A Plethora of Peeps

Since last week I have been undulated with Peeps!! My fun loving, amazing brother sent me 4 different parcels containing different flavors of Peeps. I even ventured to Wal-Met and found blue raspberry ones. So I will be in a sugar coma for the next few days. I love it!!! Oh, by the way, I went to the web-site of  the Peep manufacturer and discovered there are no pickle flavored Peeps. They never have nor is it in the process of making them. Someone evidently photo shopped the green colored Peeps and made us Peep lovers search for pickle flavor. Seriously though, putting all of this foolishness aside, we need to focus on the true meaning of Easter - especially with Ash Wednesday approaching. A lot of religions still keep to the tradition  of giving up something for Lent. I try to focus on giving, not giving up. And yet, it probably amounts to the same thing. I give up unforgiveness and pray for those who I think have wronged me. I give up the "Me" attitude and try to think of others. I try to give up speaking before I think ( which tends to be a bad habit of mine). Think about what you can give (or give up) this season.

Unbelievable flavors

I found this one at Wal-Mart

the newest flavor

Our Busy Bees Quilting group all made individual blocks of a Friendship Star which then were all incorporated into a quilt. One of our quilting ladies, who has been such an inspiration to me, just got here to the Valley after a round of cancer treatemment, so we all had voted prior to this to present her with the quilt which had a label attached which read "Busy Bees make good friends". 

Sue on the right who received this qujilt 

A truly busy week as usual, thus the reason for the late blog. We had a lot of donations - yesterday we went to a RV Park and came home with a Texas room full of clothing and other items for Caring Hearts Ministry as well as Children's Haven. A family recently bought a home nearby, went someplace for a few weeks,and came back to find their home here in the Valley totalty gutted. Someone had stolen everything - I mean totally gutted their entire home, appliances and everything.  Thanks to the donation we received, we are able to provide dishes, cooking  dishes,.linens, ect. How many times have I said that God knows before we do exactly what we need.

We went to a casual luncheon with the Chaplains form the West side of the Valley on Thursday. It was a great chance to get together, to see how their year at being a RV Chaplain  had gone(some were seasoned chaps and some were newbes). We were sad to learn that one coulpe was not asked to return to the park as chaplains - we never know why unless it is spelled out for them. We are praying for their future in CRM and hope to find a new park for them.

Saturday our park had it first Fur to Feather expo - an expo for all pet lovers. I did go to see all of the vendors even though we do not have a pet at this time.  We have had vasriuos dogs and cats throughout years and feel that the present time our lifestyle would not be fair to a pet. I would love a big dog - perhaps a husky of some sort, where Fred prefers a smaller inside dog.  A friend has a sweet Yorkie that could be fun to have that Fred loves. We shall see. I myself am more of a cat lover though - perhaps because of their attitude?

Sunday night there was a memorial service for those who had passed away in our park (either a recent or former resident). It was a very nice service honoring the loved ones who had gone on ahead to Lord. Their names were read while friends could honor them by coming forward and lighting  candle in their memory. I was surprised that I did light quite a few few candle for those who had touched my life on some way or another. A beautiful cross was handmade by a resident from cedar with shelves incorporated on it where we put the tea light candles. Many were just left at the base as the shelves were all full of glowing candles. The lights were dimmed as we sang the final hymn. It was indeed very moving.

Sunday we went to Church at Mission Bell and then to the church picnic - sort of a off-site picnic at a local park.It was really very enjoyable - lots of great food and company, gospel music in praise of our Lord, and a few testimonies. The weather was good, excep tfor the ever present S Texas wind and the fire ants who chewed up my toes!!

a large crowd

 

singing long to gospel music

Pastor Jim's message was based on Romans 8:28-30, entitled "All Good"?  All things are not good, But God works to make them good. Death, cancer, addictions, war, blasphemy are not good. God will take thing that are bad and make them good. Sodium and chloride are not good - they are poisons- but together they make salt, which in small amounts is god for our bodies. All things work together for God's purpise. There is a certainty in the cross which was  certainly not a good thing. We know Jesus die for us and our sins. In time God's pln came together. If we live by His promise, good things will happen for us. There is a completeness  in His promise. God gives us the test first, then the lesson, just the opposite of our school days. There is the cause of the promise that all things work out for the good. Pray for God's will, not our own selfish will. The promise is not automatic, it has a condition, "to them that trust in God". We must love God and cannot claim the promise ( all things work together for the good of those who love God). We need to  love God above all things, just please God above everything else. Consequences of the promise is that we have to recognize God's hand in everything that comes our way. What is the good that we in all things are working for? It is to becomel ike Jesus, to live in His image. the good does not necesseraly make us healthy or happy but will make us conformed in the image of God's Son. Something good always comes out of the bad when you love God.