My Opinion on Old Age

When does quality life end? Recently, after talking to a man about his mother, I began to think about this thing of "quality life." He said that when his mother reached the point that her life was no longer "quality" he would rather see her "go on." Though at the time I couldn’t pin point the reason why, these words greatly bothered me. Mercy killing is what I often hear it called but I still call it premeditated murder. The truth is . . . old people are inconvenient. They are a bother. They have nothing left to live for so we want to rid ourselves of this little problem. One way we easy our conscience is by saying "It’s better that they die than suffer."

I think taking care of the elderly is like being a parent. Remember what your parents did for you. You have to sacrifice in much the same way. Here are some things I’ve heard children of elderly say and beneath them are my comments.

He can't walk / We have to haul a wheel chair everywhere we go
I imagine there was a time when you couldn’t walk and your parents had to haul car seats and strollers around with them.

She cries all the time
As a baby you cried continuously. Some babies cry more than others. Many babies babble continuously. One of my children cried so often that it kept me up and down all day and night.

She always spits up
Seems like I remember my children spitting up and many times spitting up on me.

She just lays there
Is it just me or don’t most babies just lay there?

She is always sick
Most mothers spend the first fifteen years of each kids life being a doctor and a nurse.

She is just suffering
First of all, is SHE really suffering or do you think YOU are suffering. But regardless, lots of children suffer. Kids get the flu, cholic, bike wrecks, broken arms, etc. Is that a reason to wish they were dead, so they won’t suffer any more?

She can't talk anymore
I bet there were about 7 or 8 months of your early life when you didn’t say much either.

You have to change her diaper
I understand, I mean after all, my mother only changed my diaper for two years. I should never return the favor.

She walks so slow
Yes, and so did my kids.

She is so cantankerous
Kind of like children who don’t get their way. Think back to how you acted as a teenager!

I am tired of taking care of her
Do you think your mom spent 18 years of her life enjoying every minute of her lost freedom.

I don’t have a life anymore
To live is Christ. I remember giving my life up for 18 years while I raised my children.

Twelve Days of Christmas

Here's a cute video:

100 Reasons to lose weight

Why Lose Weight?

1. The mirror had become offensive.
2. The camera told the truth and it hurt.
3. To correct high blood pressure.
4. To prevent heart problems.
5. To correct the pain in my legs.
6. To stop back pain.
7. To get my menstrual cycle back to normal.
8. So I could be in control of my flesh! I am the boss of my body! When we cannot control our appetite, we literally are putting a knife to our throats (the ancient symbolism for killing yourself).
9. Saves tons of money on food!
10. I don't get as hot in the summer so I need less air conditioning.
11. Stair climbing is not out of the question anymore.
12. Clothes fit better. (Your skirt sits lower than under your bra!)
13. I no longer worry about whether a store will carry a size 28.
14. I can buy clothes from Wal-mart if I wish.
15. I can wear panty hose again.
16. I am no longer the largest person in a crowd of people.
17. I am no longer ashamed to announce my weight.
18. More energy. I no longer collapse at the end of the day.
19. I don't need to nap anymore.
20. Visitation is no longer hard on the body. I can get in and out of a car easily. I can walk door to door without having to catch my breath before knocking.
21. I can wear socks again.
22. I can wear shoes for more than an hour without them killing my feed.
23. I dropped a shoe size.
24. No longer have to have "sneaky food".
25. No longer embarrassed to see old friends.
26. I have a lap!
27. My eyes don't disappear in my cheeks when I smile.
28. Sex is better.
29. Vacation is more fun because I can do more and I travel more comfortable.
30. Can use an airplane seatbelt without an extension!
31. I fit in an airplane seat instead of spilling over.
32. I can sit cross legged on the ground.
33. Husband can pick me up.
34. I can taste food better and enjoy a wider variety.
35. Can fit in a turn stile without turning sideways.
36. Can fit into a restaurant booth without having a "shelf" over the table.
37. I don't spill food all over my chest because I can't get my head over my plate.
38. I can go to a bathroom stall other than the handicapped.
39. I sleep better.
40. I don't snore as much.
41. I can cross one leg over the other when seated
42. I don't have as many chins.
43. I feel stronger.
44. No more thigh rub.
45. No more rashes under my breast or stomach.
46. I don't need a beach towel to dry off with.
47. I feel better about myself.
48. I can go swimming again.
49. I can run with my grandchildren.
50. I can wear a bra that actually fits.
51. I no longer worry about lawn chairs breaking when I sit in them.
52. My ankles don't puff up and look like there's half a tennis ball on each side.53. I am able to wear something that doesn't say PLUS on it.54. I can fit in a bathtub again.
55. So my husband can have a wife who isn't constantly complaining over her weight.
56. So my husband can enjoy sex more.
57. I can drive a car and not feel cramped.
58. So I can go on rides at amusement parks again, without stuffing myself into the seat shamefully.
59. So I can buy lingerie that fits, and looks good.
60. So when I'm with people who start talking about weight loss , I don't feel they mean me.
61. A preacher can preach on gluttony all he wants!
62. So I can get up from the floor in one smooth move and not a grab and hold on to something move.
63. So no one will ever again ask me "when is your baby due", and I'm not pregnant.
64. So I can say to other people who are overweight, hey, I was there once too, and maybe help them get to where they want to be.
65. So I don't have to worry about my bathroom scales breaking. (I have broken several scales.)
66. So I don't have to give excuses for being over weight.
67. So I can go canoeing again. (And so that my end doesn't almost sink while their end flys.)
68. So I don't have to worry about arthritis or joint replacement when I get older.
69. So furniture doesn't groan when I sit on it, or wear out long before it should because I'm too heavy.
70. I can tie my shoes again.
71. So I won't think people are laughing or talking about me.72. I can paint my toenails.
73. So I don't take up and entire aisle and get in people's way.
74. To not have to listen to "caring" people ask why you don't diet or worse still... "gee you have such a pretty face"
75. I no longer have to call a taxi when sight seeing in a city with a group.
76. I can keep up with people.
77. I never have to worry about weight limits again.
78. I can wear my wedding ring again.
79. To be able to get close to sink and not come away with a wet belly!
80. Don't tear up car seats and arm rest.
81. I can sleep on the floor again.
82. To be able to walk any distance without looking for a bench to sit on.
83. I can witness without feeling like a hypocrite.
84. I feel as if I have accomplished something.
85. People can't use my weight as an excuse to sin.
86. So I never see another fat woman and ask my husband, "Am I That Big?"
87. So I can sit on a porch swing and not worry about it breaking.
88. To not be ashamed to go to the doctor should I have to.
89. To reduce my chances of having a heart attack at an early age.
90. So I won't worry that everyone one thinks, "I'm fat."
91. So I won't be depressed every time I shop for clothes.
92. Cleaning house isn't such a chore. (Eg. Bathtub)
93. So I don't feel like I'm always leaning back while sitting in a chair, because of my rear.
94. So I can go hiking again,.
95. My number 1 topic of conversation isn't myself and how fat I am.
96. I no longer get mad if my husband doesn't want to eat out.
97. I no longer get gas.
98. I have fewer headaches.
99. My pantyhose don't make noise when I walk in them.
100. No more yeast infections.
101. Less likely to get diabetes
102. Protect my gall bladder.
103. I breathe easier.
104. I no longer experience the prejudice I had against me due to obesity.105. My hands no longer swell when I go walking.

Biblical Reasons to Lose Weight:
I Cor. 6:19 What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
Prov. 23:20-21. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Matt. 6:31 Take no thought (worry) ... What shall we eat...or drink...Your heavenly Father knoweth ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you.
I Cor. 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection (I discipline my body): lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Phil.3:18-19 ...enemies of the cross of Christ ...whose God is their belly...who mind earthly things.
Eph. 5:29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord the church:
Num. 11:4-6, 18-20, 31-34. the multitude...fell a lusting (after flesh)... and the Lord gave them
quails...they buried the people that lusted. God designed us with a marvelous capacity to enjoy
eating (that necessary function which supplies the fuel our bodies need to function) by providing us with the senses of taste, smell, and sight with which to enjoy our food. These senses are also useful in detecting when food is spoiled.
However as with many other God-designed fleshly desires, Satan can use a legitimate appetite to
cause us to hurt the temple of the Holy Spirit and thereby to sin. Overeating - eating more than is
needed to provide needed metabolic fuel- is a waste of money, and in most people, leads to
deposits of fat which causes increased weight which can cause a strain on the heart, cause diabetes, or lead to high blood pressure.

A Poem to My Daughter

April

As our adult daughter
You’ve been a real joy,
And Tim, he’s the best,
He’s a good-ole boy.

Your life seems so godly,
So faithful and true.
You’re part of the core,
You’re one of the few!

The core of the church
Is what I do mean
You’re the part of GIBC
That works behind the scene!

You never complain
For all you’re asked to do
Whether it’s bus work or nursery,
Teaching, singing or filling a pew.

You don’t ask for praise
And have nothing to prove,
You just love the Lord
And that’s enough for you.

Your name is a good one
And your blessings are many
Your life is a reflection
Of a life with plenty.

I know you have joy
But you deserve so much more
Not just a "thank you, my dear"
No, you deserve gifts galore!

Your reward will soon come
And it’s not far away...
It will be revealed to you
In son Isaac and sweet Desiree.

Tilly and Melody are two so cute
And then there's Precious Grace,
The youngest of seven is Glory
And the funniest child is Chase.

My own children are special to me
And the grandkids... just adored
Remember, children are an heritage
The fruit of the womb is YOUR reward.

Meals you can feed your family for under $5

As a pastor's wife I know what it like to:

1) live on a budget

2) raise a large family

3) have lots and lots of company.

Through the years I've learned to cook cheap. My daughter and I got together some time ago to prepare some menu ideas for friends who just couldn't seem to feed their family on what their husbands make. This can create a lot of friction in the home and a wise, prudent wife can solve that problem for little more than $35 - $40 a week.

For Breakfast:
Three loaves of bread are about $5 and the bread can be served for breakfast in a variety of ways. Also, great additions to breakfast are eggs. If you have the room raise a few yard birds (chickens) and have some fresh eggs every morning and rid your yard of some bugs at the same time. I love my chickens!

• French toast - 5 pieces of bread and 2 eggs ($1)
• Peanut butter & Jelly toast ($1)
• Cheese toast ($1)
• Egg Toast - Cut hole in center of toast and fry with 1 egg in hole ($1)
• Cinnamon Toast
• Grits (Cheap!!!)
• Pancakes are very cheap!
• Leftover rice with some milk, sugar, and cinnamon

Lunch Ideas:
• Lunch is always left overs prepared from the day before’s meal. Use bread to help you.
• Other lunch ideas: Ramen noodles, Macaroni and cheese, sandwiches, egg salad, fried weenies, rice and gravy, baked potato, and beans.

Other ideas -
• NEVER turn down a meal if someone offers. You can make it into something!
• Don't eat out or buy takeaways. You can eat so much cheaper by cooking at home.
• Get dry milk for use in recipes, which keeps longer and costs less. Once reconstituted, it can substitute for fresh milk.
• Make a list before you go to the store. Stick to your hopping list and only allow yourself X amount of impulse buys each trip. The less people you bring on your trip the less money you will spend.
• Beans are one of the main food staples of our home. My kids are all grown and I still serve bean based meals 2 to 3 times weekly. Beans are a very nutritious and cheap food for your family. They are a good source of soluble fiber, the kind that helps lower cholesterol. Beans in general, are good sources of things like, folate, potassium, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and they are low in fat.
• Fix your kids plates and don’t give them a choice of what they eat. If they don’t like what’s on their plate then they can wait until the next meal or buy their own food. I did this with my kids and my kids will literally eat ANYTHING! My daughter does this and her kids will literally eat ANYTHING....and it hasn't killed a one! Amazing!
• Do you have boys? Do they eat a lot. Then add rice and gravy to EVERY meal. Add bread to every meal. They will get plenty of nutrition from small servings of the main dish and then let them fill up on the side of bread and rice and gravy.

Main meal a day to serve 6:
Assuming you have the following staples: Flour, sugar, a few canned foods, butter, powdered milk, onions, pickle relish, cooking oil, ketch-up, mustard, barbeque sauce, spices. Eventually your food supply will build up because you won’t use everything you buy every week.

----------------------------- Week 1
• 3 Bread Loaves - $4
• 10 # bag potatoes - $4
• 1 family pack 10# hamburger meat - $15 (rewrap in 10 packages at home)
• 1 dozen eggs ($1)
• 1 bag chicken thighs - $5 (rewrap 2 thighs to a package at home)
• 1 pkg rice ($1)
• 1 jar mayo ($2)
• 1 pkg Velveeta cheese ($5)

Meal #1 - Shepherds pie
Brown 1 pkg ham meat, add a can of corn, and top with 2 potatoes mashed and whipped with a bit of prepared powdered milk. Serve over a slice of toast.
Meal #2 - Chicken and Rice
Boil 2 chicken thighs. Cook rice in juice from thighs. Add chicken meat. Add onions if desired.
Meal #3 - Meatball subs
Make balls from one pkg of hamburger meat. Add 1 egg and ½ cup flour to help it hold its shape. Pan fry. Fold bread in half and place 3 meatballs in bread.
Meal #4 - Grill cheese Sandwiches & Fries
Use Velveeta cheese and bread. Grill in a bit of butter. Cut up 2 or 3 potatoes and fry french fries.
Meal #5 - Cow Dookey
Brown some cooked rice with chunks of hamburger (1 pkg) and diced bell peppers (?) and onions. Add spices to the meat while it cooks as well. Add a bottle of soy sauce to the table and presto, you got a nice tasty meal.
Meal #6 - Hamburger steaks
(1 pkg) with onions and gravy, mashed potatoes served over bread. ( fry the meat, use the juice to make gravy, and then put the meat back in the gravy.
Meal #7 - Fried chicken thighs and rice and gravy
Flour 4 or 5 pieces of meat. Fry in small amount of oil. Cook rice. Make gravy from pan drippings.

----------------------------- Week #2
Assuming you still have your stables and the following leftover foods from last week: Left over food to be used with next week’s meal: Potatoes, Rice, Hamburger meat (6 pkgs) chicken ( 4 pkgs), Velveeta cheese, eggs
• 3 loaves bread ($4)
• Grits ($1)
• canned vegetables (green beans, corn, mixed) ($5)
• 4 cans Tuna ($4)
• 6 boxes of mac and cheese ($6)
• Spaghetti pasta ($1)
• 4 Can tomatoes ($4)
• 4 Can tomato sauce ($3)
• 4 Can spaghetti sauce ($4)
• 2 pkg Weenies ($2)
• 1 pkg sausage ($3)
• 1 box eggs ($1)
• 3 cans pork and beans ($3)

Meal #1 - Tuna patties
Mix tuna with 2 eggs and ½ cup flour. Fry in a little oil. Serve with mac&cheese.
Meal #2 - Spaghetti, garlic bread
Brown 1 pgk ham meat. Cook noodles and add to meat. Add sauce.
Meal #3 - Chicken pot pie
Boil chicken (1 pkg). Chop up 2 potatoes in small squares. Add 1 can vegetables. Make a white gravy from powdered milk and flour. Make a crust from flour and water. Drizzle crust over the top and bake.
Meal #4 - Beenie Weenies
Cut 1 pkg weenies up into some pork and beans. Add some BarBQue sauce.
Meal #5 - Tuna & Pasta
Use 1 pkg of mac and cheese and 1 can tuna. Serve with toast.
Meal #6 - Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Boil rice. Boil 1 pkg chicken. Melt butter. Fry 2 eggs in butter. Stir in rice and meat. Add 1 can vegetables.
Meal #7 - Chili dogs
Make chili from 1 pkg of meat and 1 can tomatoes. Serve over weenies and bread.

----------------------------- Week #3
• 3 loaves of bread - $4
• 10 lbs family pack Hamburger Meat - $15
• Lettuce - $2
• Tomatoes - $2
• Cheddar cheese - $3
• Velveeta Cheese - $4
• Potatoes - $4

• Sausage - $4
• 3 Boxes Rice a Roni - $3
• Chicken Thighs - $5
• Dried Pinto beans - $1 (will make 3 meals)

Meal #1 - Hamburgers, lettuce, tomato, cheese, fried potatoes
Meal #2 - Baked Chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy
Meal #3 - Hamburger mac made with Macaroni and Cheese
Meal #4- Sausage dogs, pan-fried potatoes
Meal #5 - BarBQue Chicken, rice stir fried with eggs

----------------------------- Week 4
• Can biscuits - $2 (4 packs)
• Stew Meat - $2
• 1 pk frozen stew vegetables - $2
• Eggs - $1
• Crackers - $1
• 5 frozen pizza - $5
• Tomato sauce - $2
• Elbow macaroni - $2
• Cheese - $4
• Syrup - $3
• Bisquick Mix (Cheap brand) $2
• Butter - $2
• 2 big jars Baked Beans - $3
• Barbque sauce - $1
• Eggs - $1
• Weenies - $2

Meal #1 - Beef Stew, potatoes
Meal #2- Hot dogs, baked beans, sauerkraut
Meal #3- Omelets and pan-fried potatoes
Meal #4 - Meatloaf
(Use crackers and eggs to make bigger), potatoes
Meal #5 - Homemade Pizza -
Use 1 per 2 people and doctor up with hamburger meat and cheese
Meal # 6 - Chili & Crackers
Meal #7 - Goulash
(Hamburger, Tomato sauce and noodles)

----------------------------- Week 5
• Bread - $4
• Hamburger meat - $15
• Manwich - $2
• Frozen broccoli - $5
• Canned beans - $3
• Rice - $2
• Spaghetti - $2
• Chicken Breast - $7

Meal #1 - sloppy joes
Meal #2 - Rice-A-Roni
jazzed up with hamburger and some frozen broccoli.
Meal #3 - Pancakes
Meal #4 - Red beans and rice
... cook some rice..Onion - chopped and fried with 1 pkg hamburger meat. Can of kidney beans, Chilli powder to taste. Can chopped tomatoes or fresh tomatoes skinned and chopped - add to softened onion.
Meal #5 - Chicken spaghetti
Meal #6 - Baked potatoes.
Top with cheese and hamburger meat fried.
Meal # 7 - Tuna sandwiches.

----------------------------- Week 6
• Flour tortillas - $2
• 3 loaves Bread - $4
• Velveeta cheese - $5
• Corn dogs - $8
• Chicken thighs - $5
• Powdered Milk - $6
• Bell Pepper - $5
• Burritos - $3
• Small ham (canned or turkey ham is cheaper) - $5

Meal # 1. Cheese quesadillas.
Make these with flour tortillas. Heat two tortillas in a skillet and remove one to a plate. Top the remaining tortilla with shredded cheese. When melted, about 1-2 minutes, place the other tortilla on top. Allow to cook for a minute or so, flip the whole thing over and cook the other side for another minute. Dump onto a plate, slice with a pizza cutter. If you have it: Add shredded cooked chicken to the cheese. Serve with salsa.
Meal #2 - Corn dogs!
Meal #3 - Easy chicken and dumplings
(debone chicken. Use broth to boil dumplings made from frozen biscuits. Add a cup of milk in which 4 tablespoons of cornstarch has been added. Put chicken back in broth.)
Meal #4 - Stuffed Bell Pepper -
Cooked Rice with tomato paste and ground beef, (mix together) topped with mozzarella and if desired, stuffed in a green pepper, baked until the cheese melts (I promise this is good)
Meal #5 - Burritos
Meal #6 - Cheese burger pie -
1 pkg ham meat, 1 c cheddar cheese, topping made from Bisquick.
Meal # 7 - Ham pot pie -
Mix with a gravy, vegetables and top with biscuits.
Meal #8 - Fried weenies in ketchup with fries

Food Stamp Program

We have a program in our county that requires people getting food stamps to work for a non-profit organization. I like this program a whole lot because our church sponsers many such people. The ones who have worked at GIBC are very kind and do a great job. I have 3 currently working in our school. They make wonderful helpers because I can break kids off into groups and let these helpers do such things as:
1) listen to kids read
2) call out flash cards
3) help with simple school work

It frees me up to work with more difficult subjects such as math.

I also think that our helpers feel important, special, and loved by the kids and me. One lady has started coming to church and has even been saved and baptized. What a blessing!

These workers don't feel like they are just "taking" a handout but that they are working for their food. And they are.

Why Keep A Clean House

I've been a pastor's wife for 20 years. I have a steady stream of people in my home. At this writing I have 2 friends from England staying with me. I love feeding people and have at least 20 different people in my home each week. People constantly "drop by" and visit....unexpected. I have no problems with this (except that I adore my private time). Now, having said that....I can not remember the last time I was invited into a home. I've noticed that people keep their homes a wreck and are ashamed for people to come in. I am certain that hospitality is not dictated by the size or type of home because I have lived in broken down single wide trailers and itty bitty homes for the first 15 years of my marriage. I think it is directly related to the cleanliness of the home.

Here are my reason for keeping a clean house.
(Clean need not be spotless...but clean enough that you are not ashamed of your house.)
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

1. God commands us to be hospitable.
Ro 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
Tit 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
1Pe 4:9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.

2. Messy houses make a woman feel stressed.
Php 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

3. Messy houses causes sicknesses. (Mold, mildew, roaches, dust mites)

4. It is good stewardship of what God has given you.
1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

6. It shows appreciation.
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

7. Cleanliness creates a more loving atmosphere.
Lu 11:24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

8. Makes keeping up with things easier.
Le 10:10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

9. Makes your life more organized.
1Co 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

10. God commands a woman to keep the house.
Tit 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

11. It is a good testimony.
1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.