Today is a Libby anniversary. It has been one year since we lost Dad Libby. He fell ill about the day after Christmas in 2013 and remained hospitalized for the next few weeks. For a while we really thought he would pull through, like he had many times before. We were so happy the day that he sat up and had some sherbert. It also seemed like a good sign that he was throwing pillows when he was having difficulty getting his point across to his caregivers. But, this was his last recovery, of sorts, and we received the phone call a year ago, today.
We had been there for a visit after Thanksgiving that year. I had a conversation with Dad about the book, Killing Jesus. He wanted to explain to me the general theme of the book about looking at the killing of Jesus like a death to be solved through present day methods. I wanted to use the opportunity to discuss his salvation. As I questioned him about his belief in Jesus and his acceptance of Christ as his savior, he got frustrated with me and simply stated, with emphasis, "Yes, I know all that, yes, I did that." To which I simply responded that was all I needed to hear from him, that he had accepted Jesus as his savior. We then talked about the book.
Now, today, we are still awaiting the arrival of our first grandbaby. My mom, sisters and I just got back from Illinois where we said goodbye to mom's younger sister, Mary Lou. We know for certainty that, she, too, accepted Jesus as her savior. I'm looking forward to seeing Dad Libby and Mary Lou in heaven when the time comes for me.
I hope you have a great day. Stay safe. love, Susan
Monday, January 12, 2015
Thursday, January 8, 2015
January 8, 2015 - Happy Birthday, Elvis!
I normally don't like change, just some sort of human nature of growing accustomed to the people, places and activities I've been used to and enjoying them each day. However, there is one change that has me just giddy with excitement and that's the soon to be ( we hope ) birth of my first grandbaby. And with this birth in my family, comes a death. My mom is one of six children born to Davie and Cressie Pope, a farmer and his wife who lived in Forsyth, Illinois. Their children included Betty Ann, Davie Jr., Mary Lou, Jean, Linda and Carol. We have been so blessed as a family to have had them all right up to a couple days ago when we lost our Aunt Mary Lou. We'll be heading home to be with family soon.
In the meantime, we are getting into the new routine for 2015. I had dinner with my friend, Marti, on Monday, as we meet monthly to get together with our former PHS classmates from the Class of 1974.Yesterday my sister, Pam, and I had our first Bible Study of the year. However, today I was not able to pick up my friends for our monthly homemakers meeting, due to the frigid weather conditions.
I really didn't like this weeks Bible Study on Leviticus. As an animal lover, the sacrificial system used by Moses and the Israelites, as they roamed in the desert, is very hard to take. But because God cannot be near sin and we, because of our sinful human nature are unable to resist sin, there needed to be sacrificial blood to cover our sins. Sacrifices were mandatory to cover and then remove our sins, so our loving God could dwell with us. We are reminded that nothing but blood( life ), can cover our sins( death ), that separate us from our God. When hands were laid on these innocent animals, usually bulls, goats, lambs or birds, by the sinner, the sin was transferred to them and they were then killed for the sinner to be forgiven each and every time sins took place.
We watched some old videos on Christmas Day. I think it was Christmas 1984 at my parent's home in Paris with all our family present. Seeing my mom and dad holding a two year old Dustin and a one year old Christina were really sweet memories. A previous Christmas, we had watched a video of Mark's Grandpa Weeks talking about his life. He had worked in his younger years at a stockyard/slaughterhouse with another young man and it was their job to kill animals. Listening to this gentle, loving man talk about specifically killing a bull, and at another time killing little lambs, took me to a very dark place. I never intend to watch that video again and I wish I could erase it from my memory, but I've not been able to do that.
My favorite parts of the Bible are the gospel stories about the birth of Baby Jesus in the stable, surrounded by the animals. Wednesday, after Bible Study, Pam and I went shopping at a Christian Bookstore because I needed a new angel to top my Christmas tree. The previous angel, after lighting the past 30 Christmases or so, had been developing burned holes in the plastic cone surrounding the white lights. Thankfully, her white satin gown never ignited, but it was time for a change. Not only did I find a new angel treetopper, but I'm embarrassed to say that I've increased my nativity collection by three new sets. I only select the ones that include all the stable animals. Not only will my new little Sixlibbyberry be surrounded by it's animated Christmas animals, but a lot of new nativity stable animals as well.
And, mostly today,as every day, I am so thankful to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for making His ultimate sacrifice on the cross to forgive us all for all our sins. Our sins are covered by His blood and we are forgiven because of Him, the perfect and innocent Lamb of God. The the shedding of the animals' blood is no longer necessary!
I want to wish Elvis a Happy 80th Birthday today. We welcomed in 2015 watching and listening to a documentary of one of his last tours. It was awesome! Priscilla and I both agree that if he had lived, he would have done so much more gospel music as he got older, Amen to that. The Libby family also welcomed a new little cousin for my little Sixlibbyberry. Congratulations to Steve, Carla, Steve Jr., and Andi upon the arrival of little Parker Steven. We'll have a great time in Maine this year for sure! Please stay safe and warm and have a blessed day. luv, Susan
In the meantime, we are getting into the new routine for 2015. I had dinner with my friend, Marti, on Monday, as we meet monthly to get together with our former PHS classmates from the Class of 1974.Yesterday my sister, Pam, and I had our first Bible Study of the year. However, today I was not able to pick up my friends for our monthly homemakers meeting, due to the frigid weather conditions.
I really didn't like this weeks Bible Study on Leviticus. As an animal lover, the sacrificial system used by Moses and the Israelites, as they roamed in the desert, is very hard to take. But because God cannot be near sin and we, because of our sinful human nature are unable to resist sin, there needed to be sacrificial blood to cover our sins. Sacrifices were mandatory to cover and then remove our sins, so our loving God could dwell with us. We are reminded that nothing but blood( life ), can cover our sins( death ), that separate us from our God. When hands were laid on these innocent animals, usually bulls, goats, lambs or birds, by the sinner, the sin was transferred to them and they were then killed for the sinner to be forgiven each and every time sins took place.
We watched some old videos on Christmas Day. I think it was Christmas 1984 at my parent's home in Paris with all our family present. Seeing my mom and dad holding a two year old Dustin and a one year old Christina were really sweet memories. A previous Christmas, we had watched a video of Mark's Grandpa Weeks talking about his life. He had worked in his younger years at a stockyard/slaughterhouse with another young man and it was their job to kill animals. Listening to this gentle, loving man talk about specifically killing a bull, and at another time killing little lambs, took me to a very dark place. I never intend to watch that video again and I wish I could erase it from my memory, but I've not been able to do that.
My favorite parts of the Bible are the gospel stories about the birth of Baby Jesus in the stable, surrounded by the animals. Wednesday, after Bible Study, Pam and I went shopping at a Christian Bookstore because I needed a new angel to top my Christmas tree. The previous angel, after lighting the past 30 Christmases or so, had been developing burned holes in the plastic cone surrounding the white lights. Thankfully, her white satin gown never ignited, but it was time for a change. Not only did I find a new angel treetopper, but I'm embarrassed to say that I've increased my nativity collection by three new sets. I only select the ones that include all the stable animals. Not only will my new little Sixlibbyberry be surrounded by it's animated Christmas animals, but a lot of new nativity stable animals as well.
And, mostly today,as every day, I am so thankful to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for making His ultimate sacrifice on the cross to forgive us all for all our sins. Our sins are covered by His blood and we are forgiven because of Him, the perfect and innocent Lamb of God. The the shedding of the animals' blood is no longer necessary!
I want to wish Elvis a Happy 80th Birthday today. We welcomed in 2015 watching and listening to a documentary of one of his last tours. It was awesome! Priscilla and I both agree that if he had lived, he would have done so much more gospel music as he got older, Amen to that. The Libby family also welcomed a new little cousin for my little Sixlibbyberry. Congratulations to Steve, Carla, Steve Jr., and Andi upon the arrival of little Parker Steven. We'll have a great time in Maine this year for sure! Please stay safe and warm and have a blessed day. luv, Susan
Friday, January 2, 2015
My Day After Christmas Miracle
Yesterday was the first day of the new year. I thought as the day progressed and I hadn't heard back from Christina that possibly they were welcoming that new little sixlibbyberry into the world, but, no, they were just busy with their binge watching of Harry Potter movies. Today is the actual due date, but with a first baby, we really don't expect him/her to arrive yet, but I won't be separated from my phone, you can count on that.
Watching parades and football games yesterday, I pretty much let the whole day slip away without accomplishing much. Mark, on the other hand, managed to practically install an entire drop ceiling in our basement. Today I have prayed to not let that be the case today. Normally, I would be off to the Amen House, but we are closed, so hopefully, I'll have a list of things accomplished here at home. There's still so much to get done in preparation for the new baby. Also, there's all the decorations to put away and all the " new year responsibilities" that I have with my volunteer job at church.
It's gonna be sad putting away all the greenery and white lights that I spread throughout my house and the variety of nativities that I cherish. My newest nativity is a book and ornament that are interactive. As you read the book and push the appropriate pictures, the ornament lights up and the each animal of the stable tells it's part in helping Mary and Joseph on that holy night, as their little newborn enters the world. I actually have had this particular book and ornament for a couple years as I anticipated the birth of my first grandbaby.
After Christmas I also purchased some things for the baby's first Christmas which will be about a year away. My sister Pam had the cutest animated toy that she had purchased for one of their grandbabies. Because it terrified him, it still remained at their house Christmas day. It's a cute little white, fuzzy dog that has red antlers with jingle bells attached to them. Of course, when you turn it on it spins around excitedly shaking and playing Jingle Bells as it gyrates and jingles around. I knew that I had to have one of them for little SLB, so I asked where I could find one. She said she found it at Kroger, but was sure they were all gone.
The day after Christmas I met my sisters and my mom at Krogers to begin our day after Christmas shopping for bargains on Christmas paper and decorations. I didn't even look for the little dog there, but did get some paper and checked out their cards. After our traditional lunch and movie, I drove back to Georgetown where I stopped by our Kroger. I checked out the shelf with the stuffed animals and saw lots of bears and snowmen, but no little doggie. So, I again looked at the shelf and thought where would I be if I was the cutest little jingle bell doggie. So I looked lower and lower to the bottom shelf and looked back farther and farther, til I saw the fuzzy white fur sticking up among the white teddy bears on the bottom shelf. Yes, there it was, just sitting there waiting for me with it's red antlers and jingle bells. It was my day after Christmas miracle!
I now have to confess that I didn't stop there, but proceeded to Cracker Barrel where I found a cute animated Santa that moves his eyebrows while singing and a reindeer that shakes while it sings as well. And, at Wal-Mart I couldn't pass up the shivering polar bear that also comes with a book. So, for my little SLB baby for it's first Christmas I am prepared with four Christmas singing, jingling, shivering, shaking animals, two books, and an ornament. And, no, I do not intend to spoil this baby any more than any other grandmother would. I better go get something accomplished today. You have a great day, stay warm and safe. luv, Susan
Watching parades and football games yesterday, I pretty much let the whole day slip away without accomplishing much. Mark, on the other hand, managed to practically install an entire drop ceiling in our basement. Today I have prayed to not let that be the case today. Normally, I would be off to the Amen House, but we are closed, so hopefully, I'll have a list of things accomplished here at home. There's still so much to get done in preparation for the new baby. Also, there's all the decorations to put away and all the " new year responsibilities" that I have with my volunteer job at church.
It's gonna be sad putting away all the greenery and white lights that I spread throughout my house and the variety of nativities that I cherish. My newest nativity is a book and ornament that are interactive. As you read the book and push the appropriate pictures, the ornament lights up and the each animal of the stable tells it's part in helping Mary and Joseph on that holy night, as their little newborn enters the world. I actually have had this particular book and ornament for a couple years as I anticipated the birth of my first grandbaby.
After Christmas I also purchased some things for the baby's first Christmas which will be about a year away. My sister Pam had the cutest animated toy that she had purchased for one of their grandbabies. Because it terrified him, it still remained at their house Christmas day. It's a cute little white, fuzzy dog that has red antlers with jingle bells attached to them. Of course, when you turn it on it spins around excitedly shaking and playing Jingle Bells as it gyrates and jingles around. I knew that I had to have one of them for little SLB, so I asked where I could find one. She said she found it at Kroger, but was sure they were all gone.
The day after Christmas I met my sisters and my mom at Krogers to begin our day after Christmas shopping for bargains on Christmas paper and decorations. I didn't even look for the little dog there, but did get some paper and checked out their cards. After our traditional lunch and movie, I drove back to Georgetown where I stopped by our Kroger. I checked out the shelf with the stuffed animals and saw lots of bears and snowmen, but no little doggie. So, I again looked at the shelf and thought where would I be if I was the cutest little jingle bell doggie. So I looked lower and lower to the bottom shelf and looked back farther and farther, til I saw the fuzzy white fur sticking up among the white teddy bears on the bottom shelf. Yes, there it was, just sitting there waiting for me with it's red antlers and jingle bells. It was my day after Christmas miracle!
I now have to confess that I didn't stop there, but proceeded to Cracker Barrel where I found a cute animated Santa that moves his eyebrows while singing and a reindeer that shakes while it sings as well. And, at Wal-Mart I couldn't pass up the shivering polar bear that also comes with a book. So, for my little SLB baby for it's first Christmas I am prepared with four Christmas singing, jingling, shivering, shaking animals, two books, and an ornament. And, no, I do not intend to spoil this baby any more than any other grandmother would. I better go get something accomplished today. You have a great day, stay warm and safe. luv, Susan
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