Via and Zoe

My Cousin Stella from Hungary emailed me pictures of her newborn twins, Via and Zoe. OF COURSE i just HAD to make a pretty layout to commemorate the big event! I used parts from Pam Lefors' "Sweet Rose" collection (this is similar to one of her quick pages, but I made it a little bit different). You can see more of her work and find her Sweet Rose Collection at http://pamleforsdesigns.com/Shoppe/

To All Those Who Pray: Obamacare

OBAMA WILL SIGN HEALTH BILL ON TUESDAY

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says President Obama will sign the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on Tuesday, two days after the House passed the legislation in a party-line vote. The President on Sunday acknowledged that the bill was surrounded by controversy, but applauded the House for acting on one of his signature campaign promises. "This is what change looks like," Mr. Obama said. "I know this wasn't an easy vote for a lot of people. But it was the right vote."

A package of fixes to the larger bill now heads to the Senate where Republicans may use parliamentary tactics that could send the legislation back to the House. Secretary Sebelius told Fox and Friends that despite Republican accusations that the legislation was crafted by the White House and Democrats behind closed doors "they were in the room for months." She added that many GOP ideas were included in the bill, "This is an improvement over the Senate bill and hopefully it will be a bipartisan effort to make the bill better."

PRAYER POINT:

- Offer praise that, in spite of the president's signature on this bill tomorrow, this is not yet a "done deal." The bill now goes to the Senate, where more procedural moves may be scheduled to block it or refine it. . . When the Founding Fathers built our nation with three branches of government, in a system of true checks and balances, they were using divine wisdom. Pray that our Almighty God, moving in the hearts of the members of the United States Senate, would still move to block the implementation of this wicked and disastrous piece of legislation.

- Woe to those who decree unrighteous decrees, Who write misfortune, Which they have prescribed . . . (Isaiah 10:1)

(from Capitol Hill Prayer Partners)

A Good Explanation of "Bearing Your Own Cross"

Your Cross Is You

Remember, you are only an instrument. Not yours to decide how or when or where you act. I plan all that. Make yourself very fit to do My work. All that hinders your activity must be cured. Mine is the Cross on which the burdens of the world are laid.  How foolish is any one of My disciples who seeks to bear his own burdens, when there is only one place for them - My Cross. It is like a weary man on a hot and dusty road, bearing a heavy load, when all plans have been made for its carriage.  The road, the scenery, flowers, beauty around - all are lost. But, My children, you may think I did say, "Take up your cross daily, and follow Me." Yes, but the cross given to each one of you is only a cross provided on which you can crucify the self of yours that hinders progress and Joy, and prevents the flow through your being of My invigorating Life and Spirit. Listen to Me, love Me, joy in Me. Rejoice. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Simplicity

Simplicity is the keynote of My Kingdom. Choose simple things always.

Love and reverence the humble and the simple.

Have only simple things here. Your standard must never be the world's standard.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; 

and all these things shall be added unto you." - Matthew 6:33

blessings to you and yours this day and always ...

www.twolisteners.org

Our Cat, Black Jack - Digital Scrapbook Layout

Here is a layout of our other cat, Black Jack, that I made with different elements from the "Berry Sorbet"collection created by digital scrapbook designer Pam Lefors. You can see more of her work and find her Berry Sorbet Collection at http://pamleforsdesigns.com/Shoppe/

Fear is Evil

Here is an EXCELLENT MESSAGE for today!!! from www.twolisteners.org

Fear Is Evil

Have no fear. Fear is evil and "perfect Love casts out fear." There is no room for fear in the heart in which I dwell. Fear destroys Hope. It cannot exist where Love is, or where Faith is.  Fear is the curse of the world. Man is afraid - afraid of poverty, afraid of loneliness, afraid of unemployment, afraid of sickness. Many, many are man's fears. Nation is afraid of nation. Fear, fear, fear, everywhere. Fight fear as you would a plague. Turn it out of your lives and home. Fight it singly. Fight it together. Never inspire fear. It is an evil ally. Fear of punishment, fear of blame. No work that employs this enemy of Mine is work for Me. Banish it. There must be another and better way. Ask Me and I will show it you. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - 2 Timothy 1:7 blessings to you and yours this day and always ... www.twolisteners.org

Big Red Has Been Set FREE!

This morning when I got up, I went outside and released "Big Red", which is the name that seems to have stuck on her. What did she do? She walked outside of it, saw one of the other cats, and jumped right back in there. I was able to snap her picture. I think that she's still recovering somewhat from the spay surgery two days ago.

Later on when I went to the window to check on her, this is what I saw - Meow Meow ("Little Girl", our feral colony's Mom cat) was staring at her, kind of like a "Mexican Stand Off". This went on for about an hour. I looked out later and they were both asleep! I checked a third time, and both cats were gone. I have no idea where Big Red wandered off to, but she was nowhere to be found.

Tonight when I went to check the back porch, RED WAS THERE! (we were both so happy, we were worried about her, believe it or not!) She ate a few bites, then jumped into her cage and drank some water, then jumped back down and went into hiding, because Meow Meow showed up again to harass her. Meow Meow is NOT HAPPY that there's another grown lady around here. She doesn't seem to mind the stray gray tuxedo male that comes around, but I have seen her chase this girl off a LONG WAYS this past summer. Right now, it is 10 p.m., and Red is still in hiding. I sure hope she's warm, because right now it is 28 degrees out there. BRRRRR. The "Stand Off" continues...

Two Praise Reports!! Driveway Follies and Cat Bite Experience

Praise Report #1:
I finally got up enough nerve to take my truck down our driveway. It's like driving a slot car at an amusement park. No matter which way I turned the wheels, it just stayed in the tracks and followed them down (and back up). At least it's warming up somewhat, and there's a little bit of bare earth showing in places.

here's another view of the top of our driveway. It's still pretty nasty. It certainly was an "adventure" driving down it and back up it!!! I PRAISE GOD that I was able to do it!!! 

Praise Report #2:
Did I mention that shortly after I posted her "found" picture, that beautiful orange cat had BIT me??? Yep, I was feeding her, she kept getting in my way as I was trying to put food in the bowl... I gently pushed her aside and she went from zero to witch in 1/10 of a second and sunk her teeth into my hand!!!!! And there was so much bacteria in that bite that it swelled up INSTANTLY!!! I ran inside, washed it out with soap and water, peroxide and alcohol, but it still swelled up so quickly. A few hours later, when my Husband came home, I asked him to drive me to the clinic for a tetanus shot and antibiotics. I can't get over how fast this swelled up, and my entire hand and half of my forearm was hurting like somebody took a ball bat to it. This happened on a Saturday. 


The following Monday, the Dept. of Health called me and advised me to keep an eye on her for 10 days in case she had rabies (I was in day #2 when they called). I ended up tricking her into a cage for the remaining 8 days, and then the fun really began. I noticed that she was in heat (all the blood on her backside gave me a clue) and every time I tried to feed her, clean her cage, change her water, she would SWAT at me and try to bite me!!! I had to end up wearing a leather jacket and a welder's glove to go in there. It was terrible! I had to talk to her in a really mean voice to get her to move to the back of the cage, but at least it stopped her from swatting at me (for the most part.) She's such a beautiful cat, but clearly doesn't like other females! LOL She has YET to go after my Husband... but she's a little shaky with me. I called the Dept. of Health to tell them that she made the 10 day mark (on day 11).


I had originally sent out a Prayer Request about this, asking for Prayer that she doesn't have rabies. One Prayer Warrior wrote me back and scared the crap out of me with a story that he was bit by a pet racoon who turned out to be rabid and that the rabies shots that he had to endure cost over $6000.00 fifteen years ago (and I noticed that he never mentioned that he was Praying or had Prayed for me in his email)... Another Prayer Warrior wrote to me after that and said "Candy - don't get into fear, my friend. Jesus' stripes that bled from His horrible beatings have already healed us through Him. Also rabies is a name and remember what Philippians 2:1-11 says about 'every name' and remember what He did to old slewfoot at the cross, read Colossians 2 again. Stand on those promises and remind God of His Word. He is always faithful, but whatever you do, stay in faith not fear. You are fine my friend, you do not have nor will you have rabies. God's Word and the blood of Jesus GUARANTEES that! We have GOT to know who we are and where we stand in these last days!!!" (bold emphasis mine.)


I wrote this Prayer Warrior back and said, "AMEN Sister. LUKE 10:19!!!! AMEN and THANK YOU for these wise words of encouragement! Yes, rabies is a name but JESUS is the Name above ALL names including that of rabies." and I decided to step out in FAITH that there is NO RABIES in this case and am standing on God's Promises (like the Apostle Paul who was bitten by a poisonous snake but it had no affect on him. - Acts 28:3-6) Today is now "Day 12 after the fact", and all I can say is, THANK YOU FATHER GOD, for hearing and answering the Prayers of myself and of those who were Praying for me, that this cat doesn't have rabies and neither do I. in Jesus' Mighty Name, AMEN.


Here's a picture of "Big Red", taken today, the day after her spaying. She's acting real friendly here. A total different personality now that those "in estrus" hormones aren't raging thru her body. I can't WAIT until I can set her free... I know that she has got to be SICK of looking at the world through bars!!! Hopefully she'll be a much calmer and friendlier feline... I can only Pray so! 


Oh, and by the way, when they spayed her, they DID give her a rabies shot. And they also "tipped her ear" (cut the tip off of one ear) so that she won't have to endure a needless surgery if ever caught again by somebody else.

And now for the lighter side of things. Here's a picture of one of our outdoor ferals, Diamond, drinking water. The fact that she is balancing herself on the rim of the bowl with all four paws is hilarious! Sometimes kitties do the funniest things!

The cats make my Husband LAUGH, which is music to my ears. This makes them worth their weight in gold, since he is such a SERIOUS person! LOL

Tommy Boy - A Digital Scrapbook Page

I made this with the "Love Template" from digital scrapbook designer Pam Lefors. I used elements from different kits in her Sweet Rose Collection to fill in the background, heart stamp and frame in the template. You can see more of her work and find her Sweet Rose Collection at http://pamleforsdesigns.com/Shoppe/


This is our cat, Tommy Boy, sitting near a window.