End of Another Year on to 2024

Hi there everyone! Hard to believe another year has passed us by....where did it go???? Seems like just yesterday it was JUNE!!!

I have not done a lot of blogging this year. Guess if you look at the side panel, this would be my 10th blog for this year 2023. Been a little bit lazy, oh, been making lots of cards, but just plain lazy putting them on this blog. I shall try better in 2024.

Not sure what the new year will bring, none of us do, but it sure is good to know we have Jesus to lean on as we travel through this life's journey following in His footsteps. I feel bad for those that don't have that faith, maybe some, through the storms of life will ask Jesus into their lives. I guess for some it takes longer to hear the message of Jesus Christ and Him Crucified and let it settle in their hearts.

I have been watching the "Chosen" Sunday nights and the "Bible" on the History Channel during the Christmas season. I've also been reading through Matthew, Mark, Luke and John these last couple of months and the miracles and healings that Jesus preformed all go hand in hand. I wonder where I would be, if I lived back then, would I be a believer or an unbeliever??? Jesus said, "Blessed are those who believe and have not seen" They saw and yet they believed not!!! I get so mad at those Pharisees and Sadducees, they were so blinded by the devel. They saw, and still hated Jesus and what he did....they were Sad.u.see!!!!

So today I took a little trip to "Kwik Trip" for some gas and "Pic n Sav" for some UNO pizza from Chicago. I got the cheeseburger flat bread (meh, not so great). Think I will freeze the leftovers and try the cheese pizza tomorrow, hopefully that is better. If not, I shall not waste $$$ (2/$12) on UNO again and just get a local pizza from here in Appleton. Maybe it is better to get UNO straight from UNO in Chicago.

Nothing much is going on in January. I do have a few Dr. appointments. A bone density test on the 4th and another blood pressure check on the 10th. Hopefully the pills are working, and my bones are at the right density. Hopefully no more appointments till April and then the A1C is due. 

Well, time to close here, I don't lead a very exciting life, maybe that is why I don't blog as much. I often wonder how people that Vlog on You Tube can possibly do vlogs every day and not run out of things to vlog about. But there are quite a few people I follow that have lots of content that makes their vlogs interesting. If you ever get a chance, go to "Chateau Diaries" or "Escape to Rural France" or "The Pethericks" or "Sadie from France" or "A Wonderful Life" or "Life of Ryan" to name a few. They are all enjoyable to watch.

Hope you have a great 2024 with lots of blessings!! Cheers to you all ~ Louise

Good Friday and Happy Easter

Question: Why is today called "Good" Friday and Sunday "Happy" Easter????

This is not a trick question, just a "I wonder" type question......nothing "good" came about for Jesus. If you read the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John about how Jesus died for our sins. How he was stripped and whipped and beaten up, his beard plucked, nailed to a cross and left to die with people cursing his name.....not a very "good" Friday for him. It is said, that he didn't even look like himself because he was so battered up. Geez, talk about abuse and bullying. BUT GOD, had other plans and Jesus gladly went to the cross, and he rose again, just like he said he would and now today "He Lives"!!!! Now there, is the Happy Easter!!!!

I understand that part!! He arose and so we will also on that day when he calls us all home, whether it be by death or by the rapture ("if we are born again" John 3:7), we get out of this world, never having to die, then we meet Jesus face to face............what a day that will be, what a glorious day for sure!!!!

My memories of living in Ladysmith and living out in the country are still very vivid.......I loved Good Friday and those 3 hours just before 3:00pm. In that little town, everything closed up for three hours, people went home, got changed and went to the catholic church. Me, I went home and went into our 15 acres of wooded forest and communed with God.......read my bible and talked and walked........had some really good times with the Lord. I remember one "Good Friday", I decided to stay in town, was working at the beauty shop at the time and Karen and I sat in the shop and just talked about Jesus and what he had done for us.........suddenly Karen said she wanted to be baptised in the Holy Spirit and just at that very moment my pastor from the Assembly of God, John came knocking at the door..........we let him in and then all three of us were talking about Jesus and Karen mentioned she wanted to be baptised. John said well, we could do that right here..........we all started praying and BAM!!! Karen got baptised with the evidence of speaking in tongues!!!! (Read Acts and get ready!!) Now THAT was a GOOD Friday!!! God was always doing miracles in Ladysmith, I saw some great times in the Lord there..........my faith was built up firmly. I miss those days, but I still have those wonderful memories.

Appleton on the other hand, has been another story.......(the" Good Friday's" are few and far in between).....there's been a lot of struggles from the very get-go. When we got to Appleton, we had not even been here a week and were told "why did you come to Appleton, we never needed or wanted you". Gosh, that was not good for our morel......working at the Salvation Army had a lot of pros and cons, but we managed to stay, JP for 12 years and I for 14 years. We each left the SA for greener pastures (we thought). I started working at the AG church.....as a secretary for two different worship leaders. I really loved my job to both of them (maybe that was the problem, I loved my job, too much). But, I don't think I ever quite fit in with the "click" to say the least, I was always on the outside looking in and never feeling 'apart'. Nope, no "Good Fridays" were there, even though I was in a religious setting! I remember a lot of heart ache and tears......but no "Good Fridays".

Not really sure why I have rambled on like this.........maybe just because it is "Good Friday" and God is reminding me of what Jesus did for me over 2000 years ago. Yes, it's a "Good Friday" after all.....65 "Good Friday's" and every single one of them have been so, so, very different..........which one of them would I choose???????? Don't know, maybe the ones where I felt the presence of God in my life in a special way, knowing he was by my side, leading me and guiding me on to bigger and better "Good Friday's"

Here's to "Good Friday and Happy Easter".......enjoy and let the Love of God surround you this weekend and keep looking up for your redemption draweth nigh.........meaning Jesus is coming very soon!!!!

Cheers ~ Louise