Hey, friends!  I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend...boy, did mine go fast!  Of course, when you travel over 600 miles in 48 hours, time has a habit of moving quickly!  Gary and I visited with my folks in Virginia and it was a nice time of sharing....both conversation and food!  We never lack for food when we visit the folks!

My parents have concerns about their next move once they are not physically able to take care of their home.  I think we helped with ideas and options that eased the stress for them.  Not that anything has to be done immediately, but once a person begins to think about a possible problem, it needs to be addressed.

My dad and mom then took us on a little tour of our home church that is in the midst of a building program.  This new addition is unbelievable!  The seating capacity for the new auditorium is around 1200-1600, if I remember correctly.  It's just amazing.  As I blogged on Friday, I remember a small chapel sitting on that hillside over forty years ago and now this major worship center!  To God be all the glory!  I read in my devotions this morning a verse from Psalm 100, "For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (verse 5, NIV).   How true this rings for the generations that have passed and will pass from the initial moving of the Spirit of God on the hearts of a handful of born again men and women to start this church to present day.  I'm blessed to have been a witness to the awesome power of God.

Have a wonderful day, my friends.....look around for a blessing of God!

It's almost time for takeoff to Virginia.  Of course, I'm sitting here in my pjs and writing on my blog!  First things first, right?  My hope for all of you is a wonderfully relaxing weekend.  Weekends are the cream in the middle of the Oreo cookie, if you ask me.  The chocolate wafers are the daily blessings in life, but what a treat that cream in the middle is for most of us! 

We're missing our worship service here on Sunday and I received an email from a friend that my favorite "bongo man" is playing!  And one of the songs is "Days of Elijah"...wow, what a fantastic music program lined up!  However, I'm going to be able to worship in my home church on Sunday where my family are charter members!  The church has grown astronomically over the years.  In fact, I hardly know anyone except for the older members, but it's good to see and hear the blessings of God on this congregation.

They are in the midst of a huge building program and as I reflect to the original meetings in a small building as we struggled to buy a parcel of land, today's ventures were unimaginable at the time!  This hillside is living, breathing proof of the power and majesty of God when His people follow Him in true obedience, love and determination to win souls for the kingdom! 

Whatever you have planned for your enjoyment this weekend, make praising the Lord with a local church part of the plan.  It will make the "cream" so much sweeter!  God bless, my friends!

This is going to be a busy day.  I have countless items I need to take care of and my head is spinning.  Now, I need to get focused..."this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!"  So, first things first.  Lord, you take the day and order it! 

Gary and I are needing to make an unexpected trip to Virginia.  My folks have an issue on the table that needs addressed and we will be driving there on Friday and returning on Sunday.  A long trip for a short period of time.  It will be good to touch base with them and help with advice, but getting ready to leave is another subject! 

Kimberly is flying after school tomorrow to Chicago for a girlfriend's bachorlette party and she, too, is feeling overwhelmed.  I guess that was one of the unfortuate character traits I passed on to her.  However, we talked last night and tried to calm down, knowing by Monday it will all be accomplished.  What an extremely busy fall this is becoming and it comes on the heels of a very busy summer. 

Why am I blogging all this information?  Because life is short and we need to get focused on what's really important and thankful for all the opportunities we have....it's a blessing to be able to travel to see my parents and it's a privilege to continue sharing wedding bliss with couples starting their lives together.  May we lay aside the mental self-imposed "list" we sometimes burden ourselves with and look to the Lord for His agenda for each day!  God bless, my friends!  Have a great day!

Well, it's that time of year again....ragweed is floating through the air!  I've always struggled in the spring and fall with hay fever.  It's one of those annoying facts of life that got handed down by my grandmother, Granny Cundiff.  Granny always had a handkerchief (remember those?) in her pocket and was never afforded the opportunity of allergy medication.  Can you imagine?

So, it's back to nasal sprays and Claritin.  I'm thankful that my allergies aren't as bad as they could be, but it does put a little crimp in my day.  I do love this time of year, however.  The cooler morning air and the lower humidity is awesome.  It reminds me of Idaho where Gary and I lived for two years.  There are always sunny warm days in the summer and cool nights for sleeping without air conditioning.  It's one of the greatest places to live in the summertime...winter...now, that's another subject for a little southern girl!

My prayer for you is that you enjoy the day, refresh your spiritual soul with an anointing from the Lord and pass on a blessing to an unexpecting person who crosses your pathway.  God bless!

Wow, it seems like I keep remembering important people that shaped my life!  Today as I was thinking about the date, August 25th, I remembered this is my Granddaddy's birthday.  Granddaddy (can you tell I grew up in the south?) passed away when I was 4 1/2 years old.  Do I have memories of him?  You bet...especially the weeks before he died.  But he left me something I hear on a daily basis....my nickname.  Yep, Grandaddy Garbee named me "Cookie"....so many have asked how he came up with that name and I tell the story over and over that I heard through the years.  Here goes:

When I was born I was the first girl born on my dad's side of the family.  Granddaddy and Tata (my grandma and her nickname is another story for another day) had two boys, no girls.  When I entered the world, Grandaddy was so excited that he commented, "I'm going to the hospital to visit little Cookie."  That was it.  Everyone started calling me "Cookie" and it stuck.  In fact, when I entered grade school, my parents would request the teacher call me by my nickname because I didn't answer to my given name, Judith!

I simply didn't know any name except "Cookie" and if you want a quick response or get my attention, calling me Judith usually will make you wait a few minutes until I realize you're talking to me!

There are many other things I remember about Granddaddy, but others tell me he became a Christian later in life and totally turned his life around for Jesus.  That's a great legacy to leave behind.  I look forward to spending some time with my Granddaddy when I get to heaven.  He died at the young age of 53 from a severe heart attack.  I've already lived longer than he did....but he left images behind that others will remember until God calls them home.  What images or memories will others have of you?  Happy Birthday, Granddaddy....have a wonderful time celebrating with Jesus!

Ever wanted to view the world through the timing of our Lord?  I know I have.  Just to understand from God's perspective why some desires of the heart take such a long time coming would be comforting.  If we need to learn a lesson, spend additional time in prayer, meet the needs of those less fortunate, be reminded of past sins so we can ask forgiveness...just tell us Lord so that we might realize your will for our lives and be filled with patience!

However, I rest assured on this promise...Jesus loves us.  He longs to give us an abundant life.  As in the days of Moses when the Lord wanted to give the Israelites a land flowing with milk and honey, God desires to give His followers today the same blessings.  Whatever you might be waiting for or on today, take a step of faith in God's direction.  As Jesus stood on the water in the midst of the storm and told Peter to come to Him, Peter was only able to walk on water because he kept his eyes on Jesus and followed His direction. 

If you're in a timing lull today, fill your waiting hours with blessing others.  Maybe one of those opportunities will reveal the answer you're looking for.  I don't know about you, but I want to be a faith-filled water walker!!

One of the things I like best about Sunday is the feeling that I have started another week with a clean slate.  A chance to be a better person, witness for Christ, choose my words more carefully and spread goodwill to those that come across my path are among the weekly goals I set for myself.  However, I should just pray that I don't get in the way of what God wants to do in and through my life.  Forget about providing a checklist, just allow God to do what He does best....provide opportunities on a daily basis.

Gary and I witnessed another wedding on Saturday.  A beautiful new beginning as two lives confessed their love and vowed their allegiance in marriage.  A new slate of endless possibilities was given this couple as they began their new life as Mr. & Mrs.  

We are constantly provided with opportunities for clean slates with our loving Heavenly Father.  Let's make this week, this clean slate, a blessing and an offering to our Lord. 

Kimberly and Gary's mom left this morning after spending a couple of days with us in Pittsburgh.  The cause was Gary's BD and we had a great visit.  An extra treat was lunch at Panera's on Thursday and a movie in the afternoon!  A real "girl's day out"!

For the past two days my car (the one that was struck by a deer leaping over it) has been in the shop to correct a few noises that have resulted from the accident.  Squeaking, high-pitched noises that have been driving me crazy needed to be addressed.  So the car went to the dealer's on Wednesday.....on Thursday afternoon I called to see what was going on.  I was told all my issues (all four of them) had been resolved.  

As Kimberly left town this morning, she dropped me off and I picked up my car.  Immediately, I saw one issue not addressed.  The guys took it in the back and cleaned it up....then I hopped in the car and drove five minutes to my house and guess what?  I have the high-pitched noise still happening!  As I looked over the sheets that listed what had been done to the car, I read, "misc. roadtest check, door, nothing abnormal"!  In plain terms, "we drove it and didn't find anything wrong"!!!  Can you imagine???

After calling them again, I now need to bring the car in and take one of the guys for a ride....you know, to prove I'm not an over hormonal woman imagining a noise!  What ever happened to excellence?  Working with a problem until the complaint is found?  Wouldn't it have been a nice gesture to just call me and say, "we can't find the high-pitched noise, would you mind going for a ride with one of us?"  Instead of pretending the noise is fixed and maybe it would magically stop the next time I drove the car???

Okay, so much for this monologue, but this is irritating.  A dealership that made plenty of profit from an insurance company due to a deer leaping over my car, needs to address whatever issues result from their initial repair without the customer making multiple trips back to the shop.  Excellence....whatever happened to it?  Have a great weekend, my friends....pray for me! 

What a wonderful celebration we enjoyed yesterday.  Gary was surprised that Kimberly drove in from Cleveland and doubly surprised that she had picked up his mother In Sharpsville, PA to join us!  The five of us (Nicholas met us as well) ate seafood at Joe's Crab Shack in Station Square and afterwards had a little picture shoot with the Pittsburgh skyline in the background.  God is so good.

Today I remember that six years ago I was initially diagnosed with breast cancer.  What memories that day brings back.  As I have mentioned before in previous writings, that subject is a whole book to be written on fear and faith.  God has been good to me and I thank Him for every day I now enjoy.  Life is no longer a fact I take for granted....I have enjoyed my kids graduating from college, many family vacations and recently Kimberly and Luke's wedding.  I continue to pray that God will give me health and strength to continue working for Him in this earthly dwelling until He calls me to my eternal home!

Good morning, friends!  Today I am very blessed....it's my husband, Gary's, birthday.  The man of my dreams, my own personal blessing from God, Gary Anthony White.  We've been married for 29 years and Gary turns the double nickels today.  He has been such a blessing to my life and he's the greatest father ever.  Just ask my kids. 

Today he can officially retire from the Department of Energy, but he will continue working until the end of the year.  We can't believe the time has finally come for our schedules to lighten up and start off in a new direction.  We look forward to a Christmas family vacation and then head to warmer temperatures for a while this winter. 

Gary has expressed a desire to do more hands on mission work and also to get involved in activties that his schedule today doesn't permit.  We are praying that God continues to give us both good health so we can make a difference and spread the blessings God has given us to others.

So, happy birthday my precious husband.  May we enjoy many more years of celebrations together and may God prepare our journey from this year forward to help others come to know Him.  I love you!