Three weeks ago Sunday, my first grandson was born! Liam Wade Hillard....is absolutely perfect and so precious. God is so good!!! Emily gave birth with no epidural and was inspiring! She was so focused on her goal of an unmedicated birth. I have never been more proud of her! She and Eli are the best little parents. He is a very involved father and has changed just as many diapers as Em. He has amazed me. Not that I didn't think he would be a great dad, just the level to which he has stepped up! What a great young man. Emily is a natural. She is breastfeeding and trying everything she can to eat right and take care of herself in order to be the best mother she can be. She has lost all of her baby weight + 3 lbs. I think she has a tapeworm!

Well, my garden is pretty much gone, a few tomato plants and some basil are all that is left. I want to plant a fall garden, but will have to do some research. I am not really sure what to plant and when to plant it. My husband is sick of chicken poop and has threatened to make me find new homes for Gertie and Peach just because he stepped in a little chicken poop the other day. I like to let my chickens run around the back yard. I have kept them in the coop (12 X 12 enclosure) with a ramp into the actual coop. They complain all day...not use to being cooped up :) I guess that is where that phrase came from.

My daughter and her friends (she's 14, they are 15 and 16) went to the movies yesterday. She sent me a text about 30 minutes before the movie started and said she didn't want to see what they were going to see. I asked her what movie and she replied, "Easy A". I immediately went to www.pluggedinonline.com - Focus on the Family's website for books, movies, music, etc... It is so helpful, I highly recommend it. I had not been on the site in a while (movies are so expensive, we hardly ever go) anyway, I was mortified when I read the choice of movies she gave me besides Easy A. They were all equally as horrible. Full of sex and drug/alcohol use and multiple misuses of God's name. I was sick. They were an hour away and so I suggested the lesser of three evils and we discussed the movie when she returned. Michael asked her, "would you feel comfortable watching that with us?" and she said, NO! Anyway, we did our devotional and prayed before she went to sleep. I just asked God to help her forget the images and words that she heard. God help us! Before you let your kids go to the movies, you owe it to them, and to our Creator to check the movie out they want to see. Anything less is irresponsible. I can say that because I was for not doing so beforehand. Shame on me.

I'm not really good at this

It has been quite a while since I last posted...this has become a diary of sorts for me. I was never very good at diary entries - my entries were few and far between. I want to be better...so I can reflect on my life, see where I need to improve, etc. Anyway, I am going to try to do better. That's all I've got right now. Just ran 5 miles with Laura and need a shower badly. Have a wonderful day, dear dear diary.

Grateful me

Today is good Friday....wonder why they call it good Friday??? when such a horrific thing happened to the creator of the universe, the Savior of the world. I guess it is because it is so "good" for us. Where would we be? This afternoon, I got on youtube to listen to a song our praise team is doing this Sunday. The person who posted the song had embedded it in a clip of the Passion of the Christ. Wow! I had seen it before at the movie theatre and it made me cry like no other movie. My family and I were silent as we made our way out of the theatre and then went on to the restaurant. I even remember where we went - Abuelos. None of us were really very hungry, but as we soaked in what we had seen, I think we all were thinking the same thing....THANK YOU JESUS! I can't imagine what life would be like without Him - if God the Father had decided to "let this cup pass." These days, it seems that His name, for some, is used in vain. This angers me so much, but I realize that He died for those people too. They just haven't seen Him, or heard Him call them as I have, and possibly you. Anyway, happy Good Friday. Isn't God good?

Savior I come, quiet my soul, remember
redemptions hill, where Your blood was spilled
for my ransome
everything I once held dear
I count it all as lost
Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out
Bring me to my knees Lord, I lay me down
Rid me of myself, I belong to you
Oh Lead me, Lead me to the cross.

enough said!

I'm Back.....

Since I am probably the only one who reads my post (when I'm proofing it) Nobody, with the exception of Jill, probably even knew I was gone. But, I have been gone and have missed sharing my musings in the blogosphere!
About 2 weeks ago, I completed a 21 day Daniel Fast which is based on Daniel 10:1-2. It was probably one of the more difficult things I have attempted to do...right up there with a half-marathon and birthing a baby with no anesthesia. But I completed it nonetheless and didn't cheat! Woo Hoo! I mentioned it to a couple of the guys in our praise team and now our entire praise team - 5 guys and me are committing to a Daniel Fast starting March 10th. At the end of our service this morning, our pastor, Curt, opened it up to the whole church. He is putting together some church prayer concerns for everyone to pray for, as well as each of us having one specific prayer request that we will pray for ourselves - decided on by each individual faster. What a great idea! If anyone out there is interested (Jill) see the list below or go to the website where I got my info www.danielfast.wordpress.com
I have Crohn's disease and after the initial 9 days of caffeine/sugar withdrawal headaches, I can honestly say, that I hadn't felt that good since before I got sick. But that wasn't the most wonderful thing about the fast....the main thing I had been praying for - on the 8th day of my fast, was answered!!! Amazing! My e-mail is a_terilli60@yahoo.com if anyone wants in additional information, and I have some great Vegan recipes also.
Hope this helps anyone interested:

The Daniel FastDaniel Fast Food List
“In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10:2, 3

One of the great things about the Daniel Fast is that you are not limited to any specific amount of food, but rather to the kinds of food you can eat. The Daniel Fast is limited to vegetables (includes fruits) and water.

Special Note: if you have health issues, please be sure to contact your health professional for advice before committing to any fast including the Daniel Fast. If you would like a list of the foods included and excluded in the Daniel Fast to show your doctor, just copy the contents of this page. Also, if you are interested in a collection of recipes that will take you through an entire 21-day Daniel fast, click here.

After answering hundreds of questions about the Daniel Fast, I am updating the food guidelines. My hope is that it will serve as a more complete list. The original list used by many people was issued in a book about fasting. I know the author tried to do the best he could, but that isn’t the same as getting hundreds of questions seeking clarification. So here is the new list that I hope helps.

Please make sure to READ THE LABEL when purchasing packaged, canned or bottled foods. They should be sugar-free and chemical-free. Keep this in mind as you review this list of acceptable foods.

Foods to include in your diet during the Daniel Fast

All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon

All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.

All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.

All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.

All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.

All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.

Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.

Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.

Foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast

All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.

All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.

All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.

All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.

All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.

All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.

All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.

Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Well, here it is Monday, and it has been a week or so since I last posted. I am not doing very well at keeping up with this "journal" idea I had. Story of my life! I just saw on the news, (hadn't watched much of that either) that our government can do absolutely NOTHING about the gazillions of bailout dollars that the American taxpayers are paying to the AIG execs who think they should still get their bonuses! Can you believe it? We bailed them out of their own big stinking mess and now they want us to give them their bonuses. On top of that Barney Rubble, I mean Frank, is "looking into it" but is saying basically that the government's hands are tied and legally there is probably nothing they can do. Timothy Geitner our esteemed Treasury Secretary, who amazingly forgot to pay his taxes for I don't know how long, can't do anything either. How about you Barak? Can you do anything? Why can't we just take the money back and let the chips fall where they will????? I am so mad right now. There you have it! We can send a man to the stinking moon, but can't stop AIG from giving OUR money to those who are probably the most responsible for our current situation. Incredible! More on this later....Avery is calling!

I haven't written anything for a while...too busy. I started reading a book my nephew gave to John, (my soon to be graduated from high school) son. He suggested that I read it first and then pass it on to John. It is amazing. It is called, How To Stay Christian In College by: J. Budziszewski. I want to share an excerpt from Chapter 2...

God

God is like nothing we could have imagined.

God is utterly other than us - other in a way we express with the word holiness. Yes, He dwells within each Christian, but He's not you. He isn't the same as you, He isn't a part of you, and He isn't a "higher" you. (Sorry Oprah - my comment!) Yes, you're made in His image, but you're not Him. You're not the same as Him, you're not a part of Him, and you aren't a "splinter" of Him - nor will you ever be. He doesn't depend on anything else because He is what everything else depends on. He can't be explained by anything else because He is what everything else must be explained by. Although we can know what He has taught us about Himself, we can never comprehend him completely because He is greater than our minds. Anything He wills, He can do. He not only holds the supreme power but He also uses it. Nothing can defeat Him and nothing can happen contrary to His will. He is also supremely good - light with no darkness. Although evil is real, He detests it and brings it to judgment. He knows everything, He pays attention to everything, and nothing escapes His notice. He's not just a What and a Who, like me or like you, but one What in three Whos - one God in three persons: father, Son and Holy Spirit. There is no one like Him. He is set apart. He is what he is, and there was never a time when He was not. Isn't that amazing? I love it when something so deep and mind boggling is explained well, and in a nutshell! If anyone is out there reading this, who doesn't know this awesome God that you just read about, I encourage you to "seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. (Isaiah 55:6) God Bless!

Seasons

Last night ended the basketball season for Saint Jo. I know in the grand scheme of things, that may seem small and insignificant, especially in light of all that is going on in our world these days. But since the season started, I have enjoyed an hour or so, twice a week, watching my boy use his God-given talents along with the others on the team. Week after week, I would be thoroughly entertained, filled with love and beaming with pride for this person who I had a part in creating. The love and pride I had was not just for my own son, but for all of the boys; some I have known since they were in Kindergarten and some since they were born. I love them all so much and three of them, including my son, will not be out there next year. My sadness regarding the end of this basketball season runs deeper than just basketball. My husband and I are fast approaching a new season in our lives - one that will not include our only son living under our roof and I am struggling with this. I know he is filled with excitement about his future. I am too, it is just a little bittersweet....ok a lot bittersweet, and if I'm being honest (do I sound like Simon Cowell?) I am not liking this at all! I'm not ready! This is all moving too fast! There is consolation in knowing that he will be in good hands. God is in control and I know He works all things together for our good. So I mustn't worry or fret - just trust.