Update From the Country!

Greetings and blessings to everyone! I pray you had a safe and blessed week-end. 


I cannot believe where the time has gone! I have been working forty-hour weeks and then trying to get fruits and vegetables canned when I can. I haven't had a moment to sit down and write much less breath, until today. I have started this blog several times... I hope to finish it today. 


I have been getting some reading done, on my lunch hour, so I have been trying to get the reviews posted. Be sure to go to www.latawniakreviews.blogspot.com and see what I have been reading. May be you will get a couple of ideas for the book worm in your family!


Well, let me get you updated on what's been going on here in the country....


The chickens are doing well, and laying lots of eggs. I am gathering at least 10-14 eggs a day. Since they still don't have nesting boxes and they like to hide them, my count isn't the same every day. My hard-working husband said he will try to build the boxes this week. 

There is one hen who always follows me around when I gather the eggs. She is one of the black sex-links. She talks to me and allows me to pick her up and pet her. Sometimes she will hop on my back when I am bent down gathering the eggs! She's really quite sweet, for a chicken. Then one of the leghorns likes to try and take the eggs out of the bowl. She wants to keep them. I think she's the one who likes to bury them so I can't find them.


I have been trying to think of different ways to cook eggs.... I have also been giving them to family members and I have started to sell them. I have eggs everywhere! What do you do with a dozen of eggs a day? I think I am going to see if there is a community food box place in town where I can donate some of them. 

I have also been canning. (The above picture isn't of my work.... it just a picture I found. I haven't had time to take pictures of my work!) I have canned several pints of beets pickled, carrots pickled, and plain carrots. I have also frozen many quart bags of rutabagas and beets. I am getting ready to freeze corn next. I cut my fingernails down because they were turning various shades of brown and purple! Oh, don't let me forget... I also put up 5 quarts of applesauce. I still have lots of apples, so I still have lots of applesauce to make. I am also going to try and make apple butter. A good friend of mine gave me a website where I can find a recipe for apple butter in a crockpot. I can't wait to try that!


Well, the computer has decided to not work right again.... Lord, I need a new computer! 


I was trying to find a picture of a tractor like the one we have so I could post it but the computer went stupid, so no picture.


The reason for the picture was because I wanted you to see what I was driving this week-end when I got sunburned! I was helping my husband working down on the neighbor's property. This neighbor hires my husband to dig ditches, move dirt piles, clear brush and other things. This past week-end we were filling in a ditch with dirt we had moved from another ditch that was dug a month ago. (I got to drive the dump-truck when we did that job.) 


I was down there riding on the excavator with Calvin when he decided he needed help moving the dirt. He went and got the tractor and I drove it for five hours, moving dirt down to the other end of the ditch we were filling in. Oh, silly me didn't were a hat or put on sunscreen. So I got nice and burnt. It was such a beautiful day that I didn't even think about getting sunburned. I was just enjoying the day, driving the tractor and happy that I could do something to help my sweetheart with this job. 


When I got home and looked in the mirror I realized how burnt I was. Let me tell you, next time I will wear a hat and long sleeves!! No wearing just a tee-shirt for me! 


Well, my dear friends and family, it's that time for me to go. I hate to cut this short... but I have to get ready to go to work. Until we meet again, I pray that Jesus, our Lord and Savior, will bless you this week with His sweet presence and He will strengthen you when you need strength, give you the words you need to speak of His grace and mercy and supply all your need.


God bless all of you!


"How sweet are Thy words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103 (NASB)

Update From the Country!

Greetings ya'll! I pray everyone has been well and blessed. It's been a couple of weeks since I last wrote, so I have a few things to get you caught up on!

Things are still hectic at work, which means I am still working lots of hours. I got one day off last week. So I haven't had time to do much, except work, eat and sleep and see my husband for an hour here and there.

The birthday party was great. Everyone showed up and we had a good time barbequeing and eating and just being a family. Calvin got a RC car/truck. It's one that he wanted, so Nathan and I got it for him. He's been having some fun with that! I was also able to find him all four of the Fast and Furious movies. That was a great find because my dear heart is such a stinker and can usually figure out what he is getting and he had no clue about those!

Our oldest son got married on the 27th of this month. It was a nice wedding. I have to say though, weddings in this family are a bit different, at least for my husband's children. This was the second wedding I attended and the girls wore flip-flops with semi and formal dresses. Hmmm.... can we say just a little red-necked here? Oh well, you gotta love them!

The weather here today is a bit damp. I have a feeling our summer, short as it was, is just about over. The weather forecasters say we are suppose to get a few more days of sun.... but... we'll see. Not that we don't need the rain, it will help with the fires.... but a little more sun would have been nice. (Maybe having spent the last 13 years in Arizona has something to do with wanting to see a bit more sun....)

Today is the last day to enter the book giveaway I am having on my book review site. So be sure to enter! There are two great books being offered.

This weekend I found several eggs in the hen house! How exciting was that! I had went in there to feed the chickens and roosters and saw eggs... we haven't had a chance to build them nesting boxes yet, so they were burying them in the dirt! Crazy birds! I have to go back in there today to look for more. They should be laying eggs every day.... Looks like I'll be taking eggs to family and co-workers!

My beloved picked the first ears of corn from our garden last night and we had barbequed corn with pork steaks. The corn is still a bit immature, but tasty! I've been picking green beans and beets and rutabagas for a while now. The potatoes and tomatoes are doing good... can't wait to pick those either. It's almost apple sauce time as well.... those apples are just about ready!

I did have this past Sunday off, so my darling and I and our son Nathan went to the Oregon State fair in Salem. That was a lot of fun! There was so much to see! We looked at farm equipment... dreaming about a new cat.... enjoyed the food there... looked at chickens (of course.) We also looked at some pigs.... I think we are going to buy one in a month or two. We rode the Fairlift from one end of the fair to the other. That was a good way to see what attractions we missed. Friends of our had their monster truck down there and were giving rides. That was neat! And we watched the dwarf cars race. Those things can go pretty fast. (For those who don't know, dwarf cars are big go-cart with bigger engines.... I didn't know either) All in all it was a good, relaxing time.

My sweetheart and son also indulged me by going through the art exhibits without too much complaining (hehehe)... actually we all did enjoy the paintings. There was one there that we agreed on was the best. It didn't even look like a painting, it looked like a photograph it was so good. Of course it was only $2000.00 if you wanted to buy it.... actually that would be a good investment. That artist is very talented. Not that we bought it. But I am sure someone did or will. I really had a great time with my husband and son.

Well, I think that's about it for now. The sawmill is still being put together. We had to wait for some parts to be made... we finally got those yesterday. We still have to get a motor for the lathe so Calvin can modify the flywheel for the engine that will run the sawmill. He's been doing some side work to earn a little extra money so we can afford these parts. Let me tell you what, that is one hard-working man. He isn't afraid of hard work or working long hours. Do pray for him though, strength for his body, health and good sleep. Working like he has and trying to stay awake for me (I'm still working the late shifts) is taking a toll. We got to see each other for about 45 minutes last night. He just couldn't stay awake, my dear husband.

Well my friends and family, I must go now.... it's time to get ready for work. I pray all of you will be blessed this week. I pray for safety, peace and joy for you as well. Keep me in your prayers as I keep you in mine. May the blessing of our Lord and Savior rain down on you today.

Until we meet again.....



"I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust." Psalm 91:2 (NKJV)

Update From the Country!

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!" Eph 1:2 

I don't know about anyone else, but today I need that grace and peace! Things have been a bit topsey-turvey around here. Well, more so at work than anywhere else. But because things are so crazy at work, it has made things at home that way, as well.

I have been working 36 plus hours, all of them the closing shift, for the past 3 or more weeks. Needless to say, that doesn't leave me much time to spend with my husband, clean house, care for the garden or write.

I am having a birthday party here at the house Saturday and the place is a wreck! The party is just going to be family and friends, but still, a clean toilet would be nice!

My dear husband has been doing his best to stay up with me when I get home, but the poor man is ready to drop in his tracks! He just isn't getting enough sleep. It doesn't help if I watch tv or read in the bed, either. But he doesn't like going to sleep without me by his side. (He is such a sweetheart.)

Well, I can't remember if I told you all... but we have discovered we have not one, not two, nor three but four roosters in the hen house! Four of those leghorns are roosters! They are finally old enough to determine sex... maybe the giveaway was the fact they have large combs and wattles! Not to mention attitude! So.... three of those roosters are going to be dinner and we'll keep the one... until he gets mean. Then he becomes stew. Who knew those hens were hes!

Reminders....

There is a drawing for two books on my book review site. Just click on the link to LaTawnia Kintz Reviews and sign up for it. The drawing ends August 31st.

You can also sign up for email subscription of this blog or my other one. Just fill out the box to the side where it says, "Subscribe via email."

Hmmmm.... I know there was another one.... but I can't remember now.

Oh well..... It's time for me to go.... So many blessings to you and yours. Praying the Lord keep you safe. Until next time....

"Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." Eph 6:24

Update From the Country!

Greetings to all of you, my family and friends, near and far. My prayer is that the Lord has blessed you and continues to bless each one of you, in Jesus name.

I must confess that this is a difficult month for me. My mother, who has gone to be with the Lord, and my oldest daughter, who isn't speaking to me still, have birthdays this month, along with my daughter's youngest daughter. So, it has me a bit sad and blue. Yet, at the same time, it is the month that my husband and youngest son celebrate their birth, so it's a happy time, as well.

Ok, ok, it's a bit of a rollercoaster, emotionally. I miss my mother, though she has been gone for 12 years. She became my dearest friend and I miss talking with her. I miss her wisdom and insight. But I know I will see her again, one day. I miss my daughter. I continue to pray for her and her children. And I ask all of my praying family and friends to continue to pray for her and the girls (Lily-Ann and Haley) as well. I received some disturbing information recently that has me on my knees.

We celebrated my son Nathan's birthday this past weekend. It was a wonderful time. My sister Colleen and her husband Roy came down from Washington to help us celebrate. My sister is so silly! We had lots of laughing and fellowshiping that day.

She wanted to hold a chicken, so I took her into the chicken house so she could catch one. (It's not as easy as you think! It took her a minute or two!) She finally caught one and was just estatic! Silly city girl (hehehehehehe). I still get excited about my chickens.... I did catch my favorite one for her to hold. Colleen had a good time in the hen house!

We showed them the sawmill. They were dutifully impressed (teeheehee). It's still a work in progress, but it's progressing more. Calvin has gotten the carriage on it. He even put a log on it, it does look quite impressive. I will show you some pics next time I write. He hasn't downloaded them yet.

We took a walk around the property and we talked and talked and talked. Now the guys (Calvin, Nathan and Roy) were making fun of Colleen and I. I don't understand why. We only look alike and sound alike and we laugh alike. The fellas had quite a laugh!

Calvin's parents came up for the party and so did Nathan's sister and family. Our good friends and neighbors come up as well. So we had quite a number of people here for cake and ice cream. It was a good time to be had. I hated to see it end. But Roy and Colleen had a ways to drive back home and it was getting late. I did make sure they got some produce from the garden to take home. And she brought my dear husband and I a blanket she crocheted. (It fit the bed perfectly!)

I was glad the weather cooperated. It wasn't too chilly nor was it hot. We did experience a bit of sprinkling.... but overall, it was decent weather. Not necessarily typical August weather in the Pacific Northwest.... but nice.

We have been having a bit of a cool spell lately, weather-wise. But the weather people have assured us that we will experince some summer weather this week. We are expected to get into the high 80's and lower 90's. I just hope it will be nice and warm for my sweetheart's birthday. It's the 21st, and we are going to have family over again, for it. Now if I remember to call everyone, that will be good!

I remember the year my daughter was born, it was the hottest summer this area had experienced in years. The weather people keep referring to it when they talk about what's going on now with the summer weather.

It's hard thinking about my husband's birthday without thinking about Minyon's. She was born the same date as he was. So, it's a bittersweet day for me, right now. I pray for the day when we can celebrate both of their birthdays together. What a blessing that will be. Until then, I thank the Good Lord for my beloved husband and I pray for my baby girl.

Well, I did get my sweetheart a birthday present... it's a ........ Surprise! I can't tell you what it is, in case he reads this. You will have to find out later. I sure hope he likes it. He really needed some new socks and underwear... Oooops! I told! Or did I?

The garden is doing well. But, I have a problem gopher that is being difficult to get rid of. And something has decided my green beans are delicious because they are eating them right to the ground. If it's the deer, and I already told them this, they are going to be dinner on my table yet! I went out there yesterday and found half of them gone!

The corn is alreay producing baby corn! How exciting! And the apples are just about ready to pick! One of the trees has good, sweet apples on it already, even though they aren't completely ripe yet. The squash has blossoms and the rest of the garden is flourishing! I thank the Lord for such good harvest.

Some other news.....

On my book review site LaTawnia Kintz Reviews I have a drawing taking place. Those who enter have an opportunity to win one of two books. So be sure to go over there and enter. There are some rules to the drawing (of course) and if you want to try for both books, you can do that as well. They are both good books.

I also just posted a book review on a Bible study. So go check that out as well. If you are looking for a Bible study, this might be of interest to you.

In closing....

I pray the week is filled with blessings for you. I pray that the week-end is a time to relax and have quality time with your family. And I pray that each one of you will be kept safe by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

"Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:5 (NKJV)

Update From the Country!

Greetings to all of my family and friends!

I cannot believe it has been two weeks since I last wrote! Where has the time gone? In fact, I'm having a hard time believing it's August, already! 

Happy Birthday to Maggie! And Happy Anniversary to Maggie and her husband, Mark! I will try to send you a personal email today or tomorrow. 

Saturday, our neighbors had a combined birthday party for friends and family members whose birthdays were/are the last week of July/first week of August. Our son, Nathan, is having a birthday August 4th. So Calvin and I went birthday present shopping. It's difficult to buy a present for a 25 year old young man. But after some investigative snooping we determined he would like a RC car. WOW! Who knew those things were so expensive! And that was a base model! We finally found one we thought he would like and it didn't quite break the bank. We gave it to him that night. (Neither one of us could wait to give it to him!) He has been enjoying it ever since!

Critter updates:

The chickens are doing good. No eggs yet, but I am still hoping. The pheasants are doing well, also. All of them are growing nicely. Soon it will be time to begin cooking!

We found a home for the two female kitties. Now if we could only find a home for the two boy kitties. Momma cat decided she liked motherhood so much she got pregnant again! So we will have another batch of kittens to get rid of. I'm thinking these will go to a shelter, or somewhere like that. And before she can get pregnant again, Momma cat is getting fixed. 

Garden update:

The garden is doing well. I picked a good bunch of bush beans last night, along with a few beets and rutabagas. The corn is getting tall and they are getting tassels! The carrots are still small, but doing well. And I finally found the parsnips! They don't seem to be doing as well as I would like. But, my husband says they usually don't. 

I have never grown brussel sprouts before, but aren't there suppose to be something like little cabbage heads? I'm not seeing anything like that. I wonder if I didn't do something I was suppose too? They are getting nice and tall but I ain't seeing any little cabbage heads! Suggestions anyone?

We do have a gopher in the garden. Possible two. So my dear husband has been setting gopher traps. There is a mound by the beets and one by the squash. I am going to get that thing yet! 

The squash is doing good. We finally have blossoms on them. And the tomatoes and potatoes are blooming and growing as well. Yummy tomatoes and potatoes! I can hardly wait. 

And the apple trees are just about ready! The apples are still growing and are just now beginning to turn color. The boysenberries and blackberries are just about ready for picking as well! Hmmmm..... yummy blackberry cobbler, blackberry jam, boysenberry jam, apple pies, apple sauce, apple crisp.... 

The dogs are doing better now that they are kenneled at night or while we are gone. They were going through a phase of making a mess on the floors. My husband was getting a bit upset. Not that I can blame him. I was getting tired of cleaning it up! So we have a kennel (one we used when we went camping last month) and they seem perfectly happy in it! Dumb dogs!

The sawmill is coming along slowly. I'll go down and take some pictures this week. Calvin is putting the track on now. That's for the carriage to roll on. He also has to put in a pulley system still. There is a bit more work to be done. But he hopes to have it finished soon. We still need to cut lumber to put a new roof on the house. That needs to be done before Fall gets here. 

It's hard some days to come home from work and then go to work at home! I had half a day off this past week that I used to clean the inside of the house because it had been somewhat neglected. I usually spend that half day out in the garden weeding. My husband comes home in the late afternoon from work and he goes out to work on the sawmill or something else that needs to be done. There is a lot that has to be done to keep this place going. Some days it just seems to be too much. Thankfully Nate helps us a lot. He will clear brush or help on the sawmill or whatever else is needed to be done. He will even help me in the garden. It's not easy when I work nights, Calvin works days and Nate works graveyard. But somehow we get it done!

Yesterday I didn't get out into the garden until around 4pm. I just didn't feel like doing it. But, once I got down there and got to working, I felt better. I managed to get about 8 hours of work done in four! The poor thing needed lots of water and weeding. I even got to use my new clippers on berry vines that were invading the corn!

Well my family and friends, there isn't much more to say today. No great words of wisdom or anything like that. But I do want to tell you about a great site to get some good preaching and teaching. Go to Faith Harvest Church and be encouraged, strengthened, and blessed by sound Biblical preaching and teaching. It's where I go to hear the Word of God. I know you will be blessed.

Until we meet again, I pray the Good Lord to watch over you this week. May He keep you and your family safe and sheltered in His arms. 

And I would like to leave you with this verse.....

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Update From the Country!

Greetings and blessings in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord! I pray all has been well with you and your families since we last met. 

My dear husband, Calvin, is finally much better. He was very sick for a couple of weeks. He got ahold of some type of virus and it was very difficult for him to get over it. But, praise the Lord, he is now feeling much better.

Our daughter, Jennifer, and the baby are doing well. As is our new granddaughter by our son Richard and his fiancée Crystal. Our youngest son, Nathan, is such a help around the property. He is truly a blessing to us. He works hard at his job and here at home.

I haven't hear from my daughter Minyon. I do ask that you continue to pray for her and her daughters, Lily-Ann and Haley J'lynn. They are still in Arizona. I ask that you pray for protection, peace and restoration. 

Lily-Ann just had her seventh birthday and Haley is going to have her fourth birthday in August. Minyon's birthday is the same date as my husband's so it's not difficult to remember either one! Both of them will celebrate in August as well.

(Just came back from giving water to the chickens and food to the pheasants. The chickens have figured out if they make enough of a ruckus when their water runs out, I will go see what's going on and give them water. Maybe they aren't so dumb after all!)

My beloved had a dream since he was a child, to own and operate his own sawmill. Several years ago he was able to purchase one. He and Nathan went to Idaho to get it. Since then it sat down from the house on the property, in pieces. Due to the discouragement from those who should have supported him, it never got built. The sawmill isn't just to satisfy a dream, but it is also another source of income, it's beneficial to the buildings and home (yeah! a new roof without the bats!)

The slideshow you are seeing here is a day's work on the sawmill. Nathan (in the red shirt) and Calvin, our neighbor's son Brodie and I all helped Calvin get the frame work together. Calvin is a welder by trade so he was able to do all of the welding of the frame. I wish you could see his welds... they are a work of art.

It may not look like much to you... but to those who have seen sawmills on private property know this is going to be a great sawmill. This is a Foley Bellsaw sawmill. If you want to see one in action, YouTube has several on there you can watch. 

I will be taking pictures as we progress, so you can see how it looks. Soon, it will be operational and I hope to have a video camera by then so I can video it! 

THE KINTZ'S SAWMILL - THE FRAMEWORK

Calvin and crew started working on the sawmill early Sunday morning and we were finally at a stopping place by 6:30pm. (Brodie and I went to town and got some KFC.... we were too tired to cook even for barbeque!)

More updates.... 

"Mary, Mary quite contrary how does your garden grow?" I don't know about Mary's garden, but mine is crazy! I get half of the garden weeded and the other half explodes into weeds! No, I'm not using any kind of chemicals to control them, just my little hands. I'm not using any chemicals of any type at all on this garden. (Does that make it organic?) 

Other than the weeds though, the garden is doing well. The corn is getting tall, and everything else is growing wonderfully. I thank the Lord for that. I am believing He will give us a bountiful harvest so I can bless others with food. The potatoes are doing great. The bush beans are flourishing. The carrots are growing. 

I was talking with a dear sister in the Lord the other day. We were catching up as we had lost touch with each other. (May the Lord bless her dearly.) I was telling her how with my work schedule and all that has to be done here at home, especially now at this time of year, I'm not able to attend church as I would like. So I spend a lot of time in prayer and praise while I am working in the garden. (I'm usually down there by myself. It's a good, private time.) I am also participating with an on-line bible study. (The bible study has been really good. It's on the book of Ruth.) My dear sister told me to use this time to allow the Lord to continue healing me (she knows my past and hurts) and in time the Lord will restore me. (I am a teacher of the Word.) She said that just as Ruth spent time in the fields gleaning before she was redeemed; the Lord is using this time in the garden to heal and restore me. It was confirmation to my spirit. How the Lord blessed me, through her.

I ask that you pray in agreement with me that the Lord will provide a video camera so I can video a teaching He gave me. I believe and have received confirmation that He would have me present this teaching online. I'm not sure how to get it from the video to the website I am going to set up.... but I am sure He will show me or bring into my life those who know how. I have a syllabus for those who will take the course that I want to put in PFD (?) format. That way, the students can download it and print it for free. If you have any suggestions as to how I do these things, please don't hesitate to let me know, as I am not that computer savvy. I felt pretty amazed that I was able to put together a slideshow! Of course Photobucket makes it pretty easy!

Well my family and friends, it's that time. I must go and prepare for work. I enjoy our time together and look forward to the next time. As always, I ask you keep me and mine in prayer as I pray for you and yours. If you have a specific prayer you would like me to be in agreement with, just send me an email or if you would like others to pray with you, leave a comment. 

Leave a comment that you've stopped by, please. I love to hear from you. 

May the Lord bless you and keep you safe throughout this week.

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 

"for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

"who desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

"who gave Himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time." 

(I Timothy 2:1-6 NKJV)

Update From the Country!

Greetings in the name of the Lord to all of you!

I pray you had a wonderful week-end and as you are preparing for the upcoming week-end you will be blessed.

This has been a difficult week for me thus far, for some reason. I seem to be playing catch- up and I am not getting caught up! I am behind in my bible study, book reviewing, gardening, house cleaning, and sleep!

My dear husband had been sick with some type of virus at the beginning of this week. He is finally feeling better now. But it did make him take to the bed for a day and a half. That is so not like him. 

I am thankful for the warm weather we are having. I feel like my bones are finally thawing out. This weather is reminiscent of Arizona in the Spring with a little more humidity thrown in, of course!

The chickens and pheasants are doing well. We still have to finish the chicken house, but they are doing well. They should be laying eggs here soon. Hmmmmmm..... yummy..... fresh eggs!

We have been eating radishes from the garden for the past three weeks. They have been very tasty. I think they are done for now though. They are getting a bit woody. So I am going to pull the rest of them out and plant new seeds.

Calvin and I finally bought some tomato plants. We are going to plant them probably tonight. I do like a good tomato to just eat! 

The corn is growing well. Now that we finally got some sun, it should take off and get real tall. I can't wait to start picking it. I have four 50ft rows of sweet, candy corn. That is going to taste quite yummy on the barbecue.

I still have four more rows of vegetables to weed (out of 17 rows). The weeds just got out of hand with all of the rain we had been having. Now it's time to recover the vegetables and hope they make it! There are several insidious weeds growing in that garden that think they are going to take over. So between them and the wild blackberries I have my hands quite full.

I am finally beginning to heal from the quad accident. I am still sporting some good bruises on my left calf. It's sad that I can see the tire tread still. But I am thankful I was wearing my helmet and no bones were broken. 

I got a wonderful message on Face Book this week. It was from someone that I had helped some time ago. She is such a sweet person. I thank the Lord and give Him the glory because she and her husband are still together and serving Jesus with their whole hearts. She and her husband went through some really tough times and I am thankful that I was there to be of some support to her. But God gets all of the glory and praise, because He is the one that really brought them through it all. 

Sometimes when I look back at my past ministry, I wonder if the work I did, when it is eventually revealed by fire will end up being precious gems or if it will burned. (The biblical reference I am using here is found in I Corinthians 3:10-15.) I think that is something that anyone who has served the Lord in ministry questions. 

I am thankful though, that she felt the need to let me know she was thankful and how she and her husband were doing. The Lord has allowed me to see that what I did wasn't hay, wood or straw. He did that not so that I will be puffed up, but to encourage me in my walk with Him. I may not be "active" in a church at this time, but I still serve Him by staying in His word, praying, sharing with you, my dear family and friends, an encouraging word. I might not be traveling to other countries physically, or around this country, but I am able to "travel" through the internet and connect with you that way. Hmmm... I guess there is some good for the internet after all!

Well, now that I have babbled for a moment or two, I must close this post for the day. It's time for me to get ready for my other job. I do pray that you all will have a safe and blessed week-end. Please continue to remember me in your prayers and I will do the same for you. 

Until we meet again.....   

 "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God... For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." I Corinthians 1:18 and 2:2