Thankful for a beautiful run on a fall afternoon Day 5

     A very busy weekend.  Driving to Massachusetts and attending Aunt Adelines wake and funeral.  Saturday afternoon, I was so grateful to have a little down time.   I spent a while running and soaking up the sun on a beautiful fall afternoon.   Just running down the back roads of Middleboro brings me back to so many memories.   The smells of Fall, the pine trees, the Fall decorations all bringing me to another time and place.  How far I have come to a new life in Vermont.  Grateful for the time and experiences in both places and wondering where the Lord will lead me next.  I was reminded of this verse.

"For I know the plans I have for you,

 plans to prosper you not to harm you,

 plans to give you a hope and a future." 

Jeremiah 29:11

 

So whether I am here in Vermont or there in Mass, God is directing my path so I do not worry!  Although I do get curious....

Thankful for Time With Family Day 4

     Today I am thankful for this ride to Massachusetts with my sister and my Mom.  Although we are traveling down to a funeral for my Aunt Adeline who just passed, I am still happy to be spending time together. We spent the drive listening to talk radio;  Rush Limbaugh and Dennis Miller.  Current issues of Hurricane Sandy and the upcoming election between Obama and Romney.  Laughing at Rush's precise imitations of Bill Clinton and their witty, cutting humor!  We stopped at Burger King and laughed our heads off as we attempted to get drinks from a new fangled soda machine, discussed Mama's optometry appointment and talked to a paper cup.  (you had to be there)
      Anticipating which family members would be at the wake and trying to remember who is married to who so we didn't make any mistakes.  Yes, it is hard to say goodbye to a loved one but it is in gathering together that we can reminisce and make the time easier for all.
     We had a safe ride to Mass and I am thankful for that too.  We got to see cousins, Aunts, Uncles and friends we haven't seen in so long.  We caught up and laughed and hugged!
    Seeing everyone also gives me insight into each ones lives.  Now I can intercede and pray for those in my family who need you Jesus!  Blessings and new beginnings to those in the Pearce family who have lost their Mom, Adeline.  May you be doing a mighty work there Lord!

THANKFUL FOR FAMILY

Thankful that my husband can fix things Day 3

     So Paul and I went to pick up my "fixed car" from the shop on Wednesday.  However, it wasn't quite fixed.  The car wouldn't go into gear and would only start while in neutral.  It's a long story but somehow we got it home with many stops and starts.  Me driving and he following behind in his Hyandui.  The awesome part about it is that Paul is so unbelievable patient while he troubleshoots, fixes and attends to me.  He explains how to do everything and tries his best to stay positive.  We had to stop and buy transmission fluid, test drive and continue on our journey.  I am so thankful thant through the pain in the neck process, he makes it so much more bearable.  
     So this morning when I was driving to work and had more trouble, he was the first person I called and of course, he had the answers and the help I needed.  Too long of a story but I guess I am thankful when things break cuz then I can admire Paul's ability to fix it!

Thankful for Mama and Daddy ~Day 2

  

  I am so thankful for my parents.   I am 47 years old and still, my Daddy is my Daddy and my Mama is my Mama.  Always there for me, always consistent in the way they treat others, always giving their best and being true to themselves and their values.  Family first, Patriotic, American through and through, lover of a good laugh, sarcastic, tough, smart, voracious reader and so strong are just a few words to describe my Daddy.  Gentle, funny, strong, good cook, reader, sewer, faithful to God and family, silly, funny, capable and joyful are only a few of Mama's qualities. Daddy is 85 and Mama 82 and thankfully they are in pretty good health.  In July they celebrated their 62 years anniversary!

    Here is a poem that my niece Kelly St Cyr wrote describing a Sunday at Grandma and Grandpa's Barn

 

Cars pile up

Outside the old converted barn in Franklin, Vermont

For Sunday dinner at Gramma's

The gas stove ticks, and we know it won't be long.

Gramma is reheating dinner for probably the third time today.

There are three generations here, so we eat in shifts

The littlest ones play on the linoleum with yard sale specials,

plastic ponies and cars, The Little People collection, and a barbie if they're lucky.

Banter is thick with Boston accents among adult siblings

Perched on mismatched stools and benches around the old pine table

covered with holiday placemats and

enough sets of salt and pepper shakers for each of us to have our own.

Salivating carnivores with shiny chins and forkless fingers

grab roast beef, ham and all the fixings.

We're parched until our plates are clean

and glasses of milk and homemade pies (5 to choose from) are granted.

Clean up lasts for hours

I've never seen my gramma sit

or eat a whole meal - she says she'll heave.

She sends us home with leftovers

stored in styrofoam meat trays and cakes

with frosting smeared to the saran wrap.

Not before reminding us to zip our jackets and cover our ears

or we'll get the flu, and to be there at 11 am

next Sunday.

For dinner

 

 

     I have always loved this poem that Kelly wrote because every word brings to mind the feelings and emotions of HOME.   Mom and Dad continue to live and love family in all ways.  They teach us values and the true meaning of family.  In honor of them and for all they do, I love you Mama.  I love you Daddy!

Janet :)

 

My Daddy

 

 

 

Thankful for the Moon

"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,  The moon and the stars, which you have ordained,  What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man, that you visit him?  For you have made him a little lower than the angels, and you have crowned him with glory and honor."  Psalm 8: 3-5

 

     I would like to blog 365 days of Thankfulness starting today.  This will take real discipline.  Some may be long and some may be short but I will make the effort.  Today I am so thankful for being home and safe.  Considering the fact that most of the Eastern seaboard has been hit by the huge storm, Hurricane Sandy.  So much devastation in so many places.  I am in complete awe by how calm it is here in Northern Vermont.  The temperature is 60 degrees and my windows are open.  Thank you God!
    Saturday night, we were home.  Ann visited from Massachusetts and Sue and Dan also came over.  I made stuffed shells and chicken parmesan!  Then we all went outside and had a bonfire.  It felt like a summer night!   About 60 degrees, calm, almost balmy out!  We had so many laughs and a beautiful almost full moon!

 Probably our last bonfire of the season!

 

So very thankful for my children, my husband,  my sisters who are also my best friends and the beautiful Vermont night!!

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Smugglers Notch Retreat 2012

     How do I even begin to describe this years Church of the Rock Retreat?  I have gone to this retreat two other times.  I haven't gone for three years but this year I really felt God calling me to go.  I spent a lot of time in prayer for the leaders of the retreat and for God to speak each person going and to me in a special way.

     He kept giving me the word EXPECTATION!  So I was really expecting HIM to do a mighty work there.  He also continued to give me the words eyes to see and ears to hear.  I read about Elijah in Chapter 19 of 1 Kings,  verses 11 - 12.  "Then He said, Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord,"  And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."  He also brought me to the verse,   Isaiah 30:20-21  Here he says  "And though the Lord gives you The bread of adversity and the water of affliction, Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner any more,  But your eyes shall see your teachers.  Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it,"   Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left."  
      So I knew I should expect God to speak to us at the retreat on the Mountain!!  I also knew that I should use my eyes to see and my ears to hear.  And now as I look at these verse in hindsight I see how very prophetic they are!!  God's word spoke loud and clear in the old testament and it speaks loud and clear today!
We just need to be in the word enough to hear it!
     I often hope for what others receive at the retreats.  I see others receive the gift of tongues and the gift of the holy spirit.  I always figure it is for them but this year I said why not me Lord?  I continued to cry out to Him in prayer before the retreat.  Please Father, show me yourself and give me what I need to hear!  Take away my doubts!!
    I suppose I could write all day about my hopes, fears, doubts and expectations but I really want to share what God blessed me with on this weekend retreat on His Mountain!  On Saturday, I went to the aqua aerobics and watched my sisters being baptized.  I felt really good and wanted to enjoy more exercise and the sunshiny day so I took a jog and wound up at the base of the ski slope looking up.  I knew there was a class on the holy spirit at 4:30.  If I take a hike I might miss the class but the day was too beautiful and I could not resist the challenge of hiking up.  If I hadn't hiked I would have missed what God had for me.


     So up I went!  Pausing every so often to look back at the beautiful view and then onward and upward to the top!  (well almost to the top)  I finally came over a little rise and heard some scuffling sounds.  I paused and was startled to come upon a creature in front of me.  Wow~I think that is a porcupine!  How cool.  I have never seen one before.  I watched him clumsily waddle away from me.  He wasn't in much of a hurry but I just stopped and watched him.  When I started moving again, he heard me and his back quills went up.  I thought they would shoot out but I guess they don't do that.  I didn't want to take any chances.  So, on he went and on I went to the top thinking it was neat to see a porcupine but not that it was anything with meaning.

     That night at the retreat, I so loved hearing Helen Minerelli, speak the word and teach us so many things. One thing she said though was that God is a gold digger and he will cut a shaft to my heart to reach the gold.  He will remove every hindrance if I am willing and will let the holy spirit come in.  Phillipians 2:13 says that "for it is God who works in me both to will and to do for His good pleasure."   Only He can bring me to a place of new levels but I have to be obedient to let Him do His work in me.  Helen said that He would give me the grace, the power and the willingness to do it.  Wow.  So much more that she taught that will take too long to go into.
     She posted a picture of a man wearing his armour.  The helmet, the shield, the whole armor of God.  This was a visionary picture of her son.  He was holding Satan over his head as if to throw him!  The picture stuck in my head, it was so powerful.
        After Helen spoke, it was time for prayer.   Once again as in years past, I saw many people receive the holy spirit in such a powerful way but felt as if I would never receive it.  I went back to our condo and tried not to worry about it and to just trust in the Lord.
     I went to bed around midnight and woke at 5:30 am.  I was wide awake.  I started to think about all the things I heard and saw with my eyes and ears this weekend.  I thought about the porcupine and God said to me, Janet you are the porcupine.  Huh?  What?  Me?  And then it was all so very clear.  I am that porcupine!  I am around people all the time, but I don't get too close and then I scuttle off to my safe burrow at home.   It's easier that way.   Then I put up my defensive quills and won't allow anyone to get near enough to hurt me.  God said Janet you need to get rid of those quills and replace them with my mighty armor.   I will never receive what He has for me unless I am obedient in this.  I was so excited to know that  I was receiving a word from the Lord.  He did not forget me this weekend.  He knows exactly what to say and do for my heart.  He knows me so intimately that the gift He gave was the gift of a porcupine on a mountain.!  The gift of His word that speaks to me so dearly!  The gift of pictures on the screen that tugged at my heart.   Who am I to question, how and what He gifts me with?  I am just so grateful to be the Daughter of an Almighty King who is gentle and kind and teaching me what He wants next from me.    
     Heavenly Father, remove my quills and replace them with your strength.  Remove my defenses and let me be a lover of people and allow YOU to protect me from the fiery darts of the devil!  This is my prayer in Jesus name,  Amen!
     Ephesians 6:10  "Finally, my sisters, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against wiles of the devil.  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God!!" 
     So much has He given to me and to you my sisters at Church of the Rock!  "So let us be obedient to our God so that He will do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.  Amen."  Ephesians 3:20
     PS  When I got home from the retreat, I found this book on my kitchen table.  Just more confirmation from my Heavenly Father!
It made me giggle.

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Seaside Escape

                                          Recently I attended a one day retreat at Church of the Rock.
                          The theme was to be a seaside escape.  The church hall was decorated beautifully!

We sang some beautiful songs and had the opportunity to

worship and pray with the soothing sound of the surf in the background.

                     It was a pleasure to have breakfast and lunch served at such pretty tables!

We used the sand on the tables for one of our games.  We had to pour out the sand slowly from our hand and try to time it so that it was all gone within 30 seconds.  It was a lesson in learning how to live within God's timing.  Sometimes I really want something now!!  For example, for the last three years, I have hoped to move from Enosburg to St Albans.   Our house never sold in all that time!  I could take matters into my own hands and try to force the issue.  I could try to rent it out and move anyway.  But I believe that God has a plan for our lives.  He wants us here in Enosburg for the time being.  In His good time, when things are right and according to His plan, I am sure we will have no trouble selling our house.  But for now, this is where we are and where we will stay and I am at peace with that.  This is one lesson, I think I knew before the retreat but it was confirmation of it for me.

                                                     Sharon, enjoying the lounge chair!

Roxanne led the singing, worship portion of the retreat.

She is a true blessing to the Church of the Rock! 

                                           My sisters in Christ singing and praising the Lord together!

We were seated at tables in groups of 3 and 4 and I believe that God placed us exactly who we needed to be sitting with that day.  Who we could help and minister to and who would help and minister to us.

Did you know that if the starfish loses one of its arms, it is able to grow it back again? 

(as long as it stays in the ocean)   The lesson here for us was that even though we go through trials and very painful times, we are not completely broken!   We are still able to heal as long as we give it all to God and trust in HIM!  He makes all things new!

A lot went on at this retreat.  Hanging out with friends, singing, playing silly games, eating yummy food and making new friends.  Many things I won't remember, but there were a few specific things that God had in place for me to learn on this day and I won't soon forget them.  

The first thing that happened was that I had the time to quietly pray for about 15 minutes.  I was specifically praying for my hunny Paul.  He had been quite sick for the last month with some kind of virus that was kicking his butt.  He was so down and out.  I was picturing Jesus pouring oil on his head and healing him.  Praying hard for him to feel better.  Just as we finished praying, I received a text from Paul saying that he was doing a lot better and was working in the garage.   He sent me a video of the skidoo starting up!  By the sound of his voice in the video, I knew that he sounded more like his old self.  I knew then that God was going to heal him.

The other thing I will never forget about this retreat is this little story.

I ran into a woman at this retreat, whom I had been angry at for a very long time.  It was a grudge that I had held but had turned over to God.  I had prayed for about 3 years for God to help me to forgive her.  I never saw her very often but every once in a while, the memory of the hurt would crop up.   Well, doesn't she end up here at my church!!  I did the only thing I could.  At lunch break, I went over to her table and told her I was sorry.  She said it was all forgotten and I told her that no it wasn't.  That I had held a grudge for a very long time and I was sorry.  Isn't God good?  To gently bring this person to me in a safe place and allow me to  ask forgiveness and truly know that it was all healed!  Isn't He so very loving and gentle when he disciplines us His daughters?   I will never forget this lesson.  I was able to let all this go finally!  God forgives us and forgets our sins immediately.  

Shortly after lunch and this apology,we had to form new groups within the retreat.  You guessed it~I ended up in a group of three with this woman!  We got to talk and get to know each other and share what God was doing in our lives.  Look how God heals and makes new, things that are broken!  

There were many lessons at this retreat but these are the things I will remember the most.  How God placed me in the right place to learn a lesson from His very gentle spirit!

God is good.  I am glad he is teaching me so sweetly!

"Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  Psalm 46:10

www.burlingtonfloorcoveringsinternational.com

     Hi,  I wanted to give a plug to a new company that has been doing the flooring at our home.

BEFORE

 Run by Kyle Santor.   They came out to our house, gave an estimate and offered financing.  Although we did choose to do our own financing, the opportunity was there.  They have been amazing! 

Tyler is prepping upstairs floors here!

Supportive, timely and extremely hard workers. 

 We did alot of prep work and tried to get alot of the carpets out beforehand.   But that was our choice.  They would provide this service if we wanted them too.

  When they got here, they headed right to work despite my trying to stop them to eat a slice of coffee cake!  This is Gerry prepping floor in hallway!

Kayne Santor is

moving so fast, the pictures are blurry!

They removed the remainder of the carpeting swiftly.  They moved a 2 ton bureau (exaggeration~but I can't move that thing unless I take all of the drawers out first)out of my daughters room effortlessly!  Any other heavy items that I hadn't got to yet were magically moved out of the way.  All dooors were taken off the hinges to do the installation properly!! 
On the first day they put all the padding down in the rooms and the stairway.  They left two rooms undone.  ( We put our furniture in those rooms!)

I made T stop and smile for the camera!

Don't worry I'll get to the after pictures soon!

I guess the important things to take care of when you are undertaking a big job like this are as follows:

1.   Make sure that you give yourself enough time to prepare yourself and your home.
2.   Put away all your knickknacks, books, breakables in boxes.  Try to do any painting, wallpapering, home improvement stuff before they arrive.  That way you won't be spilling paint on the new carpeting or flooring!  (like I am apt to do!) 
3.  Make a plan for where your furniture will go.  (Have lots of strong helpers around)
4.  Don't sweat the mess for a little while.  (It will all be worth it in the end.)
5.  Call Kyle Santor At Floor Coverings International at 802-655-9663! 

Now I must add, that these guys took only 3 days to recarpet and vinyl 5 rooms, 3 hallways and a set of stairs!   At the end of each working day, they cleaned up all debris and put things back where they belonged.  They even reset up a bed for my kids.  They were amazingly helpful!!  They were respectful and went above and beyond!! 

AFTER

Downstairs Hall

Audrey' Room

Kayne installing the vinyl!

This will be our new laundry room!

The stairs look awesome!

The master bedroom!

A short and sweet blog to cover an amazing bunch of guys who worked really hard to make things look nice for our home!  Thanks burlingtonfloorcoveringsinternational.com!!!
Sincerely, Janet and Paul Wells!

Happy Birthday Nolan ~ 21 Wow!

     My first born son turned 21 on December 29th!   He was due on Christmas day in the year 1990.  I remember thinking how special that my first baby could possibly be due on such a day.  I remember my excitement at becoming a Mom.  I remember going to midnight mass on December 24th and being so hopeful that I would hold my firstborn on Christmas day!  However, Christmas day came and went and no baby.  I eagerly and nervously waited for the first pains but they didn't come.  At that time, I didn't know what I was having.  I love surprises and waiting to see if it was a boy or a girl was a surprise worth waiting for.  I did have names picked out.  If it was a boy, it was definitely going to be Nolan Michael Parker.  If it was a girl, I had numerous names picked out.
     Finally, on December 28th; at 10pm, my water broke.  We drove to the hospital and were so excited.  The pains did not start until I was admitted and snugly tucked into bed!  He always had good timing.  He still does.  He was born in the morning at 8:28.  I guess it was the best Christmas and New Years gift that I ever got!!

There he is.  My Nolan.  My first born son.  I miss those days when he was little.  He was always wise beyond his time.  He was starting to say words when he was about 8 months old.  He was a chunky baby.  Really couldn't sit up without support til he was about 10 months old cuz he was so fat.  I remember being at the playground with him when he was about 18 months and crying because a little kid called him fat.  I laugh now. 

     He scared me when he wrapped a backpack around his arms when he was about 4 and fell flat on his face in the driveway.  His tooth was knocked loose and I was afraid he would lose it.  Then he scared me again when he stuck a q-tip in his ear to clean it and fell against the vanity in the bathroom.  Ouch, his ear was bleeding and I was afraid he damaged his eardrum.  Then he had appendicitis when he was 16 and proceeded to get sicker and sicker.  He had an abcess in his belly and lost 21 pounds!!  I was never so scared in my life as then.  But look at him now.  Healthy and strong.  God is good!!
Then he joined the Air National Guard at the age of 17!  We had to sign for him being so young.  I was scared then too.   Being a mom to him had so many scary times and so much more joy.  Wish I could go back sometimes. 
     I am so glad for all the time I spent reading to him.  My fondest memories:  reading Berenstain Bears, The Boy with the Drum,  Mrs Doodlepunk, The Elves and the Shoemaker,  the Critter books, Morris the Moose, and a zillion others.  Over and over until he could finish the end of every sentence.  His memory was and still is amazing!  And he is so smart!  Well, I could go on~ so many memories but just wanted to celebrate his birthday with a blog!!  I am so proud of you son.  May God bless you and draw him closer to you.  He loves you so much, as does your whole family!!
Love Mom