Birthday party

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The birthday party was lots of fun. I had bought balloons to use as decoration. My son and his girl friend blew some up for me. Rachel drew pictures on some of them-a cat face, dog face, fire engine, smiley faces. She's very artistic. I put some balloons around the island, then laid the rest around on the floor. I planned on having the festivities outside,but as the evening progressed, it became cool outside. We moved indoors,the kids opened the few gifts,then ate ice cream. Our community was having a balloon festival,and a hot air balloon flew by toward the end of the party.What a treat for all of us! Millie and Matthew warmed up to one another. They were delightful. The balloons kept them occupied,and nothing was disturbed!

Birthday party

Today is my family get together celebrating Millie and Matthews 2nd birthday. They're old hats at being 2 this time of the month. Millie turned 2 on August 1, Matthew Aug 14. Amy is my sisters daughter,and my sister died 10 yrs ago of ovarian cancer. My brother in law remarried,and I had some issues with him,and the new wife. I dont care to spend time with them,if I dont have too,so we celebrate separate Matty birthdays. It's hard to believe they are 2! Millie and Matt have separate personalities,that I need to keep in mind. Millie is a little more vivacious, Matthew more quiet-but active! Luke and Laura seem to discipline Millie more, and Amy thinks alot of what Matthew does is cute. She also works fulltime,and Matt spends alot of time with grandparents. But they're both loved! We're cooking out, the weather is co-operative, and I want to keep the activities outside. My friend made the cake, which has M & M on it with sprinkles. I dont think we'll have more than 15 which is doable! Have a great weekend!

Getaway

Marianne,Susan,me, Marianne,Susan,Diane

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My trip with my sis in laws was nice. The cabins are isolated from the hustle and bustle of city life. Our cabin was large enough to give us walking space,and privacy. The girls enjoyed the hot tub, I however feel like I'm sharing a bathtub with people I know! We talked about our families,and our life. The downside of the trip was that my sisinlaw Marianne assumed it was a drinking getaway. She had 2 large bottles of hard liquor that she made mix drinks for herself. She put them in a tumbler size glass,and drank away. By the end of Saturday night, she spilled her drink on me,and apologize repeatedly. By that time I had enough! I finished our game of euchre,and left to read a book. I havent been around intoxicated people in 20 plus years. It was a negative in an otherwise good weekend. Susan and I drove together,and we never want for conversation.
Marianne is holding the dog. I think she has a bad marriage,and her animals bring her the love she seeks. She needs the Lord! Then she'd find,and know unconditional love. If you look at the night picture , you will see a star. It was pitch black,no city lights, it was wonderful. I wished we could've had a better view of the sky,but we were in a canopy of tree's. When I'm with people who don't know the Lord, I can see how lost they are in their spirit. We had a few discussions about faith that I hope will help them to think. One thing that I decided on doing after I had time to reflect on the trip,was to send Marianne some cards,that state how much she is loved by me , my husband and especially the Lord.

Pride/Prejudice

I'm excited! I bought Pride and Prejudice movie for my Ipod. I downloaded it too! I've been using my illyptical machine for 16 minutes this week. I watched the movie "The Queen" while exercising. I now can will enjoy watching the P/P movie each day I exercise. Its a little difficult,but I'll enjoy the exchange of words between Darcy and Elizabeth. I think I might buy the music to the movie too, and listen to that eventually.
I'm off on a weekend getaway with my sisterinlaws. We've never done this before! My stepbrother bought 60 acres of virgin land about 5 years ago. He's built 3 cabins on part of the land. His son is the caretaker. The area is about an hour away,in southern Ohio. 2 are sisters, Diane and Marianne. They are fixing dinner. The sisinlaws, me and Susan will be fixing breakfast. I have a breakfast casserole recipe-eggs/ham/cheese/bread that I'm going to fix,along with fruit. We always have fun together. There are antique shops on the drive down that I'd like to stop and see. I'm not sure anyone else will be up for that. I might have to forgo that idea. Diane is a hiker, susan is not! There is a hottub on the balcony. I don't do hottubs. It'll be interesting to see what we end up doing! Have a great weekend! I'll post pictures!

Esther

Tonight was the last night of Beth Moores Esther "Its tough being a woman". Each week she had a different quote of what made it tough being a woman. She had women write their reason for why its tough being a woman. My discussion leader had us do the same thing at the start of the study back in June. My thought "It's tough being a woman when you want to nurture your children,but realize it must stop when they're adults".
Its tough being a strong-willed woman trying to be a submissive wife!
Beths first quote "Its tough being a woman in someone else's shadow" Alluding to Esthers role after Queen Vashti had been banished from the kingdom for refusing to go to the banquet where King Xerxes had commanded her to attend.
Beth brought out the point of God's providence. God wasnt mentioned anywhere in the book of Esther but his hand was all over the book! and events. I can look back at events in my life that I can see God watching over me, protecting me from myself, providing for me, changing the path I was on, re-routing my life. I would not have thought that God was there at the time, but I know now that He was.
Beth really emphasised tonight that women should not be in bondage to their husbands because of our insecurities-will he love me , will he be there for me always, and other worries women have. She wants us to give our insecurities to the Lord, to rely on the love Jesus has for us , remember He will never leave us or forsake us. We worry so much about our looks, but through life experiences we become more beautiful in His eyes.
Heres a quote from her lecture " We think that the older we get the less beautiful we will be, and that's how humanity views it. It's our obsession with youth and adolescence. Time diminishes beauty to man in the human realm, but in God's realm, where we will spend forever, time perfects beauty. Our thinking is backward, because we think that the longer we live here the more our beauty is diminished. We cannot believe how beautiful , in all o f those seasons, all those difficult times , all those stabs in the dark will be put together by God. Because beauty in God's realm is not a treatment. It's a destiny. That's what chapter ten of Esther is all about-everything was made beautiful in its time. When all is said and done, all that God said will be done." Beth has a way with words to encourage us as sisters in Christ. I encourage you to do this study if your given the opportunity.