My heart is overlowing this morning with LOVE!! It is Valentine’s Day and God has impressed upon my heart just how much He LOVES me and has given me so many special people to LOVE.
My four little “munchkins” just left and I just wanted to fall on my knees and thank God for giving me so much LOVE in those little packages! Jerry and I spent the evening with them last night and had a great time bowling and eating at Fazolis. They stayed all night with us and this morning we had valentine doughnuts . They were like little adults the way they all got up when we asked them to and took their showers and got ready for their parents to come and get them ready for church. They really are good kids (not perfect, who is?) which brings me to thank God for their parents, my children and daughter-in-laws who are doing a terrific job of raising them up to be well-behaved and to LOVE Jesus. I am so thankful for Chris, Cathy, Nick and Kelly and for having them to LOVE too!
Now my thoughts turn to romantic LOVE! Has God blessed me in this way? As Sarah Palin would say “You Betcha!” I am so thankful that in the summer of 1966 God steered Jerry in my direction, even if he was coming to see my sister! Now that’s a long story and it was a bumpy road for a while when his attention turned from her to me. As a matter of fact, I was really upset with him for trying to cause “World War III!” I told him several times to leave me alone, but he was persistent and I praise God for that! We have had so many wonderful years together. We’ve gotten to experience life together in so many great ways. This Valentine’s Day is more special to me because he has been battling cancer since last July and I have realized how short time really is. I have thanked God over and over for the many years we have had together and I always end my prayer with, “but please God, give us more!” God is good and I know He will bring us through this phase of our life just as He has the others.
Thank you Jesus for loving me so much. Thank you for great parents, wonderful sisters, my husband and our family, my friends, my job, my home, my church and all the other things in my life that I LOVE dearly.
I don't know about you but I am so thankful that His LOVE doesn’t depend on my deserving it!
“For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life.” John 3:16
PASTE THE LINK BELOW IN YOUR ADDRESS BAR FOR THE SONG I DEDICATE TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVCnlOoZEl0
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Fragrance
I just love to smell roses, don’t you? ‘Tis the season for roses too. I’ve never been one who asks for roses because I hate to see so much money put in something that only lasts for such a short time. (I am a tightwad!) But I do love roses growing outside. That way you can enjoy them for a long time! Some are more fragrant than others.
Fragrance is a positive word. When we hear the word we think of good smelling things like flowers, perfume, candles and good food. As I mentioned in my previous blog, I just love to smell hyacinths. Once when I was in the hospital someone sent me hyacinths and they smelled so wonderful in that small room and the fragrance even lasted a while after I took them home. During that same stay someone brought me some Chantilly perfumed lotion and I just loved to smell that too. And to this day whenever I smell hyacinths or Chantilly I have vivid memories of that particular time in my life.
This morning in my morning quiet time devotional reading this verse was used: “But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.” 2 Cor. 2:14.
The Message version of the above verse says it well:
"Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation- an aroma redolent with life."
Our lives can be a fragrance to others or they can just be an odor. I sure hope that mine is a fragrance, don’t you? The way we live our every day lives can be a sweet smell to others if we are living in His Spirit and doing the things that He commands us to do. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control emitting from our lives will create a beautiful fragrance for those we come in contact with each day. These fruits of the spirit are the products of a life that is rooted in Jesus.
I am praying I will smell good today (in more ways than one!) I hope you are a sweet fragrance to those you are around today too!
Please pray for me and let me know how I can pray specifically for you. I love you all.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
February Favorites
Tonight I was thinking about how close it is to Valentine's Day and how there are so many warm & fuzzy feelings that surround the "season of love." I was thinking about flowers, candy, luscious desserts, perfume, restaurants, etc. and it promtped me to think about my Favorite things connected with Valentine's Day. I jotted some of them down beside my sudoku puzzle I was working on and I thought I would share them with you.
Favorite flower - Hyacinth (I know it's not a traditional V. Day flower but I think it is the best smelling flower around.
Favorite food - anything Italian and most any salad.
Favorite dessert - Italian Cream Cake
Favorite Restaurant - Chop House
Favorite short trip - Pigeon Forge
Favorite Perfume - Estee Lauder's Pure White Linen
Favoite Love Song - Soul & Inspiration (Righteous Bros.)
Favorite Candy - Chocolate Covered Cherries
Favorite get-away with my man - Hilton Head Island, SC
Now that I've shared some of my favorites with you I would love to hear about your favorites if you would take the time to comment or email me at jerrycaton@bellsouth.net. I am also sharing a recipe with you and would love to have one from you.
Here's a delicious recipe that someone shared with me years ago:
CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES CAKE RECIPE
CAKE:
Vegetable oil spray or butter (for coating the pan)
1 package devil's food cake mix
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure almond extract
CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1.
Preheat oven to 350°F with the rack placed in the center of the oven. Lightly coat a 13x9x2 inch baking
pan with vegetable spray or rub with a small amount of butter. Set the pan aside.
2.
place the cake mix, cherry pie filling, eggs, and almond extract in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric
mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the mixer and using a rubber spatula scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Increase the speed of the mixer to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping down the sides of the
bowl again only if needed. The batter should be thick and well blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan,
smoothing the top with the rubber spatula. Place the pan in the oven.
3.
Bake the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger and just starts to pull away from the
sides of the pan, 30 to 35 minutes. remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack while you
prepare the glaze.
4.
For the glaze, place the sugar, butter, and milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and cook, stirring
constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil. Boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the
heat and stir in the chocolate chips. When the chips have melted and the glaze is smooth, pour it over the warm
cake so that it covers the entire surface. The glaze will be thin but will firm up. Cool the cake for 20 minutes
before cutting it into squares for serving.
Wow, I think I gained weight just thinking about this cake!
Enjoy your Family, Friends, Faith, and Food (and exercise to stay Fit!)
Love to all!
For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken," says the LORD, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:10 (New Living Translation)
Favorite flower - Hyacinth (I know it's not a traditional V. Day flower but I think it is the best smelling flower around.
Favorite food - anything Italian and most any salad.
Favorite dessert - Italian Cream Cake
Favorite Restaurant - Chop House
Favorite short trip - Pigeon Forge
Favorite Perfume - Estee Lauder's Pure White Linen
Favoite Love Song - Soul & Inspiration (Righteous Bros.)
Favorite Candy - Chocolate Covered Cherries
Favorite get-away with my man - Hilton Head Island, SC
Now that I've shared some of my favorites with you I would love to hear about your favorites if you would take the time to comment or email me at jerrycaton@bellsouth.net. I am also sharing a recipe with you and would love to have one from you.
Here's a delicious recipe that someone shared with me years ago:
CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES CAKE RECIPE
CAKE:
Vegetable oil spray or butter (for coating the pan)
1 package devil's food cake mix
1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure almond extract
CHOCOLATE GLAZE:
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1.
Preheat oven to 350°F with the rack placed in the center of the oven. Lightly coat a 13x9x2 inch baking
pan with vegetable spray or rub with a small amount of butter. Set the pan aside.
2.
place the cake mix, cherry pie filling, eggs, and almond extract in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric
mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the mixer and using a rubber spatula scrape down the sides of the bowl.
Increase the speed of the mixer to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping down the sides of the
bowl again only if needed. The batter should be thick and well blended. Pour the batter into the prepared pan,
smoothing the top with the rubber spatula. Place the pan in the oven.
3.
Bake the cake until it springs back when lightly pressed with your finger and just starts to pull away from the
sides of the pan, 30 to 35 minutes. remove the pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack while you
prepare the glaze.
4.
For the glaze, place the sugar, butter, and milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat and cook, stirring
constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil. Boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the
heat and stir in the chocolate chips. When the chips have melted and the glaze is smooth, pour it over the warm
cake so that it covers the entire surface. The glaze will be thin but will firm up. Cool the cake for 20 minutes
before cutting it into squares for serving.
Wow, I think I gained weight just thinking about this cake!
Enjoy your Family, Friends, Faith, and Food (and exercise to stay Fit!)
Love to all!
For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken," says the LORD, who has mercy on you. Isaiah 54:10 (New Living Translation)
Monday, February 8, 2010
Fabulous Love for February
Hello friends! I hope that you have gotten off to a good week today and that you are feeling God's presence in your life to help you through any roadblocks!
I so appreciate that you are following my blog and I pray that it helps to lighten your day and encourage your spirit. If you read what I posted on my weekend blog you will remember that I mostly just posted 1st Corinthians 13, often referred to as the "love chapter." I thought this would be a great focus scripture for the whole month of February and I am hoping that it will keep us thinking on the greatest love in the world - the love of God!
Paul was addressing the church, a body of believers, when he wrote this chapter. In the previous chapter he spoke about the many differences and how each member is a significant part of the church. I love his last statement in chapter 12. He simply says: "Now I will show you the most excellent way." Then he starts chapter 13.
We see that in verses 1 - 3 that we can be doing all the right things outwardly, but if our actions are not coming from a heart filled with His love then we are just making noise (clanging cymbals!)
Whoa!!!!!! Hold on a minute! We might say, "I go to church every Sunday and Wednesday and I read my Bible and know it from front to back (people might even come to you for biblical answers!) And what about my faith? Everybody says I am a person of great faith because I stay strong in the midst of troubles and try to have a positive, godly outlook. Not to mention the amount of money I give to charities!"
But Paul says that we can be doing all of those things and more but if we are not motivated by love than it is nothing! Nothing! He's talking about the kind of love that overflows from the heart into the lives of all we come in contact with. It is a Christ-like love that even loves people who we don't think are very lovable, even our enemies, for Heaven's sake! That is heavy! It is a love that says I am no better than anyone else God has made. It's a love that does something besides sit in a pew at church, or read the Bible everyday. It is a love that says Yes, I can help with that program at church, or yes, I can help cook and serve meals for the needy, or help at the Christian Life Center or ring the bell for the Salvation Army. Yep, I guess you can say it is a servant love. He is trying to tell us that we should use the gifts God has given us to show His love to others.
I don't know about you but this makes me feel like sometimes I am a clanging cymbal too. Would you join me this "love" month and try to put our love into action? Let's read this passage everyday this month and love like we have never loved before! We can start my practicing loving the "unloveables" in our life. Let's do a good deed for someone we have a hard time loving.
There used to be a song I loved that said "Teach me how to love the way that you (Jesus) love; to pour out my life for another........... or something like that. I can't find it anywhere and I don't remember any more of the lyrics but those words I do remember, along with the tune, have stuck with me since I heard it. That is my prayer: Dear God, please teach me how to love the way that you love." Amen.
I so appreciate that you are following my blog and I pray that it helps to lighten your day and encourage your spirit. If you read what I posted on my weekend blog you will remember that I mostly just posted 1st Corinthians 13, often referred to as the "love chapter." I thought this would be a great focus scripture for the whole month of February and I am hoping that it will keep us thinking on the greatest love in the world - the love of God!
Paul was addressing the church, a body of believers, when he wrote this chapter. In the previous chapter he spoke about the many differences and how each member is a significant part of the church. I love his last statement in chapter 12. He simply says: "Now I will show you the most excellent way." Then he starts chapter 13.
We see that in verses 1 - 3 that we can be doing all the right things outwardly, but if our actions are not coming from a heart filled with His love then we are just making noise (clanging cymbals!)
Whoa!!!!!! Hold on a minute! We might say, "I go to church every Sunday and Wednesday and I read my Bible and know it from front to back (people might even come to you for biblical answers!) And what about my faith? Everybody says I am a person of great faith because I stay strong in the midst of troubles and try to have a positive, godly outlook. Not to mention the amount of money I give to charities!"
But Paul says that we can be doing all of those things and more but if we are not motivated by love than it is nothing! Nothing! He's talking about the kind of love that overflows from the heart into the lives of all we come in contact with. It is a Christ-like love that even loves people who we don't think are very lovable, even our enemies, for Heaven's sake! That is heavy! It is a love that says I am no better than anyone else God has made. It's a love that does something besides sit in a pew at church, or read the Bible everyday. It is a love that says Yes, I can help with that program at church, or yes, I can help cook and serve meals for the needy, or help at the Christian Life Center or ring the bell for the Salvation Army. Yep, I guess you can say it is a servant love. He is trying to tell us that we should use the gifts God has given us to show His love to others.
I don't know about you but this makes me feel like sometimes I am a clanging cymbal too. Would you join me this "love" month and try to put our love into action? Let's read this passage everyday this month and love like we have never loved before! We can start my practicing loving the "unloveables" in our life. Let's do a good deed for someone we have a hard time loving.
There used to be a song I loved that said "Teach me how to love the way that you (Jesus) love; to pour out my life for another........... or something like that. I can't find it anywhere and I don't remember any more of the lyrics but those words I do remember, along with the tune, have stuck with me since I heard it. That is my prayer: Dear God, please teach me how to love the way that you love." Amen.
Friday, February 5, 2010
February - The Love Month!
1 Corinthians 13
Love
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Find your real true love in Jesus! He will never break your heart!!!!
I recommend that you visit the address below. Just copy and paste it in your address bar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geVbSntnOd8
More on love later. Have a fantastic weekend with your Family. Grow in your Faith. Have Fun getting Fit. Last, but not least, hold onto Jesus because his love never fails!
Love in Him!
Love
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Find your real true love in Jesus! He will never break your heart!!!!
I recommend that you visit the address below. Just copy and paste it in your address bar.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geVbSntnOd8
More on love later. Have a fantastic weekend with your Family. Grow in your Faith. Have Fun getting Fit. Last, but not least, hold onto Jesus because his love never fails!
Love in Him!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Findings
Today was the day we have been awaiting. It's one of those days where you are not sure you want it to come or not. You do, but you don't. Today we got the results of Jerry's PET scan and for the most part it it good news.
The good news is that there are no signs of malignant tumors on any of his organs. That is wonderful news! But the bad news is that we can't say we are completely out of the woods because the scan showed a little irregular activity in the abdomen area on his left side. It is very tiny and cannot even be measured. The radiologist does not think it is cancer. It could be a number of things (which I don't really understand the medical terms for) but cancer cannot be completely ruled out.
The Dr. wants him to have another PET scan in a couple of months to see what it looks like then. He also wants to keep track of his CEA count (cancer marker numbers) as they have been a little higher than they should be for the last several months.
We have mixed emotions, but overall we feel very thankful for the good report! We are also confident Dr. Liu will watch this very carefully and get right on it if it turns out to be a cancer.
We have felt everyone's prayers and we hope they don't stop. God is so good and we know that he will be true to His word in that "all things work together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." In other words, when we keep our eyes on Him and live in His will, good things will come to us, even if it is not the good thing we think we should have.
So, for now, we are going to focus on the good part of the report and enjoy not having chemo treatments to deal with and praise the Lord for His loving presence in our lives! I pray you feel His presence in yours as well.
Your faithful following of my blog means so much to me and your comments are so encouraging. My love and prayers to you and yours.
The good news is that there are no signs of malignant tumors on any of his organs. That is wonderful news! But the bad news is that we can't say we are completely out of the woods because the scan showed a little irregular activity in the abdomen area on his left side. It is very tiny and cannot even be measured. The radiologist does not think it is cancer. It could be a number of things (which I don't really understand the medical terms for) but cancer cannot be completely ruled out.
The Dr. wants him to have another PET scan in a couple of months to see what it looks like then. He also wants to keep track of his CEA count (cancer marker numbers) as they have been a little higher than they should be for the last several months.
We have mixed emotions, but overall we feel very thankful for the good report! We are also confident Dr. Liu will watch this very carefully and get right on it if it turns out to be a cancer.
We have felt everyone's prayers and we hope they don't stop. God is so good and we know that he will be true to His word in that "all things work together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." In other words, when we keep our eyes on Him and live in His will, good things will come to us, even if it is not the good thing we think we should have.
So, for now, we are going to focus on the good part of the report and enjoy not having chemo treatments to deal with and praise the Lord for His loving presence in our lives! I pray you feel His presence in yours as well.
Your faithful following of my blog means so much to me and your comments are so encouraging. My love and prayers to you and yours.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Birthday FUN!
I had a wonderful day on my birthday yesterday. It started out really good when I read so many nice wishes sent to me on Facebook. That was really an unexpected blessing! One of my dearest friends sent me a beautiful ecard and when I got to work my little girlfriend Tracey had posted a big "Happy Birthday Frances" sign on my door and had brought me a beautiful pot of tulips. Isn't that just the sweetest thing for her to do? It was like a breath of spring and I will plant them to enjoy for years to come (hopefully.) My exercise class sang Happy Birthday to me and one of the ladies brought homemade cookies for everyone to enjoy. Now how many exercise classes do you know that serve cookies? Awesome!
At lunchtime I celebrated with my best friends who just happen to be my sisters! They bought my lunch and we had a happy time together as we always do. I love them so much! That's us "Green Girls" is the picture above.
After work I enjoyed a great visit with my son Nick and his wife Kelly and their two children Gracie and Seth. They also had my other two grandchildren with them. Gracie and Seth were so excited about the "big bag" they brought in for me and Gracie kept saying, "you're gonna love this Gran!" And she was certainly right. The gift in the bag was priceless for it was a hand-painted oval plate that Kelly had painted. It had Gran and Papa and the four "munchkins" on it. I love it and will cherish it forever! (See the picture at the top right.)
After Nick and family left my older son Chris, his wife Cathy and their sons Alex and Aaron picked us up and we all went out for supper. We had lots of fun being together and enjoyed our meal. They surprised me with a gift certificate to get a massage. I was thrilled because that is something I never give myself. I can't wait to use it!
My hubbie gave me a beautiful card and Calvin Klein's Euphoria Perfume and Lotion set. It was just what I had been wanting! He's a keeper!
By bedtime I was emotionally exhausted (in a wonderful way) and slept like a baby!
I feel blessed beyond measure to have such wonderful friends and family. If this is what getting old is all about then I've gotta tell you "it's pretty darn good!"
Tomorrow I hope (and pray) to cap my week off with a good Dr.'s report for Jerry. Please keep him in your prayers!
Until next blog, I pray you have lots and lots of FUN with your Family and Friends too!
Love y'all!
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