Winter Blessings!

Winter Blessings! 

God's Word is true in every season!

It is sunny and 73 as I write this. It was in the 30's last night. This is winter for So California. We will probably still get some cooler and hopefully rainy weather in February. 

My Bible journaling group went well as we focused on verses that had snow in theme. The snow theme is fun for us because we don't get to experience it unless we go to our local mountains about 90 minutes away. Though the word snow guided us to various places, I encouraged the women to read the chapter. What is God saying. There may be something else He wants us to focus on.

I have been busy packing up my winter decor and hope to change over to Valentine's decor this week. I am also putting kits together for my February Bible journaling group. Theme is love. God's love for us, and love for one another.  

This family of snow people has gone up every year for the past 20 years.

If things work out, hubby and I want to take a drive to the snow. We will see, This is a picture from last year. We took Minnie with us and she really liked it.

This is the girl I did for my crafting group. Once a month we "visit" a new place.

I can always use my imagination. I am sure you girls in snow country are thinking of warm and sunny days ahead. Praying you are all safe. God bless you with health and peace.

Good morning from sunny California! Today I am thankful for

My home that keeps me safe and warm

My alarm that wakes me up so I can get where I need to go.

A hot shower and essential oil sugar scrub.

Fresh clean towels and a washer and dryer that keeps them that way.

A blow dryer that dries my hair.

The coffee maker and stove, the refrigerator that keeps things cold.

As you can see, it's the everyday things that we take for granted.   

My list could go on and on, but I have a Bible study to go to this morning.

I am thankful for my health. Hubby and I have not gotten Covid. 

I have a medical procedure next month. So thankful to have medical insurance! 

Thankful for my church and church family. I am not an official life group facilitator.

I lead a group in Bible journaling. I thank God I can share this with others.

Thankful for pictures from my past. See my previous post for pics of me in the 70's.

Thankful for so many things! Happy Thursday!

Tuesday 4 Music

1. What kind of music do you like the best? I like a lot of different kinds of music. I mostly listen to Christian music. I enjoy both contemporary songs and hymns. I enjoy oldies music that I listened to back in the 60's and 70's. I like soul/Motown like the Temptations, Supremes, Peaches and Herb. Also easy listening/soft rocklike Carole King, James Taylor, Seals and Croft, Carly Simon, The Eagles and Bread. Also groups like The Lettermen, the Association, and Franki Valli and the Four Seasons. I liked the early Beatles too! My list could go on forever! Oh I do enjoy classical music too and played it on the piano for many years as a youth. Now my granddaughter plays and will be joining the youth praise band soon.

2. Does the radio play in your car and if so what station or kind of music plays? Yes the music in on all the time. Hubby got Sirius Radio and we get to choose a year or type of music. When it is just me driving, my favorite Christian station is playing. Hubby usually chooses what he wants and we pretty much like the same thing. Does music play in your home often? I like to listen when I Bible journaling or working on graphics or blogging. Hubby mostly watches his tv programs.

3. What do you think of the music played in restaurants or stores? Do you find it relaxing or annoying? I enjoy music for the most part. Sometimes I will just walk around Hobby Lobby enjoying the music they play. I will even sing along. I don't enjoy eating when the music is really loud unless it is a dinner show. Not that I am older, my right year is more sensitive to loud sounds.

4. What part has music played in your life? What kind of music played at your wedding or at parties you have been to? Music has played a big part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are learning songs from Sunday School. There was always music at school. I was in choir at church and school. When I was around 10 or 11, my parents gave me a radio to listen to at night because they knew I had a hard time going to sleep. I remember saving my allowance in Jr. High to buy 45's. My parents took us most of the musicals that came out and bought us the soundtracks on an LP. I had a class in high school were we had to explain the meaning of a song. Bye Bye Miss American Pie was playing in my senior year and Crocodile Rock. I watched American Bandstand and Sour Train to hear the music and dance. 

When my husband and I were dating, we would write letters to each other and write song titles on it.

1973Just My Imagination-Temptations

Ain't No Woman Like The One I Got-Four Tops 

Natural High-Redbone

Could It Be I'm Fallin In Love.-The Spinners

Ain't No Woman Like The One I 've Got

1974, 

You Make Me Fill Brand New-The Stylistics

Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me - Gladys Night and the Pips

Top of the World-Carpenters

Then Came You Dionne Warwick and The Spinners

I've Been Search'n So Long-Chicago

Could It Be I'm Falling in Love-Spinners

There were just so many songs that I liked that were not love songs, just good songs to listen to or dance too. The Carpenter, The Doobie Brothers, Carly Simon, Marvin Gaye, War, The Tower of Power,  Stevie Wonder Diana Ross, Elton John and The Jackson Fiv . So many artist with so many songs. I did not care for heavy metal and we didn't hear much country music in So. California. 

Around 1973, our church youth group had a summer party. Helmut the exchange student from Germany asked us to do a "Soul Train" dance line. We put music on and we started dancing and laughing and just having fun. There were several adults there and no alcohol beverages. Just clean fun. I am dancing with Helmut in this picture. Remember the wide leg pants? I made my outfit.

My husband and I were first born kids and our parents both went in to give us a big wedding.  I was a student at UCI and he was working two jobs. A small wedding would have been fine with us. But we had a big wedding!  They played a few Carpenter songs at the Wedding

like We've Only Just Begun, and One Love. Household of Faith was sung by one of my bridesmaid and Eddie Espinosa who later became a worship leader. He wrote the song Change My Heart O God.

There was a Mariachi Band playing while we ate. Then a popular band came and played for about 3 more hours. Our Wedding Party Dance was set to Color My World by Chicago. Then we danced to Sabor A Mi. and we danced with our parents. Though we had a lot of albums when we got married, 8 Track players were coming in. So my parents gave us a combo Turntable and 8 track player because we loved our music.

We also enjoyed the music of the disco era like the Bee Gees and Donna Summer and we went to a few disco places in Newport Beach CA. We went with my sister and her husband and another couple. It was fun, but not something we did too many times. None of us had kids yet, We also liked the music from Star Wars!

This is one of my favorite pictures from around 2005. My kids dancing with us at a wedding.

Every year has songs that I like. In 1990 I started listening to mostly Christian music.

As I mentioned earlier, we enjoy musicals and hubby and I went to see Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas and I got to see it with my parents on Broadway. I love musicals! I just saw West Side Story with my older grands and all of us went to see Encanto and Sing 2.

Music is just another gift that God has given us to enjoy. It is one of the strongest things that touches our soul. Hearing is one of the last things to go and music really calms the soul. It brings back memories to many. I saw how it really helped my mom when she had Alzheimer's. I played hymns for my dad as he was getting ready to see the Lord. It gives me peace and I love all the memories tied to music and songs.

Saturday 9 and week recap.

My friend sent me thing picture she took and edited with the cute snowflake background. On Thursday I taught our Life group Bible journaling with a snow/snowflake theme. The Bible mentions snow 24 times.  I gave each girl a handout on the verses with about 6 of the verses highlighted. I handed out their theme bags full of goodies to work on their pages. I showed them how to use stencils and stamps on their bibles, Next month's theme will be on love and my mind is already thinking about things I want to do. The main facilitator let the Pastor of Counseling and Life groups know what I was doing. I am now an official facilitator for Bible journaling. This Sunday all the facilitators will be prayed over. Today we are going to lunch to celebrate my oldest son's birthday.

On Friday we had the grands over and they enjoyed Mexican hot chocolate and cookies. My cousin had sent cute Christmas cups with marshmallows and gingerbread cookies. Next week I will start decorating for Valentine's. We will be in the 70's for the next week. I am not ready for our winter to be over.

Saturday 9: I'm the Only One (1993)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Melissa Etheridge sings this song as though her heart is breaking. What's your favorite love song? Is it about falling in love, being in love, or losing love? I Love How You Love Me by Peaches and Herb.

You can hear it here. It was one of our love songs when we were dating in 1973/4. Also We have Only Just Begun from the Carpenters that was played at our wedding and Color My World. I also like the way the Lettermen sang it in the 60's. I found their greatest hits here. Many of the songs remind me of my parents. There was always music playing in my home. Funny how I remember the lyrics from so long ago and have such a hard time learning songs now. Music is the language of love. Music is the last sense to go.

2) "I'm the Only One" is a favorite song of American Idol contestants, having been performed four different times. If we were to have a Saturday 9 karaoke night, what song would you do? You've Got a Friend. I would sing it with my cousin Joanie.

3) A rocker at heart, Melissa Etheridge began her career in her teen years, playing with local country groups. Which do you enjoy more: country or rock? Christian and soul oldies like the Temptations, Supremes, Peaches and Herb and songs from Carole King, James Taylor, Seals and Croft, Carly Simon, The Eagles and Bread. Also groups like The Lettermen and Association, and Franki Valli and the Four Seasons. I liked the early Beatles too! My list could go on forever!

4) In 1985, Melissa sent a demo to Olivia Records, hoping for a record deal. She was rejected. Her debut CD was released in 1988 on the Island label and went gold. Tell us about a time you bounced back from professional adversity. I was a postal worker, throwing mail from 1975-86. I hurt my back and got a sit down job going through Nixie mail. That was mail that was damaged or not properly addressed. In 1987 I took a computer course in college and learned the basic of dbase, word processing and spreadsheets. In 1988 the marketing department asked me if I knew how to work on a computer and I said I knew the basics. I started working up in the administrative department to do data entry and prepare packages for mailing. My computer and typing skills were greatly improved.  I stayed there until 2010. I end up being the Vending Coordinator. I talked with my local Postmasters and officials in Headquarters. The funny thing is that I did not plan on making a career with postal service. I had a degree and planned on going into the Social/medical field. I got injured 3 times while there and they were really hard on injured people. But I was blessed to stay there until I basically forced to retire. In spite of how it ended, I am glad I got to retire young and be an active grandparent!

5) In her personal life, Melissa has faced major challenges, including breast cancer and the death of her son. She credits music with helping her heal emotionally. What gives you strength? My faith-prayer, my family and friend's encouragement. Music allows me to relax. 

6) Melissa is a vegetarian, so her diet emphasizes plant-based foods like fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables. What was your most recent meal? Would it qualify as vegetarian? Yogurt with blueberries, bananas and almonds. I am a meat lover but mostly eat chicken, fish and eggs.

7) In 1993, the year this song was popular, a massive storm dropped a record 56" of snow in Mount Le Conte, TN. Have you done much shoveling this winter? No, I live in So. Calif.

8) One of the most popular movies of 1993 was A Few Good Men, starring Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson, who famously said, "You can't handle the truth!" What's the most recent movie you watched? Encanto and I hope to see Redeeming Love this week.

9) Random question: Dessert is on us! Describe your perfect ice cream sundae. Vanilla ice cream, hot thick, creamy fudge, sliced bananas, whip cream, nuts and a cherry on top!

Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Bobby's Girl (1962)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Marcie Blane confesses she sits at home, hoping Bobby will call her. Do you owe anyone a phone call or email? I am pretty good at returning both. I do send text messages more now.

2) We know Marcie wants to be Bobby's Girl. Let's play the Google Game and find out what you want. Go to your favorite search engine, keystroke your name and "wants," and then search. (For example: "Samantha wants" led us to a math problem that begins: "Samantha wants to purchase a new dress ... " Crazy Sam was tempted to read on because her wardrobe could use sprucing up.) What does Google tell us you want? A new Bible and various things on Amazon.

3) This hit record was an accident. Marcie Blaine had just graduated from high school and had a few days before she had to take off for her summer job as a camp counselor. A friend asked her to record a couple songs he'd written, just so he could play them for record labels and song publishers. Her friend was hoping somehow an established star would hear the songs, record them and make one of them a hit. Instead, a producer at Seville Records said he wanted not just the songs but especially the unknown girl who was singing them, and Marcie became a recording artist. Tell us about a favor you're very glad you did for a friend. I can't think of favors I have done lately for a friend. We do watch grandkids whenever we are asked. We are retired and enjoy spending time with them. I am teaching Bible journaling to the ladies in my lifegroup. I put together little packs of things they can use in their Bible. We will be using a few verses based on snow/snowflakes.

4) By the time summer was over, and Marcie's gig as a counselor was done, she was #3 on the charts. Her record stayed in the "Hot 100" for 19 weeks and, for the second half of 1962, she was the top-selling female singer in the US. What female singer do you listen to most often? My favorite two are Amy Grant and Carole King. I have been to a tribute concert to Carole King that also included Amy Grant. My husband and I went to hear Amy Grant in Concert back in the 90's. We went to the musical play called Beautiful a few years ago. It was so exciting to learn about Carole King and how she started out as a song writer and then started her singing career. I still have the original Tapestry album.  I have her songs on my IPhone. I also have Amy's Collection on it.

5) After "Bobby's Girl" took off, she recorded it in German for the European market. Only she didn't speak German, so she sang it phonetically. Can you sing any songs in a language other than English? Spanish and I can read a little French.

6) Seville rushed Marcie into the studio to make more records. None of them charted higher than #68, and Marcie wasn't having fun. After a year of being a rock 'n roller, she enrolled at Queens College in New York City. What's the most recent class you took? I take online classes. The last class was a study on the Second Advent, Maranatha, Jesus come! I took a 6 month class on lay counseling at my church over 15 years ago. 

7) In 1962, when this song was popular, the most popular baby names were Michael and Lisa. Are there any Michaels or Lisas in your life?   I have a nephew named Michael. My sister in law is named Lisa and I have a cousin Lisa.

8) Also in 1962, Marlene White, the first African American flight attendant for a major US airline, appeared on the cover of Jet magazine. What's the last magazine you flipped through? Was it in print or online? A Christian Magazine from Day Spring.

9)Random Question: After enjoying a long, relaxing weekend, do you find yourself more or less productive on Monday morning? I am usually busy on the weekend, so I relax on Monday.

Tuesday 4 and more.

Here we are in the second week of January and time just flies bye! Time is just something we don't have any control over. We do have a say in how we use it. My ADD is my downfall to using it wisely. But I am trying. The main thing to know is that God is in control. One thing I like to make time for is Bible journaling with my grands for as long as I can. Our last study was based on Job 37:6 He says to the snow, ‘fall on the earth’ and to the rain showers, ‘ be a mighty downpour.’ Regardless of the seasons or weather, God is in control. Trust in Him! As you can see in this picture, I like snowflakes and snowman. I can't control our weather, but I can bring the likeness of it in my home. My t-shirt say says "My grandchildren melt my heart." I love my grands and that is no mystery!

This week we are talking about true crime and mystery.  I think this week's question might need some thinking cap time!

1. Was there a notorious crime in the news that caught your attention or interest? Did you follow that case to it's conclusion?  If there was no solution, do you pay attention to news about the case long after? (for instance the Lindbergh kidnapping case.. Patty Hearst, etc.,) Hubby and I like to watch FBI story and NCIS shows. I don't like to watch very much news. It is usually too depressing like January 6, 2021.

2.Does the mystery genre of literature and movies interest you?  Does any one book ,series or movie stand out for you? As a child, I read The Trixie Belden Mysteries. In Jr High I read Gone With The Wind and it opened the door to historical fiction. I love musicals, action movies and love stories. Yesterday I took my older grands to see West Side Story. I enjoyed it and so did they. A few weeks ago we saw Encanto and Sing 2.

3. Ever play Clue or any one of the new mystery games available?  Do you enjoy solving mysteries or puzzles? I don't remember playing Clue, but I remember playing Monopoly and the Game of Life.

4. Some towns are known for mysteries that took place there.  Do you have something like that in your town or state?  If not.. how about telling us about something that has always puzzled you! Nothing

 comes to me.

Saturday 9: Moody Blue (1977)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song was recorded in the special studio Elvis had built in the Jungle Room of Graceland. During the pandemic, have you made like Elvis and worked from home? I have been retired for 10 years.

2) Elvis sings that his girl is completely unpredictable. Which quality to you find more attractive: spontaneity or dependability? Dependability.

3) He only performed the song once in concert. In February 1977, shortly after the record was released, Elvis sang "Moody Blue" live in Charlotte, NC, but had to rely on lyric sheet. Crazy Sam can sympathize because she seems to forget passwords as soon as she sets them. Do you often struggle with your memory? I think my memory is okay. I can remember things from the time I was 3. Sometimes I forget a few things, but I try not it let it get to me. I do take a mental note of things that are off. My mom got Alzheimer's and I remember her telling me she did not pass her Real Estate test and she knew the book inside out. My doctor told me not to worry about it.  I do need to put things back in the proper place and keep my mind focused. 

4) "Moody Blue" was the final hit of Elvis' lifetime, only getting to #31 in the US but reaching #3 in the UK. What's your favorite Elvis song? In The Ghetto.

5) We're focusing on Elvis this week because January 8 would be his 87th birthday. He enjoyed celebrating his birthday by renting the Memphis movie theater and watching the latest movie with an invited group of friends. What's your favorite way to celebrate your birthday? Being with my family.

I do share a birthday with my granddaughter Jazzy so it is usually a combined dinner.

6) For his 11th birthday, young Elvis asked for a rifle or a bicycle. His mother deemed the gun too dangerous and the bike too expensive and instead gave her son his first guitar. Tell us about a memorable birthday from your youth. A surprise party at the park and I got a bike! I think I was 10.

7) Elvis loved horses and kept them in the stable at Graceland. His favorite was a palomino named Rising Sun. To honor both horse and rider, Elvis' daughter has always kept a palomino in the stable whose name includes "sun." The current resident is Tuscan Sun. Known as "Tucky," he's lived at Graceland for more than 20 years now and is a favorite of Alene Alexander, who maintains the stable and reports he has "attitude and knows he's prettier than everybody else." Tell us about an animal who holds a place in your heart. All the doxies in my heart. Mandy Belle, my parents doxie. Missy Gonkers our Dog from 1976-1990, Reina Wrinkes, 1999-2009. Minnie is our current and last doxie. She is 5 years old and our first long haired doxie.

Me with Mandy Belle around 1970

Hubby and I with Missy 1976

Reina

You can click on her name to see the tribute page I made her.

Minnie and her mom Rey this Christmas

8) Throughout his life, Elvis had trouble sleeping. As a preteen, he was a sleepwalker. As an adult, he battled insomnia. Is sleep an issue for you? My main problem is getting myself to bed. I average 7 hours a night. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and try to go back to sleep. 

9) Random question: Do you wear your shoes in the house? I will usually take them off after I come home and put on my slippers or flip flops.