Thanksgiving

I can't believe Thanksgiving is upon us and Christmas is around the corner. At Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for. God has been so good to me this year as always. This past year was filled with some tests (which I pray I passed in God's eyes). I know the Lord was there all the time, comforting me, leading (when I would listen).

My family is healthy, safe and loving. We have our ups and downs but for the most part, I am very blessed.

I am never knew that God could take a little girl from OK, who didn't know have the finances to give much, could touch a few lifes. Through God, our ministry has touched almost 2000 lifes this year. If only for a moment, I and the other ladies in SEW BLESSED PILLOWS make a difference in someone's life, its worth all the work.

Thanks to all that make that happen.

I don't know if anyone reads this, but to you that might. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! and may God bless you!!!

Today I went to the Christ over Cancer Seminar at Woodlawn Church of Christ in Florence, AL.

I was touched at the testimonies not because of surviving (which is awesome) but their strength in God. Their faith was tested and they chose to press on like Paul in Phillipians 3:14-15 "I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you."

These people truly know God and their healer, Jesus Christ. No one else can give you the peace they have found. No drugs, no doctors, no nurses could give them what God has given them. The peace that passes all understanding.

Christ over Cancer has a book they give away for the asking. It is awesome. Please check out their blogspot @ www.christovercancer.blogspot.com You will truly be blessed.

Hometown

The weather is getting cooler and fall is right around the corner. September is such a great month for me. Many of my loved ones have birthdays this month. One of my special favorites is the Kay County Free Fair (one of few left) begins this next week in my hometown in Oklahoma. It hold so many memories for me and many other in the community. When I was growning up, it was a great time to share with family and friends. The farmers had finished up working in the fields all summer, the women showed off their prized canning from the summer garden, and everyone enjoyed the rides and food. I worked in our Youth Group Church Booth selling charburgers, hmmmm good!!! (I probably talked more than worked!!!) Everyone complained about the smoke but oh the reward of the good charburger. One of the local farmers donated a the beef each year, so you knew where the meat was coming from, you didn't wonder!!! I think even the onion, tomatoes, lettuce was grown locally. Oh so good!!!!

Our little town has two great events in the fall that bring the families and former townspeople home. Kay County Free Fair and Homecoming. We have tradition in our town. The town is shrinking due to the economy and like other small communities. But I pray that the people that stay will continue the traditions of these events for us. With heartfelt sadness, I will not be able to attend either one, but ask my fellow Blackwellites to please, "Eat a charburger for me!!!"

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!

We love our Fathers and salute them!!!

I am happy to announce that we are serving 5 American Cancer Societys across the country, 10 cancer centers, and several other groups. We have distributed 860 so far this year, last year's total was 801 for 2010.

God has supplied the poly-fil, the velcro and everything. He is awesome!!!!!!

The weather is hot and a lot of us are trying to stay cool by staying inside. I know I am every chance I can get. But remember even though we are staying inside this is a good time to write that note to a friend or loved one across the country or state you haven't seen in a long time or better yet call them.......turn your music up and clean that closet out and give those clothes you haven't been wearing to your local charity organization.!!! There is always things to do......

Have a glass of lemonade with lots of ice and enjoy the rest of the day that the Lord has made!!!

Hope all is well with everyone today!!!! It is a great day no matter where you are!!!!

We have succeeded to achieve our goal....exceeding our 2010 totals of pillows distributed and this is May 26, 2011.

We are excited to start working with the American Cancer Society in Dallas TX. A big hello to all the people there.

Have a great day!!!

God continues to bless us. After my last post a couple of weeks ago, I prayed that God would supply my need to furnish the money for postage to mail the boxes that I had promised to people. Our God is faithful. That weekend, a wonderful friend from Oklahoma was obedient and mailed a check for just the right amount. It was the amount I needed to mail all the boxes to South Carolina, Nashville, Michigan, Montgomery, and Texas.

This past week, a woman called to say they were opening up a cancer center in Garland TX and would like to have our pillows to distribute to their patients. I was overwhelmed.!!!!

Come June 1, 2011, if we give out 50 more pillows, we will have exceeded this year alone what we gave in 2010!!!!! How awesome is that!!!! My little ladies have been busy.....I am so proud of them.

I wish that cancer was not a part of any of our lives, but until it is destroyed, I am so thankful we can bring a little bit of comfort to people in a time they need it.

Remember our GOD is faithful!!!!!! ALL THE TIME!!!!!

God bless you.!!!!!!

We Are EXPANDING!!!!!

I did not think anybody read this blog until here lately and a couple of people have brought it to my attention that I have not added anything to this. I guess I should update everyone....

God is at work and in control!!! We are now working with 4 American Cancer Societies across the United States: Florence, Alabama, Greenville, South Carolina, Austin TX and Lincoln NE, not to mention the many cancer center and hospitals that are gracious to distribute our pillows also.

One American Cancer Society has ask us to start making hand warmers for colon cancer patients.

Their hands and feet get very cold as a result from the chemotherapy. So we have accepted that task.

God has supplied fabric, polyfil and patients. We now need money for postage. Please pray for us that God will supply that need also. He has supplied all our needs and I know He will supply that also.

I can't believe that Spring has sprung and summer is just around the bend. May you all have a blessed day....I know that I am blessed and highly favored.

Christmas is over and a New Year will be upon us very soon. I was so very thankful this Christmas, presents were not an option because I had already been given the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. Through that gift have come other gifts I could never imagine by being a child of God. This year, one of my dear friend lay at death's door, God answered our prayers of her family and mine, to not only give her life but healed and gave her a better quality of life. God healed relationships in my family. I saw grandchildren for the first time in 8 years.!!!!!! There is so much more that words cannot describe. God has answered so many prayers this year and blessed me more than I deserve. With answered prayers like that, material things don't hold a candle to what God can give you.....peace, hope, joy, and love.

When you make your New Year resolutions, make sure that one of those resolutions is that you don't get so caught up in everyday life and forget the one true God!!! and you don't forget to be THANKFUL to HIM!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!

That is my New Year's resolution. That I start each day with:

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."Psalms 118:24

Fall is definitely upon us. As we come to the end of October, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be upon us before we know it and then we will be preparing for another new year.

But before you get lost in all the mayhem of the holidays, just remember to take One Day At A Time.

Worry weighs us down, a cheerful word picks us up. Proverbs 12:25

Thank God for what He is doing in your life, because He is doing something. Thank someone today

for just being in your life and loving you. See what a difference it makes.

Heath Haddock from Safeplace, Inc. came by Wednesday and we were able to donate another

30 quilts to Safeplace.

The ladies have donated over 125 quilts so far this year to organizations, we have sent over 700 seatbelt pillows across the nation. Not bad for about an average of 10 senior citizens getting together once a week to do crafts with a limited income. They save their aluminum cans and use the money to buy batting and polyfil.

Not bad, huh!!!!!

Tornado, Floods, Disasters

Oklahoma City got hit last night by a tornado and several tornadoes hit Oklahoma, but by the grace of God, all of our family is alive and well. Last week, the flood destroyed the Nashville area, again my family was spared. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the lives which were touched and devastated by the storms.

The senior citizens have been working really hard lately. As of this date, they have made over 30 lap quilts and 372 seatbelt pillows. I am so proud of them. 3 of my little ladies have been in the hospital, but have recovered and still working hard. Ms. Eddy, our most senior (93), does circles around me and I am half her age.

God said there would be storms in life. Whether it is the actual storm of nature that has destroyed your world or a storm of torment facing issues of health, struggling relationships or finances, God will be there with you thru the storm.

He will never leave you or forsake you. You can bank on that!!!

Have a great and blessed day!

God is in Control

What a wonderful day! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and we are trying to get our garden started. We painted a couple of rooms in our house. Amazing what fresh paint does to a room!!!!

When we listen to God, things go so much smoother even in the littlest details. I went to mail boxes of seatbelt pillows to cancer centers. I felt a strong urge from the Holy Spirit to pray over them before mailing them.

Our prayer group met that morning at the church, so I took them with me. Afterwards, one of the ladies gave me an offering to help with the postage. God always said He would supply my needs for this ministry and His promise is true. I just have to listen to HIM............
Had I not listened and gone to the post office anyway, I might have missed a blessing!!!!!!

Listen and let Him be in control!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! of everything.

Medical City, TX

I went to Dallas, TX for my doctor's appointment and took seatbelt pillows to the Medical City Cancer Resource Center there. They were so kind and so happy to get them. They said they had been waiting for these!!!
That made my heart soar. When I returned to Florence, the ladies at Montreat started working harder knowing their work was not in vain, they are truly appreciated.
All of you ladies are a God-sent!!!
I love you all!!!!!

Times Passes Quickly

My husband, while serving in the Army, was stationed in Germany when Desert Storm broke out. His unit was one of the first sent in and his unit spent several months in the desert while the world watched for the first time on CNN and other news station the realms of war as it happened.

That has been 19 years ago. I didn't realize how much time had gone by until some of the men from my husband's unit started finding each other on facebook in order to get a reunion organized.
So much has happened since that time.

Sometimes you don't stop and think about the past and all that has happened in it until something like a reunion triggers all the memories. (Good and bad) When thinking back, the good memories you enjoy with a smile, a chuckle or just an outright laugh. The bad memories you relish with hope and encouragement that you learned or grew from them.

I just know that everyone else grew older in those pictures in 20 years, but I still look the same when I look in the mirror!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ha-Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Race is Over

Many people in our country right are battling cancer. It is a disease that is not prejudice over sex, color, age, nationality, single, married or widowed. It does not care if you are democrat, republican or independent, Jewish, Muslim, Christian or aethist. It does not care if you have a family of four or twenty-four that love you or if you are just trying to find yourself in this world. It does not care if you have a Ph D or MBA or MD behind your name, your name does not even matter to this disease. It inflicts everyone it can whether you are a famous entertainer or a homeless person.

What does matter, is how the battle is fought. Sometimes we say when someone passes away, they lost the battle with cancer. My childhood friend, Susan, fought an awesome battle with cancer.
Through it all she walked with God. Though many, many people will miss her, myself included, and her family mourns deeply, I cannot say she lost the battle.

Paul says in 2Tim 4:7-8 "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have love His appearing."

I believe Susan fought a great fight, finished the race and has now received her crown.
Congratulations, Susan. I love you and miss you.

God has a plan

God is the creator and He is still in control of everything, regardless of what some people think or say.
I have a childhood friend whom I love very much and fighting breast cancer. It is very hard to see the plan in all of this but I continue to pray and not lose hope that, God willing, miracle is right around the corner.
I am reminded of the song by the Crabb Family, "Through the Fire." He never said that the cross would never get heavy..... He will take you through the fire again.
It is so true.
Jesus is always there besides giving us strength, courage, and most of all LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New Beginnings

Hello World of 2010!!!
My wonderful ladies that help me sew pillows each week have generously finished about 10
lap quilts which I donated to my church to be sent to Haiti. These ladies are so giving and
loving.
They are now working on pillowcases also for the homeless shelter. They are all senior citizens, ranging from different ages and different ailments. Some days their bodies try to tell them because of their ailments they are limited to what they can do for themselves or other people.
But on craft day, they do not take "no" for an answer. They work hard and lovingly with hands that are crippled with arthritis, eyes that do not see very well, and bones that just plain ache. The finished product is beautiful to me, because I know the sacrifice these women have taken just to be there and the love behind each stitch.
If you get one of our pillows, you are truly, truly blessed. I am sorry for the reason you have
received it, but the love that went in it is powerful. I guarantee it.

The trees look beautiful with their array of different colors. I love the fall with the crispness
in the air, the fall colors and the feel of everyone getting ready to settle down to hibernate for winter.

The winter was designed by God to gives us all rest, not just the plants and the animals. It is a time when we are to refrain from working hard in the fields in the spring and summer. We have
gotten away from that because of the industrial age and now the technology age. We no longer "labor" as we once did. Or I should say many of us do not.

Our summers and winters all run together. There is nothing to separate the seasons in our life and that is why so many of us get confused.

In Ecclesiaste 3:1-8
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

² a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Everything has to have balance. I think it is just important to not exceed time on something as not to spend any time on something else.

God says there is a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to keep and a time to throw away.
If you are "out of balance" maybe you are spending time on things you need to throw away rather than keep or visa versa. Or maybe you are mourning when you should be dancing.

Think about it.
Jesus loves you and I do too. Have a great day.

It is a beautiful day!!!!

My husband and I have been sitting on the deck enjoying the beautiful hummingbirds. We have taken some pictures and I will share them soon. My husband had a light stroke, showing up in his eye. He had surgery to clean his arteries to prevent another one. We are so thankful. I think he is taking to time to "smell the flowers" as we use to say.

We take so much for granted and need to just enjoy God's gifts to us. God's greatest gift to us was His son Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins. Jesus just wants to love you. If you don't know Jesus, just close your eyes and ask him into your heart right now. He is there waiting, I guarantee. And when you do, oh what a beautiful day it will be.

God bless!!!!