Category Archives: NJ

Not Only “A Good Life” But, “A God Life”

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When our son, Casey was young…

We left a blizzard in NJ…

To fly to Florida…

While on the beach enjoying the sun, sand, and waves…

Casey said, “Ahhhh, this is the life!”

We laughed so hard!!

And, it got me thinking…

Christians are called to be more…

So much more…

To be different…

To be set apart for so much more from God…

To be more in this world…

To live with a purpose…

We’re called to believe all the promises of God…

And live them with God’s help…

Not just a “Good Life”

A “God Life”

A life full of God…

A godly life…

Standing on the promises of God!

He wants to give us His best!!

He created us not to simply live the good life…

But, so we can live life with Him…

He loves us…

He sent His son, Jesus and offered Him up to die for us…

To save us…

And sent us His Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us into all Truth..

Then, we can know the nature of God…

Then, we can become more like Jesus each day…

In this “God Life,” He gives us love, faith, hope, favor…

When we offer up our entire life to Him…

When we trade our good life for the God Life He divinely planned for us!

Take advantage of all of God’s promises…

They’re all for you!!

You are His!

You’re Beautiful!

In His Eyes!

 Amen!

2 Peter 1:3

“His divine power has given us everything we need

for a godly life

through our knowledge of Him

who called us by His own glory and goodness.”

Photo Album From Our “Cousins Family Reunion” in NJ

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We haven’t been back up to NJ in a number of years…

So a cousins reunion was planned…

Somehow, we’re the old folks in the family now…

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Flying to NJ!!

Spirit Airlines to Atlantic City!!

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Pretty hassle-free, I must say…

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Cousin Phyllis’ house in Lavallette!

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Out for dinner…

For some good NJ Italian Sicilian Pizza!!

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Sea Side Beach and Boardwalk…

Still under construction after Hurricane Sandy!!

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Great memories of the Jersey Shore!!!

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All new rides!

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They still have Casey’s favorite Boardwalk games!!

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Time to sit and chat on Phyllis’ front porch!!

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And to walk and take photos on the Lavallette Beach!

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Floridians, feel blessed…

New Jerseyans have to pay to get on their beaches!

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Walked to Ortley Beach…

The beach was packed…

High Season…

Weather: cloudy 72 to 82 degrees…

NO  HUMIDITY!!!!

The beautiful weather in NJ spoiled me…

When I came back to FL…

I couldn’t breathe!!!

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Beautiful sand dunes!!

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Phyllis and I at Bayside Cafe for lunch!!

Yum!

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Later, watched the sunset over Barnegat Bay!!

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On Friday, July 18th…

I conducted a grave site Memorial Service for  my Mom…

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I read beautiful letters from my brothers, Joe & John…

George & Phyllis spoke lovingly of Mom…

Casey prayed at the end…

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I read Mom’s favorite Bible passage…

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

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We can be glad and rejoice…

Because of the blessings of grace, peace, pardon…

Righteousness, and salvation…

That we have through Christ…

And the everlasting Gospel. 

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   Psalm 118:23 

“This is the LORD’S doing;

It is marvelous in our eyes.” 

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Delight!  Be Full!  Be Glad!  Have Joy!  Rejoice!

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Tina sang, “Worthy Is The Lamb”

Beautiful!!!

Psalm 118:1

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

His love endures forever.”

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Cousins Family Reunion…

Hilton Garden Inn in Lakewood, NJ…

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Cathy, Mary Kate, Connor, & Scott

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Ron, Judi, Deanna, & Nunzio

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Judi, Courtney, & Ellie

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Cathy, Mary Kate, Casey, Scott, Dave, Kyle, Tina, Me, & Celeste

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Casey, Tina, Mary Kate, Phyllis, & Connor

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Courtney, Dave, Scott, & Cathy

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Pt. Pleasant Boardwalk!

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Brings back sooo many memories!

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Wall to wall people on the beach!!

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Lively place!!

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Tina & Denine

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Rick, Alycia, & Kyle 

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Dave, Ellie, Courtney, Celeste, & Patty

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Jennifer, and twins:  Maggie and Cate

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Alice, Denine, George, John, Ron, Carol, Celeste, Phyllis, Casey, Rick, Deanna

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Maggie, Ellie, & Cate…

The three princesses that I just got to meet this weekend!!

Psalm 103:17

“But from everlasting to everlasting

the LORD’s love is with those who fear Him,

and His righteousness with their children’s children–

To those who keep His covenant

And remember His precepts to do them.”

This is something we can hold on to…

We can have life and love in our hearts…

Joy and gladness in our souls…

Because the Lord is our salvation!

Amen!!

A Swarm Of Seniors!!

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Proverbs 16:31

“Gray hair is a crown of splendor;   

it is attained in the way of righteousness.”

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It was sooo funny today…

 

My hubby took me to Fisherman’s Village…

 

http://fishville.com/

 

To get my long-awaited burger…

 

After my routine colonoscopy…

 

Which is such an awesome procedure…

 

NOT!!!

 

I took all the required meds yesterday…

 

And waited…

 

Finished getting my income tax ready to work on with hubby over the weekend…

 

Typed up two blogs…

 

And did various other things…

 

My son came home sick, guess he got it from me…

 

So I had to take care of him!

 

And still no potty time…

 

I could have taken a walk today…

 

But I thought I’d have to rush to the bathroom!! 

 

I don’t want to keep hopping in and out of bed tonight…

 

While I’m trying to get a restful sleep…

 

Please, Lord, let my plumbing work properly…

 

And let the results to be…

 

“Ok, see you in 3 years!!”

This is what we seniors talk about!!

Such lively conversation, huh???

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We haven’t been over to Fisherman’s Village in a while…

 

http://www.fishville.com/marina.html

 

And certainly not at lunch time in February…

 

At the height of “snow bird” season!!

 

Snowbirds are people who leave cold, northern winters…

 

By escaping to Florida!

 

If you don’t stay for at least half the year…

 

Then you’re a sunbird…

 

If you don’t come down here at all…

 

To escape the snow flakes…

 

Are you a flaky bird???

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Floridian’s Temperature Gauge:

74 degrees-

  Beautiful outside weather…

85 Degrees-

Beach and pool weather…

95 Degrees-

Too hot, stay in air conditioning…

Anything lower than 70 degrees is chilly…

Lower than 60 degrees is cold…

Lower than 50 degrees, we’re freezing!

http://EzineArticles.com/3282469

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We decided to go to the…

 

Village Fish Market Restaurant…

 

When I e-mailed my friend/hairdresser this story…

 

She said…

 

“How was your burger at the Village FISH Market??!!!!

 

LOL

 

That alone cracked me up!

 

That is tooo funny!

 

A client asked me how I can stand it with all the old peeps!

 

HaHaHa

 

And…..YES!

 

I was laughing hysterically thinking this is definitely…

 

BLOG MATERIAL

 

hahahahahhahhahaha!!”

She’s young, she doesn’t get it…

Wait her time will come!!!

Ha!

 

http://www.fishville.com/restaurants.html

“You don’t stop laughing because you grow old.

You grow old because you stop laughing.”

-Michael Pritchard-

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Well, we noticed that the…

 

Village Fish Market on the water was very crowded…

 

So, since we didn’t want to wait…

 

We sat by the door in the bar area…

 

Well, let me tell you…

 

Fisherman’s Village was like a Senior Citizen Reunion…

 

Not one young adult, teen, or child in the whole place!

 

I think every Senior in the world was at Fisherman’s Village at that exact time…

 

Walking past our window!

 

And me without my camera!!!!

 

It was Baby Boomer Heaven…

 

They were all dressed for summer…

 

Because our weather’s in the 70’s…

 

As compared to…

 

What’s yours???

 

Zero???  Or worse???

 

I had on black capri sweats…

 

Since I just came from the Surgi-Center…

 

No makeup…

 

 I wasn’t ready for the Florida Summertime Fashion Show…

 

I didn’t fit in!

 

Plus, I had a long sleeve denim shirt over my short-sleeve top…

 

Because I felt a little chilly!!

 

Ha!  What a hoot!

 

Yup!!!

 

They just kept comin’ in and out…

 

Walkin’ back and forth…

 

Meeting friends…

 

Talkin’

 

Like they hadn’t seen nice weather in their entire lives!!

I was still a little woozy from the anesthesia for my colonoscopy…

I thought at first that I was seeing things…

When, seemingly swarms of seniors…

Came out of the woodwork…

From everywhere…

Like an Old Folks Convention…

Is Tuesday Senior Day?

https://www.facebook.com/fishermensvillage

What a show!!

A Senior Fashion Show!

Snowbirds, sunbirds…

En mass with their Florida Lifestyle outfits…

Like a casting for a Beall’s “Florida Lifestyle” Outlet advertisement!

What an onslaught of walkers, canes, braces, wheel chairs, and orthotic sneakers…

I spend so much of my time with kids…

That I forget I’m old…

Elderly= 55 +

Some days I feel old…

Especially last week, when I was sick with a sinus infection…

But, Praise God!

They were so vibrant…

They made me feel young, and not alone…

So, since we’re right there with them…

And we’re old, too…

We just waltzed ourselves down that breezeway/runway…

Right out of there with them!

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Then, later in the afternoon…

I took my walk…

And again saw old folks…

 

Strolling back to their condos, from the pool, in full beach gear…

 

Two guys in a boat looking at their catch of fish,

 

And one elderly couple approaching me going to the pool…

 

The old guy was wearing no shirt, bless his heart….

 

Gee, they all just must want to finally feel the sunshine on their skin!!

 

All this “old folks” conversation…

 

Brought back memories…

 

Of when we first brought our son, who was around five…

 

To Whiting, near Toms River, NJ…

 

To see Grandma and Grandpa’s new house…

 

We took him into the big grocery store…

 

Rode him around in the cart while we shopped…

 

And he kept looking around, looking around…

 

Finally he says,

 

“Gee, Mom, there are certainly a lot of Grandma’s and Grandpa’s down here!!!”

 

We laughed so hard!!

 

Well, that was me today…

I saw so many, many Grandma’s and Grandpa’s…

Wish you all were there with me!!

It was so funny!!

My cousin from NJ, e-mailed me…

“What’s so funny?  

Sounds like a warm, sunny, wonderful day for the old folks (like me)!!!!! :)”

Right!

And from my friend Marian…

“I got a kick out of your story about your funny day… 

I’ve noticed a few of those ‘old folks’ around our neighborhood, too…

But mostly driving cars like they think they may break (not brake)…

If they turn the wheel too sharp. 

I wonder how they got all the way from places like Ontario and New York! 

Just last night, we had a couple over…

And talked about how we have become the ‘older’ generation.”

Yikes, it’s true!!!

“Inside every older person

is a younger person wondering what happened.

-Jennifer Yane-

So Come On Down!!!

The state of Florida is the southernmost state on the continental United States,

boasting both peninsula and panhandle landforms.

Due to its location as the closest U.S. state to the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator,

Florida is renowned for its exceptionally sunny, but humid, tropical climate.

Known by other state nicknames such as

“Alligator State,”

“Orange State” and

“Everglade State,”

the nickname “Sunshine State”

was officially adopted by the Florida Legislature in 1970.

The nickname appeals to “snowbird” tourists who,

especially during cold winters in the northern climates,

visit Florida for its spectacular weather and warm beaches.

In 2011, tourism is the largest industry in the state

and one of the top domestic and international destinations in the world.

Spanish explorer Ponce DeLeon was the first European to explore Florida.

He named it Pascua de Florida or “Feast of Flowers” for the succulent flora and abundant flowers.

Florida has a humid subtropical to full tropical climate,

with abundantly sunny days and a mean daily temperature of 71°F.

Despite its wide variety of temperatures of near 100°F

to sub-zero temperatures throughout the year,

Florida is the warmest state in the United States, on average.

http://www.wisegeek.com/why-is-florida-called-the-sunshine-state.htm

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Dedicated to all seniors…

In loving memory of my Mom, Tina!

Miss you, Mommy!

Happy Birthday…Ya Little Rascal!

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“Happy Birthday, Mr. Hood!

Happy Birthday to you!

To make your Birthday turn out good!

I give this present to you!!

-Little Rascals-

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Hon,

I appreciate you because…

You pray to God for us!

You’re true-blue!

You gave me a beautiful son!

You love us!

You do all the yard work!

You take care of all the cars!

You call to complain to everyone who tries to rip us off!

You do all the grocery shopping!

You do all the cooking!

You take care of all the garbage/recycling!

You play golf with our son!

You take him to the shooting range!

You care about our safety!

You handle our cash outflow!

You lost weight for your health!

You love Siberian Huskies, even crazy ones like ours!

You’re independent enough to pack your own luggage!

You take charge in a crisis!

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Hey, Yo!

What more can we ask for???

We’re blessed!!

 We couldn’t live without you!!

All God’s Blessings for a Happy Birthday!!

And many, many more!!

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Love, your Gang!!

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Lets’ Eat!!!

Thank God, we finally found a good pizza place in Florida!!

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And mussels with good sauce!!

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Our prayer for you…

Numbers 6:24-26

“The Lord bless you    

and keep you;

the Lord make His Face shine on you    

and be gracious to you; 

the Lord turn His Face toward you    

and give you peace.”

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3 John 1:2

“…I pray that you may enjoy good health

and that all may go well with you,

even as your soul is getting along well.”

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Psalm 21:3

“You came to greet him with rich blessings   

and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.”

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                         (Hand to Hand training-US Army-Ft Dix, NJ!  Ha!)

Psalm 21:6

“Surely You have granted him unending blessings   

and made him glad with the joy of Your Presence.”

Amen!

Grow A “Compact Organic” Garden!!

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This is so amazing!!

Walt is a former East Orange, NJ police officer, who my husband worked with…

To see his photos, go to:

http://www.nj.com/cranford/index.ssf/2013/08/kenilworth_compact_organic_gar.html#incart_river

By Cranford Chronicle
on August 19, 2013 at 5:36 PM, updated August 19, 2013 at 5:37 PM

Homeowners who think their yard is just too small for a garden that produces the high yields they desire may have to think again.

Walter Sosnosky has about 500 individual plants on property only 50 feet wide and 100 feet long at his home in Kenilworth.

He grows everything from arugula to sweet banana peppers, as well as herbs and flowers.

His plant inventory is even more impressive when taking into account that there is, of course, a house on the lot;

as well as a 20-foot-long driveway; a 30-by-16-foot pool; a patio; a deck; and two sheds.

He does it all using a method called Compact and Organic Gardening.

“What I have done is thrown out the book on conventional gardening,”

Sosnosky said.

“In modern terms, I have gone rough.”

He gives an example:

The golden rule on tomatoes, he said, is that they are not to be grown within about 2 to 3 feet of one another.

“Mine are approximately one foot apart and I intermingle them with eggplants, bell peppers and garlic,”

Sosnosky said.

“So as they grow, the plants support each other in the growing process.”

To ensure everything is organic, he follows a strict protocol. Here are some of rules he adheres to:

1. To ward off ants, he sprinkles instant grits across the problem area.
2. To keep away squirrels and other creatures in the rodent family, he grows peppermint among other plants.
3. To keep the yard bug-free, he recommends spraying a mixture of antiseptic mouth wash and lemon-scented dish-washing soap.
4. To keep a good PH balance in the soil, use coffee grounds and ground egg shells. This also helps discourage slugs, and keeps the neighborhood cat and dog from next door from roaming around, he said.

“In the fertilizer department, I use fish emulsion, beer and sugared colas,”

Sosnosky said.

“These all add to robust and healthy plant life.”

“Make the effort and the rewards are yours,”

he said,

explaining that those practicing compact organic gardening will be repaid with a bounty of vegetables, herbs and fruits,

like “lush Jersey tomatoes,” married with the “fresh scents of basil, rosemary and lavender, to name a few.”

Here’s an inventory of all the types of plants, with numbers of each type, growing on Sosnosky’s less than 1/8 of an acre:

Alyssum 12; Eggplant 22; Rutgers Tomatoes 6; Lemon Boy Tomatoes 6; Marigolds 24; Cucumbers 6; Beef Master Tomatoes 5; Blueberry Bush 1; Impatiens 140; Lobelia 32; Dianthus 12; Verbena 12; Snap Peas 21; Garlic Plants 25; Basil 6; Habanera Peppers 5; Snap Dragons 11; Gazania 9; Salmon Geranium 10; Petunias 59; Raspberry Plants 4; Bell Peppers 2; Jalapeño Peppers 4; Cayenne 3; Sweet Banana Peppers 4; Pop Pop Peppers 2; Better Boy Tomatoes 3; Parsley 4; Arugula 4; Super Sonic Tomatoes 9; Rosemary 1; Greek Oregano 1; Lavender 1; Horseradish 1; Butterfly Bush 1; Assorted Wild Flowers 50.

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Psalms 1:3

“…like a tree planted by streams of water,   

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—   

whatever they do prospers.”

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Psalm 65:9-13

“You care for the land and water it;   

You enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with water   

to provide the people with grain,   

for so You have ordained it.

You drench its furrows and level its ridges;  

You soften it with showers and bless its crops.

You crown the year with Your bounty,   

and Your carts overflow with abundance.

The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;   

the hills are clothed with gladness.

The meadows are covered with flocks   

and the valleys are mantled with grain;   

they shout for joy and sing.”

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Psalm 96:11-12

“Let the Heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

Let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;   

let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”

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Psalm 104:14, 27-28

“He makes grass grow for the cattle,   

and plants for people to cultivate—   

bringing forth food from the earth:

All creatures look to You   

to give them their food at the proper time.

When You give it to them,   

they gather it up;

when You open Your Hand,   

they are satisfied with good things.”

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God grows good things!!

Amen!!

Mom Brown’s Legacy Lives On…

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This was written by my dear cousin…

To read at the funeral…

To honor her Mother-in-law…

When she passed from this earth…

into the loving arms of our…

Lord Jesus Christ...

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 “My Mother-in law,

who we called Mom Brown,

touched so many,

 in so many different and amazing ways,

myself included!

I can relate story after story concerning the generosity,

kindness, spiritual wisdom, and guidance

she bestowed on this fast talking,

hard to understand at times,

Jersey Girl.

But I have selected one powerful,

life changing example

that began over 24 years ago,

just after I married her son.

    She gave me a gift,

the first book of many that followed.

It was a book entitled,

My Utmost for His Highest

by Oswald Chambers.

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It is a daily devotional

that has a month and day at the top of each page,

common to most devotionals on the market today.

However, at this time in my life,

I had never purchased one

and was unfamiliar with its true purpose.

I started reading it daily on July 1, 1989

and when I completed the June 30th reading a year later,

I stored it on my library shelf,

feeling a sense of accomplishment

that I had made my way through a year of these very deep

and complicated writings by a man who lived in the nineteenth century.

A few weeks later, Mom asked me

if I was reading the book she gave me.

I replied,

“Yes, I finished it and placed it on my library shelf for safe keeping.”

I have to admit, her response set me back a bit.

She said, “Oh, no,

you have to keep reading it,

year after year,

and each year it will mean something different to you

and you will understand it better and better,

as the years pass.”

The thought of getting the book off the shelf

and reading it again really didn’t appeal to me.

However, the excitement and enthusiasm in her reply

motivated me to give it a shot.

     This book has become one of my most prized possessions.

I carry it on every trip I take,

and read it every day.

And you know what?

Mom Brown was absolutely,

positively right!

Each year it provides more incite into the woman who gave it to me

and her best friend,

Jesus!

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My husband and I started reading it together,

most likely around 1999.

I don’t know why it took me 10 years to start sharing it with him,

but maybe it was because I understood the passages more and more

and realized,

“You don’t keep something so special to yourself!”

We both read it every morning still to this day.

However, because my copy has a broken binding

and many pages are loose and on occasion fall to the floor,

and also because there are so many of my written notes covering the pages;

My husband purchased his own leather bound copy several years ago.

He realized I was never replacing mine.

We have grown so much spiritually, both individually and together as a couple,

thanks to our dear departed Mom

who read this book every day of her life for over 40 years

and lived the scriptures quoted in it to the max!

I have been so blessed to have known her

and to have her influence in my life.”

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  Proverbs 1:8

…and do not forsake your mother’s teachings.

They will be a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

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 “I always keep extra copies on hand to pass out to others.

I have several with me today

and if anyone would like one of these books,

please take it before you leave.

I would like you to think of it,

not as a gift from me,

     but instead a gift from Mom Brown…

  so her legacy can live on!

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“La Mia Famiglia”

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An Italian get-away this past weekend…

At my cousin’s house on the east coast of FL…

A reunion with our cousin from NJ!

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One big, happy family…

Filled with…

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Our fathers were brothers…

Raised by our Italian Grandma…

Felicia

We all lived near each other in NJ…

Played together…

And went to church together…

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There’s definitely a family resemblance…

But, I’ve noticed lately that…

We tend to favor our Mothers in appearance!

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We felt like we were at a “5 Star” Bed and Breakfast!!

While talking about our…

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In our Lord!

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Cousins!!!

And cousin-in-laws…

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The beautiful scenery brings…

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And family teasing from our cousin from Oklahoma…

Who before he married my cousin…

He had called…

“Chef-Boy-Ar-Dee”

In a can…

Italian food!!!!

Oh, horror!

We’ve since changed his mind…

And now he says…

“I want some SAAAAAAAAAAUCE”

Whenever he talks to us!!

Good boy!

So funny!!

Let’s add my son to the merry mix!!

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Our very special hostess!!!

Such a blessing!!

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She cooks, she cleans, she’s sweet…

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My son wants to adopt her!!

I do, too!!

She makes us want to…

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And be together!

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To do what Italians do best…

Eat…

While everyone’s talking at the same time!!

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Let’s cook and discuss!!

And…

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The blessing of family!!!

La Mia Famiglia!

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Ahhhh…

All together in one place again!!

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One beautiful place!

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We don’t want to leave!!

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Come join us!!

Additional signs should say…

EAT!

TALK!

LAUGH!

LOVE!!

1 Corinthians13:7

“Love bears all things,

believes all things,

hopes all things,

endures all things.”

Leave A Legacy…

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My very special Aunt Rachel, 86, of, N.J., passed away on Friday, May 3, 2013.

She left a legacy!

We’re celebrating her life!

We loved her, and will miss her!

She was predeceased by her husband, my Dad’s youngest brother…

And survived by her four sons (all of which preach the Gospel!),

her brother, her sister,

six grandchildren,

and five great-grandchildren (all who serve the Lord!)

She was a precious saint with strong faith in Jesus…

She left a spiritual legacy!!

We’re celebrating her Home Going!

She’s with Jesus now!!

“We will not hide them from their children,

but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord,

and His might,

and the wonders that He has done. 

Psalm 78:4  ESV

Dear Cousins…

Don’t be discouraged…

When shadows come…

Don’t be lonely…

Heaven is now her home!

Jesus is your portion…

Your constant friend is He…

His eye is on the sparrow…

And I know He watches You…

Sing because you’re happy… 

Sing because she’s free…

For His eye is on the sparrow,

And I know He watches you!

“Let not your heart be troubled,”

His tender word you hear…

Rest on His goodness…

Lose your doubts and fears…

Follow where He leads you…

By the one step that you see…

His eye is on the sparrow…

 I know He watches You!

Whenever you’re tempted…

Whenever clouds arise…

When songs give place to sighing…

When hope within you dies…

Draw closer to Him…

As He sets you free from care…

His eye is on the sparrow…

I know He watches you!

I want to leave a legacy…

How will they remember me?

Did I choose to love?

Jesus, did I point to You enough?

And make  a mark on things?

I want to leave an offering…

Be a child of mercy and grace…

Who blessed Your Name!

Unapologetically!!

Help me leave that kind of legacy…

Not look too far, or too long…

Or make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy…

Accumulating trinkets, and a treasure pile…

Where moth, and rust, and thieves, and such…

Will soon enough destroy!

Not well traveled…

Not well read…

Not well-to-do…

Or well bred…

I just want to hear instead

“Well done, good and faithful one!!”

Aunt Rachel,

I hear your Jesus saying that to you right now!

Amen!

Don’t have a family legacy???

It could start with you!!!

God’s ready to help you!

 

Illuminating Blogger’s Award!

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Thank you!

I’ve been nominated by http://seasonsgirl.wordpress.com/ for the Illuminating Blogger’s Award!  It’s my first nomination…and I’m so excited and honored!  Seasonsgirl’s blog has been an inspiration to me since I started my blog in July last year.  Her posts are kind, gentle, and lovely…she honors God in all that she does!  I feel warm and fuzzy…welcomed and loved…when I read her posts…you’ll love her blog, too!

So thank you Seasonsgirl for reading, liking, and commenting on my posts…and for the nomination for the Illuminating Blogger’s Award!  I know we’d be great friends…if we ever meet in person…you could teach me all about your awesome life on a ranch!

I love all your photos, your life, your pets, and your animals!!

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So now the rules for the Illuminating Blogger Award…

The Rules:

Visit and thank the blogger who nominated you (see above)

Say a few words of gratitude on your blog and follow the link (see above)

Share a few words about yourself and pass on the award to 5 other bloggers

About Me!

Christian, Wife, Mother, Minister, Teacher, Drama Team Director, owner of a Crazy Siberian and a California King Snake…Italian from NJ living in FL with lots to say…who loves to serve the Lord with JOY, write-write-write, and take beautiful photos of God’s awesome scenery!!

Anything I do is a ministry to Jesus, so I pray you’re blessed by my blog…whether it’s a Scripture, my favorite contemporary Christian music, a kid’s Bible object lesson, teaching a life lesson, my photographs, or something humorous to get the outrageous JOY out of life that God meant for us to have!

I love sharing it all!!

Five Worthy Nominations For The Illuminating Blogger’s Award:

1.  I love author Bella Grace’s blog, http://walkingonwaterwithgrace.org/  Founder of Walking On Water Ministries, Walking On Water, or WOW…a ministry built on faith, hope, trust, and more importantly LOVE.

She loves the Lord, she’s my sister in the Lord…I feel loved when I read her posts, and also when she comments on mine!

2.  I love OverwhelmedByJoy, http://overwhelmedbyjoy.wordpress.com/about/  She’s a wife, mother, friend, and more…also a patient, who makes a conscious decision to choose joy, even though permanently disabled.  She’s a caretaker for her mother.  She chooses joy because this is the best option.  Because the other option. . . is not an option.

She’s so inspirational, wise, and caring…I love her blog!

3.  I love Adam J. Holland’s blog, http://unorthodoxepicure.com/  because he’s so opinionated, and makes me laugh, laugh, laugh every day…by making me think about everyday things in a funny way!

He doesn’t consider himself to be any quirkier than the next guy, but his family, friends and fellow bloggers disagree. He’s a chef, so his recipes are awesome!  Check it out!

4.  I love this new blog I just found…or maybe Kimmy found me! http://kimmyg01.wordpress.com/ Her blog includes spiritual topics that interest me…women’s ministry, Christianity, Christian living, and inspirational poetry…I’m lovin’ it!

5.  I love http://becomingcliche.wordpress.com/about/ because she talks about teaching topics that interest me!  She has a snake…and…ya gotta love her writing!!

She said, “Since my “About Me’ portion is getting more hits than my actual blog, I may as well not waste an opportunity.  I am a snake-keeping, thrift-store loving mother of three. I work as an educator in a zoo and do a bit of free-lance writing. My pet peeves include wet clothing buried in the hamper and little popcorn kernels that get stuck in my teeth. Most days, I have the attention span of a gnat!”  Check out her blog…you’ll have fun!!

I love all my blogging friends!  Thanks so much for making this a joyful journey for me!!  God Bless!!

One Terrific Sister Act!

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Sister Act

Photo Courtesy of:  www.broadwayinchicago.com

First row: Hollis Resnik, Ta’Rea Campbell;
Second row: Florrie Bagel, Diane J. Findlay, Lael Van Keuren

In December, we went to Tampa to see Sister Act…

In this touring company, my dear friend’s daughter, Lael Van Keuren played the part of Sister Mary Robert…

She came directly from the original cast of Sister Act on Broadway!

In the Ensemble, Understudy for Sister Mary Robert, and Understudy for Tina/Michelle…

At the Broadway Theater…

Jerry Zaks, director…

Her favorite credits include:

Dirt Rotten Scoundrels (North Shore Music Theater);

Hello Dolly! and Cinderella (both at Paper Mill  Playhouse).

We thoroughly enjoyed Sister Act…

So did everyone around us!

We laughed sooo much!!  It was delightful!!

This show has such a positive, uplifting effect on audiences, and it was so much fun to be a part of it!

Especially since we knew Lael was in it!!

Lael was amazing!!  The lady next to me agreed!!

Her voice is so powerful!

The acting, dancing, and singing…

Everything my friend did for Lael, and with her, over all the years has definitely paid off!!

We’re so very proud of her!!

We’re so glad we got to see her after the show!!  We haven’t seen her since moving to FL

She’s grown up…but still with that same adorable face and smile we love!!

She’s so cute and sincere and lovable and bubbly!!

I know my friend (who I taught with in NJ) misses her dearly, now that she’s touring with the company.

We wanted to hang around a little longer and chat more with her, but our car broke down on the way to the show…

There’s always something!  Amen?

So we were at the mercy of our repair man…

Who was nice enough to drive us to the theater on time…

Hallelujah!!

And pick us up before he closed!!

God is good!!

And though our day in Tampa actually cost us $1200 in car repairs…

We want to give a shout out to Doug and John…

At Firestone Complete Auto Care…

900 E. Kennedy Blvd.

Tampa, FL

God love you guys!!

Thanks!

You helped us get our car back on the road…

And got us to the show on time, too!!

I did have one favorite song in the play…

The song, “Sister Act,”  in the Broadway Musical “Sister Act” was sung by the lead character,

Deloris Van Cartier, played at our show by Rashidra Scott

Here are the lyrics:

“I don’t need a spotlight,
I don’t need a crowd,
I don’t need the great wide world
to shout my name out loud.
Don’t need fame or fortune,
nice as those things are,
I’ve got all I need
to feel like I’m a star.

I’ve got my sisters by my side.
I’ve got my sisters’ love and pride.
And in my sisters’ eyes
I recognize the star I want to be.

And with my sisters standing strong,
I’m on the stage where I belong.
And nothing’s ever gonna change that fact.
I’m part of one terrific sister act.

And yes, I love that spotlight!
Yes I crave acclaim!
I’ll admit I love the sound
when strangers scream my name.
All that glitz and glamor,
they’re all right no doubt.
But what are you left with
when the lights go out?

I’ll have my sisters with me still,
I’ll have my sisters, always will.
And with my sisters’ love,
no star above will shine as
bright as me.

And as a sister and a friend,
I’ll be a sister ‘til the end,
and no one on this earth can
change that fact –
I’m part of one terrific sister act.”

Thank you to all my “sisters!”

I love you all!

We got a photo with Lael after the show!

Go see it…you’ll love it!!

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