So Excited!!

It is the week of
Thanksgiving!!

Allan and Bev

are coming!

My brother and sister-in-law.

It has been too long since

we have been together.

The turkey will be great.

Love those mashed potatoes.

But most of all....

I love a day dedicated to 

time with family
and Praise to our
Loving Heavenly Father
for His provision in our lives
over the past year.

Advice Please.....

As you know I'm kind of at a cross roads 

as to where to go with my candle company.

I'm waffling back and forth between a desire 

to move to another location for manufacturing

or to find a location in a high traffic area

to open a shop.

Now, my vision cuts two ways.

If I go purely into manufacturing I would

basically get a hole in the wall functional

place and just make and sell as many candles

as I possibly can to build the resources to 

either grow the business to a point of 

selling it as a proven, profitable business

or to then expand it into the 

gift shop/art studio of my dreams.

If I were to really stick my neck out

now I would find some investors

and open that gift shop/art studio now.

I happen to be very close to some 

amazing artisans who would likely

be willing to supply my shop for a 

generous cut of the profits.

Exciting news either way
is that it looks like
my oldest son,
Jonathan, will come into
the business with me.
He has expressed willingness
and I think there are many ways
his artistic talents will
be a blessing.

He will grow in business
and learn much about
the creative, business and
sales processes.

As readers, who have been observing 

this whole thing for the past several

years, would you be honest with me

about what you think is the 

better way to go?

I've got tons of ideas either way.

But, until I know which way I should

go I don't know what I am looking for 

and what I can afford.

That kind of stinks.

Good thing I'm too busy to really 

get it accomplished right now 

anyway, isn't it?

Edited to Add:

Speaking of busy...
I must have been tired when I
answered the questions on
this interview 
because I think I
compared myself to a pig....
Hop on over and visit Taylor.
There is a coupon code to save
20% there, as well.

Apple Candle Trio

I listed these this morning.

They make me happy.

So simple.

So Country.

The flame's glow through the quilted glass is 

going to be awesome!!

Pray for Katerina!

The time has come for Katerina

to come home with our friends

Joe and Susanna.

They retrieved her from the 

orphanage on Monday.

This is a photo they put on 

their blog from that day.

Now as we had feared

Katie is having a difficult time 

medically.

She is a nine year old girl 

who is in deep starvation.

She has refused to eat more
than a couple of swallows

from her last few bottles

and was showing signs of

dehydration.

An intensive care nurse from 

Philadelphia will be with them 

shortly but at the time of their latest

posting had not yet arrived.

At the recommendation of the attorney

in their case they have taken 

Katie to a hospital.

Much prayer is needed!!

UPDATE:

From Katerina's New Daddy...

Praising God for His mysterious ways.

Our Sunday was Blessed

Yesterday was special.

Our service was unique and wonderful.

It opened with a couple of people from

the congregation sharing from their hearts.

One, a mom, whose 20-something daughter
is on the mission field

and desiring to continue in a very dangerous

situation.  An email from the daughter was read

and it was impressive in its statements of faith

and passion for the work she is doing.

Understandably the parents would love

to see their daughter back home safe and 

sound but are seeking God's will in 

giving their advice.

Secondly, a 16 year old young man

got up to share a message that was 

bubbling up out of his heart.

A message of a discovery.

He is studying excellence.

His study has led him to the conclusion

that all who have excelled in their lives

were immersed in the Word of God.

Whether they actually had relationships 

with the Lord, or not, he is not making

a judgement...but they all knew and quoted

the Bible.

He has challenged our congregation to a 

deeper study of the Word.

So, make that two young people who have 

challenged my faith so far...in one day.

Then there is Chelsea,

who totally has me beat in the category

of daily devotions.

Add to this the fact that most weeks that 

we have fellowship meals there is a 

teen led Bible study....

instigated and carried out by them.

Shaking my head at the work of God

in the hearts of the youth!

The wisdom and faith displayed.

Gotta love it!!

Pastor Mike preached a wonderful 

sermon about Jonah.

Now this was the beginning of a short

series of sermons from this book.

Should be really good, if yesterday's 

was any indication.

Our friends at Creekside Cottage invited

us back to their place for a special 

meal of Mafe.

Mafe is a dish that originates in Senegal.

It is chicken, rice, peanut butter and curry.

Very different than I am used to 

but it was fun to try it.

I happen to love rice and chicken...

the peanut butter 

was an interesting 

addition.

It was such a blessing to get to sit 

and chat with my dear friends

Deanna and Kelly.

We live such busy lives during the 

week that taking a day to rest

and visit is truly a gift.

So glad God thought of it!

LOL

So often when we were kids 

it was easy to look at the 

"rules" given in the Bible 

and think that they were harsh

and unnecessary.

But age, experience and time has

taught me that when God tells us 

to do something a certain way it is because

it is good for us.

We benefit every time.

Such a wonderful realization 

to come to.

And Then They Prayed

Did you see it?

Penn State Players

and

Nebraska Players.

Kneeling .

On the field 

in 

Beaver Stadium.

Both before and after today's game.

We had a report this week from 

a friend in ministry on the 

Penn State Campus that this past 

week's events are drawing 

people to prayer.

I never expected to see it 

so publicly.

During this week

Students have been listening to 

an acquaintance of ours who

preaches daily on campus.

The "same students" who have tormented

and laughed at him every day 

for more than twenty years

are now gathering to hear 

his message.

This also according to 

our friend, Bob, who is on the 

front lines.

All I can say is....

this day gave me hope for 

the future of our country.

If our young people know

that prayer changes things

and have chosen God over 

rioting and anger.....

there is hope.

Prayer changes things.

***********

An excellent article
about that moment:

I Miss You!

I am well.

I am busy.

I miss You!

There is so much going on that 

I rarely get to bed before 1:00am.

We added three more fundraising groups

this week.  The first round of the first 

group's orders are due to be delivered on 

Monday so I am surrounded completely

by candles in boxes and bags here.

Thankfully the rest of the family has plans

for the day that are outside of the house.

Mikey and Chelsea are working....

Warren and Jonathan are off to a 

Father/Son church event.

So....I can work!

Yesterday I started writing a post 

about Chelsea because she is just too 

cute....

and then the phone rang with that 

last fund raiser and I could get them

started right then so the post 

got dropped.

For the sake of adding photos to 

this post and for expressing the 

sentiments I wanted to I'll close

this post with the photos I was going 

to share yesterday.

Chelsea and her friend, Emma just being silly.

She's a very good artist!

So pretty.

She disappears with the camera looking for creative shots.

My girl is a great person to hang 

around with.

She has a great sense of humor,

much compassion

and 

is so wise.

I love her.

Thanks for bearing with me during these

interesting times in my world.

I'll be back more regularly as soon as

possible, because you are all a huge

part of my life.