The Old Rugged Cross

        On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
 the emblem of suffering and shame;
 and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
 for a world of lost sinners was slain.

 So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
 till my trophies at last I lay down;
 I will cling to the old rugged cross,
 and exchange it some day for a crown.

 O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
 has a wondrous attraction for me;
 for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
 to bear it to dark Calvary.
 (Refrain)

 In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
 a wondrous beauty I see,
 for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
 to pardon and sanctify me.
 (Refrain)

 To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
 its shame and reproach gladly bear;
 then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
 where his glory forever I'll share.

~So I'll cherish, the Old Rugged Cross..... 

---

A little respite...

A little respite from blogging...spending a lot of family time, and so many birthdays this week! Lot's of pictures to post after Easter....I'm so glad we're blessed with so much family around us on both sides!

May your Easter celebration be blessed! ~Sue~

Our favorite policeman! Happy 30th Birthday, Tom!

Happy, happy 30th birthday, Tom!!! Ron's youngest brother, Tommy, just turned 30 years old yesterday...it is so hard to believe he is 30!!! He also is a City of Pittsburgh Policeofficer. This weekend, with the tragedy of losing 3 good officers, it made being able to spend time with Tom even more special...although the celebrations were much more subdued than they would have been normally. Saturday evening, a very subdued gathering was held in South Side for Tom...and he set up a very special memorial to his fellow officers. He had a flag with the police logo draped over a table, with each one of their pictures with the letters E O W and Saturday's date. He told me that that stands for "end of watch"...and my tears started to flow. He also had a cross, and a beautiful prayer for policeofficers on the table. Knowing that it could just as easily been Tom, made these family gatherings so precious to us....Tom is very, very special to us and we were so happy to celebrate his life! When Ron and I met, he was just turning 8 years old...he was so cute! He used to stop into the bank where I worked after school was over and get money for the local pizza shop...he knew I couldn't resist him! Here he is in our wedding 20 years ago....wasn't he cute?!

Tommy played hockey for years thru middle school and highschool for Canevin High School. Ron loved to watch him practice and was at most of his practices and games. Now...Ronnie really looks up to him and loves to "talk hockey" with his Uncle Tommy!

This was the day he became an officer. Oh, we were so proud!!! Ronnie was so impressed that his uncle was a brave policeofficer...and Ron was glad he was able to take Ronnie to Tom's graduation.

Here is Tommy and I (don't know who is in the background)...I look at him and remember all the times he stayed over, we took him iceskating, and how much I've loved seeing him grow into a brave man! (I'm crying again writing this...seems I've been very "weepy" all weekend!)

This picture is very special...my brother-in-law, Sean is on the far left. He lives in Chicago and flew in for Tom's birthday. It is rare that my mother-in-law has all her children together at the same time....between Sean living out of town, Ron & Tom both work weird shifts, and Maureen works long hours. Ro was so proud to have all her children together.

Yesterday, we all were at Ro's house for Tom's birthday and to celebrate Easter since Sean was home. Anna loves playing tea party with Ro's special bunnies, bears and tea sets.

Ronnie had fun playing with his cousin Michael, too!

We all loved seeing Aunt Peppy and Uncle Joe...and all the cousins. Aunt Peppy is Ro's only sister...together, the two of them are crazy!

Here is another picture of Sean, Maureen, Tom and Ron

I saved this picture for last...Tom's fiance', Kelli, is one of the sweetest people....and she's crazy about Tom! The reason that I saved this for last....is that even after a difficult weekend, and I'm sure a very difficult week...the best is yet to come for Tom....he and Kelli will be married in just 5 months and will start their lives together. We are all very much looking forward to their wedding and welcoming Kelli into our family....she is so good for Tom and makes him so happy! We love you both, Tom and Kelli! Happy 30th birthday, Tom!!!!

Please pray....

I'm not sure what to say, except please pray if God puts this on your heart. Today, in Pittsburgh, 3 police officers were gunned down and killed and 2 more wounded. All three men had children....one was in his early 20's, only on the force a short time and has a new baby. One had been on the force for 15 years protecting our city and is leaving a wife and 6 children. According to the news, the gunman used an AK37 assault rifle, and said that he was afraid that President Obama would ban weapons....it sounded like that was his excuse for the shooting as he held his own mother hostage.

One of our good friends is in charge of that zone and those were his men. I spoke with his wife earlier, and ask for prayer as he does his duty in this case. My youngest brother-in-law is also a city police officer and due to be married over Labor day....please pray for all of our officers....for strength, bravery and most of all safety....for the families of the slain officers...for their children, wives, parents, loved ones...comfort and peace....oh, and forgiveness for this (I can only guess) disturbed young gunman...for God's peace, comfort, strength and forgiveness to go forth today....for our city, and our world. ~Sue~

Joys of reliving the past!

What a special day! Even with the cold, rainy WINDY weather today! We decided (since it was Ron's day off) to take Ronnie and Anna to 'Build a Bear' this morning. They both received 'bear bucks' for Christmas along with coupons and more 'bear bucks' for Ronnie's birthday...and have been waiting to go.
With having Meghan and Sara...and doing all the fun things with them that we did when they were little, then waiting 6 years before having Ronnie and 2 1/2 years later, Anna....now we get to do all those fun things over again! Like Build a Bear! First, though, our morning started off with Ronnie losing another tooth! He was excited, but very matter of fact about it. Anna thought it was really neat!

Ronnie loves to show off the 'hole' in his mouth!

Here they are "stuffing" their new friends...Anna chose a lamb that she named "Lovey Lamb" and Ronnie chose a monkey that he named "Magnificent Monkey"...or M&M for short!

Time to kiss the hearts and put them in their friends! (Anna was so serious about this!)

Time to "air bath" them!

Anna chose a pink outfit for Lovey!

Ron helped Ronnie dress his monkey in a skateboarding outfit, complete with jeans, shirt, helmet, and all the pads...plus the skateboard!

Ron and I had so much fun experiencing this with our little ones! Meghan and Sara stayed home for some well deserved quiet time!

~Bedtime for everyone! Ron is visiting with his brother who is in visiting from Chicago...time to tuck the littles in!

Applause to Sara for figuring out the html codes and how to design her own blog background!!! She designed this one with all my favorite elements in it...from my colors, to the plaid and lace...I'm proud of her! Computers, as most machines, confuse and frustrate me! Which is why I like my 1936 sewing machine so much...it is very, very SIMPLE!

Off tomorrow to meet a friend early for a Salvation Army fundraising "Fabric Fair". I was able to get some good deals 2 years ago...and I'm looking for cottons, quilting fabric, and linens now....amazing the prices! I was told they have lots of yarn there, as well....my favorite things! Then...tomorrow night, a 30th birthday party for Ron's youngest brother....then another family party on Sunday! Family is so very important to us...and seeing his brother Sean is a treat as he doesn't come in often from Chicago. May you all have a wonderful weekend! ~Sue~

The Roots of Endurance....

It is a dark, rainy day in Pittsburgh! We've had such beautiful weather the past few days....couldn't keep the little ones inside, or even Anna in shoes! What fun! They have been playing with friends, running around, climbing trees, playing on the tire swings, at the playground, going for walks....it willbe nice to have a day inside! Yesterday, Ron bought a bicycle off of a friend of ours, so he brought it home, scrubbed it up, put air in the tires and took off for a test ride around the neighborhood....Anna comes into the kitchen where I'm making dinner and says very sadly " Mom...Dad ran away from home on his new bike, and he didn't wear his helmet!"...oh, my goodness, I cracked up! I explained to her that he didn't "run away" and that he would be right back, but that she was right..he should have worn a helmet! I don't know what horrified her more...the thought of him running away or no helmet!

We watched Ty (now 9 months old on Sunday) the past 2 days....he is crawling so fast, pulling to stand on everything, "talking" a mile a minute (like his mom and aunt)...and can fly in his walker.....we enjoy him so much! It's an adjustment having a baby in the house only 2 days a week...but so much fun! He enjoyed being outside, too....he loves the toddler swing we have in the back hanging from one of our trees...he laughs!

Maybe that is why rainy days don't bother me...I know we'll have sunny days again!

I just started reading a book by John Piper called " The Roots of Endurance". Now, I've owned this book for a couple of years now...ever meaning to read it when I "had time"....well....I suppose, God is telling me that the time is now, because I've been so drawn to this book the past few days...I have to force myself to put it down and do my chores! I'm only in the beginning, but wanted to share parts of this thought-provoking book.

"For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised." Hebrews 10:36

"Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their Faith in Jesus." Revelation 14:12

"Have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." Hebrews 6:11-12

~The Biblical Roots of Endurance~

"I think the main reason endurance returns so often to my mind is a combination of global anxiety, and biblical urgency. We are unsettled by the world. It does not feel safe. It seems fragile and insecure. The 20th century was a sequence of bloody nightmares from which we could not wake up-because we were not asleep. The 21st century has begun with the shattering realization that there is no safe place on earth. Slowly, perhaps, many are wakening to the biblical view that " here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come" ( Hebrews 13:14); that this world does not offer a "kingdom that can't be shaken" (Hebrews 12:28) that we are "sojourners and exiles" (1Peter 2:11) ; that we should " not be surprised at the fiery trials....as though something strange were happening to us" (1 Peter 4:12); that "there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences....and terrors" (Luke 21:11) that "there will come times of difficulty...people will be...abusive...heartless...brutal...treacherous, reckless" (2 Timothy 3:1-4)

This is just a part of the introduction...here is a little more.....

"one way or the other, Christ will bring His church to realize that "in this world you WILL have tribulation" (John 16:33); that " all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2Timothy 3:12); that we are called to "share in the suffering for the gospel by the power of God" (2Timothy 1:8) and "we groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:23) ; that "whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Christ sake and the gospel's will save it " (Mark 8:35) and that "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22.)

If we will not freely take our cross and follow Jesus (Mark8:34) on the Calvary road, it may be thrust upon us. It would be better to hear the warnings now and wake up to biblical reality. Existence in this fallen world will not be pain-free, trouble-free. There will be groaning because of our finitude and fallenness, and many afflictions because of our calling. (Romans 8:23; Psalm 34:19) Frustation is normal, disappointment is normal, sickness is normal. Conflict, persecution, danger, stress...they are all normal. The mind-set that moves away from these moves away from reality and away from Christ."

~ The next part of this chapter talks about biblical endurance. It starts with the question " How can we keep on loving and serving people when life has so much pain and disapointment?" What are the roots of biblical endurance?"

As I read, I'll share my thought here on this subject. I wish I could type out more, but Oh,...the pain my hands are in right now!

If it is sunny where you are right now...enjoy it! Savor it! If it is dark and rainy....enjoy it! Do somthing cozy....make some hot cocoa...read some books....laugh....and thank God for the rain that is watering His earth! Have a blessed day! ~Sue~

Worrying

It is a horrible thing...worrying. On KDKA.com they ran three stories on a evil computer virus, the Confiker. It can steal back account passwords, take control of you computer, and basically use your computer for bad things. If you have it somewhere in your computer, it will rear its ugly head on April 1st. You have two choices: completely wipe out your computer and start afresh, or you can try to get rid of it. To make a long story short, I am sorta worried about the computers in our house. But my sweet sister reminded me of Matthew 6:34, "Therefore, do NOT worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

God knows if my computer will get a virus, or if it will pass over our home. He put another verse into my mind that I had just found recently in Matthew 6, which has alot of verses about worrying, and is one of my new favorites, "Who of you, by worrying, can add a single hour to your life?" That comes from Matthew 6:27 by the way, and it hit home with me instantly. We won't get anywhere in God's plan if we waste time worrying over the smallest things! I am certain God knows what he is doing, after all he is God... :) Good night, just some words to ponder.

* Here is the link to the article on the virus:*

http://kdka.com/consumer/Conficker.worm.virus.2.971885.html

Mom's home...back to normal!

Mom's home....after fighting traffic Friday afternoon for an hour! Oh, it's good to be home! I like to have "all my ducks in a row"....all my children around me, and my husband home....I'm a home loving mom! Much progress was made on the special "Sweet 16" birthday surprise, but much more work is needed until it is completed...so more trips to Grammy & Buppy's house! What will be nice, is that I can trust Meghan to stay away from where I am working on her surprise...and Sara to make sure she does! That way...I'll just take all 4 children with me! They get to visit with their grandparents and aunt (who lives up the street)...Ron can go to work without worrying, and I won't have to miss my children! Of course, we can make little side trips in between work on the surprise...to a couple of parks that are nearby, fishing in the creek, walks thru the fields and a couple of cool antique shops and thrifting stores that are local...fun!

After rushing to see the play "The Music Man" at a local highschool with my older girls and friends Friday night, then yesterday we had a great time at a dear family's birthday party, today was rather quiet...a perfect Sunday! After church, we stayed and visited with friends, then came home to a GF pepperoni pizza and veggies, then while the 4 children rested, I ran out to Half-Price books and got Anna 5 "Raggedy Ann and Andy" books! As I'll explain below, she is now the very proud and diligent little Mama of her own Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls! While I was at the book store, Ronnie played rod-hockey and Anna & Meghan played "pretty pretty princess!" I can't believe how big Anna is getting! I love her HUGE eyes!

Princess Anna!

I think Anna won and had more jewelery than Meghan did!

After dinner tonight, we all had our kefir smoothies...tried a new recipe that makes them taste just like 'orange julius's'!


Then all 6 of us played UNO...Ronnie and Anna have card holders that make playing much easier for them...but Anna was being so silly that she was just happy to be included!

Partners in crime! Sara would always wait until we switched directions before having Anna ( she was helping her) put down a "draw 4" card for her dad!

We had a great time! After we took Anna up to read more in her storybooks, we taught Ronnie how to play 'Rat a Tat Cat' card game...he won both times!



~The other day, good friends of ours moved into a smaller place, one level living and are having a moving sale....and we were able to 'preview' the sale. All of the proceeds are going to a missions trip our church is taking to Zambia. I feel so blessed by the treasures that I brought home, my friends know their treasures went to a good home and money was raised for Zambia. Here are some of the treasures I was blessed with!

Beautiful, hand-pieced and hand-quilted blue and white quilt.


Gorgeous, hand-pieced and appliqued pink, white and light green quilt


One of my favorites....looks like a grandmothers flower garden quilt...all handmade that my friend, when she was a little girl, slept under....these were her grandmothers. Again, all done by hand....when I think of the hours and hours that went into these, I appreciate them even more.

Ron loved this rod-hockey game....he had one when he was a young boy, now our children can enjoy it too!
The wooden sewing box on the left is a treasure! It opens up like an accordian and is filled with all manner of sewing neccessities! The antique sewing maching works beautifully, and was given to me by a friend who had it in her garage. The certificate of authenticity is dated 1936. Sometimes, I feel as if I've stepped back in time. I would love to have a treadle machine someday....no electricity needed! LOL
Ronnie, Anna, Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy having a tea party.
These are two very special treasures! These dolls belonged to my friends daughter. Her daughter is now 45 years old and she got them when she was around 2. At 43 years old...they are in remarkable shape! We had to perform "surgawry" on both of them....one arm needed sewed back on and a foot need stitched...I crocheted black 'shoes' for Andy....now I need a pair for Raggedy Ann....I'm hoping to make some more clothes for them over the summer. Anna loves them so much and carrys them around with her, and tucks them in with kisses at night. So precious that they are loved by another little girl!

And...last but not least! A wonderful small chest that fits perfectly into my diningroom/everything room! It's the perfect place to hold our wooden abacus...which was forever in the way when we weren't using it! Ronnie & Anna's schoolbooks are to the left, and the drawers now hold crayons, rulers, playdough and various other art supplies. It freed up some space in the cabinets in my living room.

~While I was gone, I listened to a cd/talk the entire way to my mothers and back again called " 24 hours is all you get" by Mrs. Susan Bradrick. WOW! Was I convicted! One of the things that convicted me the most, was the phrase " I'm sorry, that just will not be best for our family"....she even had everyone repeat it frequently! LOL There were so many scriptures to reference, about being good stewards of our time, our families, and our resources...it was very timely for me. I feel as if we haven't had a workable routine since fall of 2007! Little by little, we're going to put things into perspective...and get into a routine that suits our family the best. Like being free or having lighter days when Ron is off...since he doesn't have off on weekends. That will maximize our family time, building a stronger family.

One of those 'resolutions' is to go to sleep early...and rise early....so I'm off! Will do a quick menu plan then to bed. I think the 'whirlwind' is beginning to wind down....as it will even more when we say "I'm sorry, that just wouldn't be best for our family"! LOL Goodnight! ~Sue~