started blogging to have an avenue for expressing myself, a place to share my thoughts, my ideas, maybe some wisdom all with some humor thrown in.

After a few years I think I became stale. I never wanted to become stale. But I did! I slowly posted less and less.

SO, I am starting fresh. I am going to see if this will give me a shot in the arm. Welcome to my new blog: Nana On Caffeine!!!