In all things

Gods Word tells us this:

In all things we know that God works good for those who love HIM and are called according to HIS purpose. Romans 8:28

I believe and have stood on this Word many times in my life but I see it so clearly in this past few weeks of my Dads life and in the days since he has gone to be with Jesus.

When I left I never dreamed we would have lost my dad as quickly as we did and the main thing I have struggled with since, was the fact that as we were checking out of the hospital I believed STRONGLY in the doctors words "NO NO you don't have DAYS left you have WEEKS left." We lost dad 6 days later. Remember we had planned on driving my Dad back to Okla to see his mom but then daddy took another bad turn and we flew my Nana immediately to Florida. Although Dad was not awake or coherent when my Nana was there by his side she was able to share her heart and say things she wanted to say that otherwise wouldn't have happened. God worked Good for Dad and for Nana

My brother and I live in the same small town and have lunch periodically but never really talk on a heart level or spend much time together. Over the course of the last 3-4 years we have taken a trip to Dads in May to attend the TPC Sawgrass Golf Tournament and also spend Dads birthday with him. This was one time a year that my brother and I would spend together and I grew to love these trips. When we would return home it would go back to normal ~ not really taking the time for one another yet we were building something.....

When we got the call of Dads admit to the hospital and made the arrangements to go to Florida my brother had plans to return after only 4 days and although I hated for him to return (not knowing if Dad would make it for him to come back) I knew it wasn't likely that my brother would stay indefinately and be able to handle seeing Dad the way he was but he COMPLETELY surprised us all. He stayed the entire time ~ HE was INCREDIBLE with my Dad and honestly I couldn't even begin to share the healing and life changing events that took place in my brother. God worked good for my brother and my Dad



What has taken place for my brother and I is only from the LORD. We have worked side by side for the last month caring for our daddy in every capacity imaginable. We have shared our hearts with each other, strengthened one another and depended on each other as well. This is something I will forever praise the Lord for. In the midst of the pain there is a GIFT. This is true no matter what you go through because whether you are dealing with a pruning of your flesh, a loss of a loved one, or working on broken relationships God watches over HIS Word to perform it. He Cannot Lie and His Word says ~
In ALL THINGS WE KNOW THAT GOD WORKS GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE Thank you Lord for YOU worked good for me and Tony

So, stand on His Word today. Trust HIM. Praise HIM. Walk with HIM and see what Good HE will do for YOU


Love and Blessings

less sugar in Cereal ~ Thanks General Mills

If your kids are like mine ~ cereal is not just for breakfast :) We eat cereal for a snack, or sometimes dinner YEP I said dinner! Well, I was glad to learn that General Mills is decreasing the amount of sugar they put in their yummy cereals. Here is some great info they shared regarding cereal in general:

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

Other cereal benefits:
Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.

More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.
Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness

Right now if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals. If you choose to participate we will also provide you with VIP coupons for 4 boxes of General Mills cereal to help your family come together at the breakfast table every morning.

THANKS General Mills and MYBlogSpark! for giving me complimentary coupons and allowing me to pass this information on to you

AMAZING book

The Book:
Tass Saada was a PLO sniper and Arafat's chauffeur, a Muslim immersed in anti-Israeli activity. As a young man he came to America, where he started a family, changed his faith, and began reconciliation with Jews. Later on he returned to Qatar to face his family and former boss, Arafat, with stories from his new life in Christ. The encounters are astounding. You'll embrace Saada's engaging story. You'll be enthralled by his conversion and the biblical teaching regarding Arabs and Ishmael. You'll be encouraged by his changed life and the story of hope in reconciliation through Jesus. Don't miss this enlightening true story by Tass Saada, written with Dean Merrill.


My Review:
As I read this book I found myself in awe and saying a variety of things such as: "WOW" ~ "Lord, your mercy and grace overwhelm me" -OR- "Oh my gosh!" Once an Arafat Man is NOT my typical choice of books and even when I received it, I honestly thought it would go on the bottom of my review stack, but I felt the Lord calling me to this book. I am so very thankful! This book is by far my favorite of 2009! Taas Saada was a young man who whatever he set his mind to, he conquered. In his young age he was a very determined young boy who believed strongly in fighting for his people and was destined to be a leader no matter what the situation. This is a story of mercy, of grace, and an amazing look into the Life of a Muslim man and how the Lord can change that heart. You will see how a family can overcome many obstacles despite different belief systems and how the Lord can restore relationships despite the pain caused over many years.
I strongly recommend this book on so many levels. It will encourage, inspire, and I must warn you~ You might not be able to put it down!! I know I couldn't.


Thank you Tyndale for allowing me to read this book free of charge, in return I gave them this humble opinion ~ my review. If you would like to order Once an Arafat Man please visit Tyndale.com

Spiritual Sundays

I have been enjoying the final days that we are all home and together ~ before we get back into our routines. I LOVE it when we are all home together. My DH had vacation this week so we have just been having some really good FAMILY TIME!

It's a new year for Spiritual Sundays and if you haven't ever joined in ~ please do! If you want to be blessed please take time to visit here and read the many different posts. While there let Charlotte and Ginger know what a wonderful place it is! Thankyou ladies so much for sharing this wonderful place with so many!

Today I am sharing out of my Jesus Calling devotional. It is written by Sarah Young.


Come To ME with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed. A close walk with ME is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to the old ways as you step into a New Year. Instead, seek MY face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with ME involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind. As you focus your thoughts on ME, be aware that I am fully attentive to you. I see you with a steady eye, because my attention span is INFINITE. I know and understand you completely; MY thoughts embrace you in everlasting love.
I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness to my Presence.



May you all have a blessed Sunday

2010

I pray you all have a very blessed and prosperous New Year! May you all feel HIS Love and HIS Peace cover you each new day





♥ Love and Blessings ♥

Getting out of my box

I really dislike "new years resolutions" so I don't make them. My way of thinking tends to be "why make a resolution only one time a year because the Lord may wish for me to change in ways too many to count and certainly more than one time during the year!"

What I feel HE is saying to me for this season is this ~ Get out of your box Loren ....I see this in my reading, I feel this in my ministry, in our own walk with HIM as well. I feel HIM stretching me and my family and I am excited to see what this looks like!
I am seeking HIM diligently and I know HE will show me the way

What about you? Are you seeking HIM, are you taking quiet time to Listen to what HE is saying? HE longs to speak, to share HIS will for you ~ You are HIS Beloved

I am reading quite a few new books for review and LOVE when the Lord brings things into your life that all have the same theme! I haven't finished them but I can tell you I will be HIGHLY recommending them once I am done!

Francis Chan ~ "Forgotten God ~ Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit"
Tass Saada w/Dean Merrill ~ "Once an Arafat Man ~ The True Story of how a PLO Sniper found a New Life"

and on a lighter note

Peggy Yarber ~ The Judas Ride


I pray everyone has a safe New Years Eve and enjoys their families. We will be having a quiet night at H♥ME with our kids and some of their friends and our Precious Grandbaby will be spending the night with us WAHOO!! This is a change as we usually spend the evening with our group of friends playing games or in the most recent years we have gone to a church and spent the evening on our faces before the Lord in Praise and Worship and just in prayer and hearing what the Lord is saying to us and for the coming year. We plan on doing this here at home this year and I am excited to bring in this new Year here in the Peace of our own H♥ME with the LORD leading us every step of the way!


Love and Blessings to you all

I did it AGAIN

13 years ago I was 7 months pregnant with our youngest. It was early in December and Jenna was 4 yrs old and her dance class was to walk in our small town parade, so of course I walked with her. This proved to be a BIG MISTAKE and sent me into premature labor! We went to the emergency room and they gave me medication to slow the contractions but also summoned me to bed! Well, I had not purchased any Christmas presents and so my DH was left to do the shopping for our girls and other family. I spent the next 2 1/2 months in bed until the middle of Feb. before our sweet little boy came into this world. But I vowed to NEVER let that happen again.....GUESS WHAT! I did it AGAIN :)

When I was leaving for Florida at the beginning of December it hit me ~ I had a few things for Christmas purchased, but not many.....I just wasn't thinking about anything but my Daddy! When my Dh arrived in Florida and made the decision to stay with me he did some purchasing online. Needless to say I didn't know if we would have Christmas at home or even at all, but the LORD knew and I am thankful to say that even though it was a VERY DIFFERENT Christmas it all turned out ok. The night we arrived home we dropped our things at home and hit the stores. We were able to purchase a few things but we had told our kids that Christmas was going to be VERY different this year. IT WAS INDEED

We had a quiet day with just our children and our sweet grandbaby and son-in-law. We started off with our traditional Birthday singing to Jesus and prayer time. We had a WHITE Christmas this year ~ something we always hope for but rarely receive ~ sooo EXCITED !! We got 8 inches! For OKIES thats ALOT


Here are just some of the pics of our day


Our sweet Rylee......Her shirt reads ~ JESUS LOVES ME ~ Oh yes HE does my love, yes HE does

Our precious Krista Lee


I love my children so much



We have so many birds that come visit and my sweet hubby made sure to pour out extra seed :)



Our backyard




Celebrating the Birth of our Savior is what this day is about and HE knows our hearts. The sadness, the grief. HE comforts us no matter what. I know there are many who were not even able to be in their own homes or around a tree to open gifts or sing songs, or even play games with their children. Some are still in hospital beds, some are in nursing homes and there are those who are grieving the loss of a loved one...but no matter what .....Christmas comes. Jesus knows our hearts and no matter where we are or what we are doing or even the day ~ we can celebrate HIM

Love and Blessings

Spiritual Sundays

I have been away from blogging, partly because I just couldn't write, partly because we traveled home and of course have been celebrating the Birth of our Lord Jesus. I am happy to be home and especially to be back with my MOM and Stepdad.

I have missed you all so very much!! I can't even begin to thank each one of you enough for your Love, your prayers and support! Your encouraging words have meant so very much to me and I am just overwhelmed at visiting some of your blogs and finding prayer requests and posts devoted to just that ~ asking for prayer for my family! God in YOU is so beautiful, so loving and kind! Thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart for being there for me. I know there are many who still need prayer ~ as one who has experienced your prayers I just want to encourage you to PLEASE KEEP IT UP!! The Lord hears the cries of your hearts and covers those who you are crying out for with what they specifically need! Your prayers are moving mountains, tearing down strongholds, pouring out comfort, bringing healing, giving love or peace .....just to name a few!!
Please know that PRAYER IS POWERFUL and don't ever doubt that

I love you all and am so glad to return to blogging knowing that I am in an army that is so very strong, yet so full of love! When one of us is down, there are many who will lend you a hand to help you back up, or to wipe away a tear or better yet love you while the tears are falling and listen oh so patiently while you grieve and mourn. As my dear friend Clif said

"A few years back I didn't even know what a blogger was. I didn't know and I didn't care.

Now I care!

I care because now blogger is not just a word. No, it's much more than that. Now when I think of bloggers I think of men and women, human beings--FRIENDS. Men and women who laugh, cry, hurt, bleed, dream, live life large--and sometimes die."

This is so very true....I didn't know having a blog meant having such a wonderful group of friends, prayer warriors and examples of Christ! I love you all! Please visit Charlotte and Ginger who host this wonderful and encouraging place called Spiritual Sundays They are godly women whom I love and adore! I know you will too :)


Love and Blessings

Prayer Covering

It is so obvious that going through this very difficult time that what is carrying me is the Lord and the prayers of MANY!

These days I find myself somewhat numb and the nights are so very difficult. My brother and I have had the night shift for the last two weeks. We would administer medicine, assist with the necessary bathroom duties but in the end it was really just watching/listening to Daddy breath and giving him his medicine. I would lay up on his hospital bed (we had one delivered here in his home) and snuggle him, praying over him or just talking to him knowing he could hear me but wasn't able to respond.

Our kids arrived on Saturday afternoon. It was Rylees 1st birthday and she flew all the way to Florida to be here and we had a birthday party that night ♥ she brings so much joy and laughter. Having my kids here and in my arms has been such a gift. My Nana decided to return home, so she flew back last Thursday. I asked my husband if he would please stay here~ that I just couldn't do this without him and he said he wouldn't be anywhere else but here with me. I was so thankful to have my husband here by my side when Daddy went to be with the Lord.

Our days are filled with memories and doing things "in honor" of Daddy ~ making fish tacos, having chips and salsa, putting up his new addition of Christmas lights....yes there is still room to add more :), eating at his favorite Sushi restaurant, spending time with his horses or riding in his truck where he rode just a few days ago. I am so thankful to be here ~ In his home filled with all things DAD ♥ and to be surrounded by family has been such a gift.

I also wanted to share my Daddy's obituary written by my brother. Again he has done a phenomenal job and honored dad in such an awesome way. I am so very proud of him.


Obituary: Douglas William Woods -- May 9, 1947 - Dec. 18, 2009

Douglas William Woods, of St. Augustine, passed away Dec. 18, 2009, at the age of 62.

He lost his life fighting a courageous battle against lung cancer. He was born in Joplin, Mo., on May 9, 1947, to Dorene and Robert Woods and is survived by his wife, Barbara Woods, of the home; his mother, Dorene Woods, of Carthage, Mo.; a daughter, Loren McGhee, and son, Tony Woods, both of Owasso, Okla.; a brother, Rob Woods, of Huntington Beach, Calif.; five grandchildren, Krista Hodge, of Bixby, Okla., Jenna and Jantzen McGhee, of Owasso, and Bailey and Britney Woods, of Owasso; one great-grandchild, Rylee Hodge, of Bixby; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Since January 2002, Doug held the position of chief information officer at EverBank Financial Corp. In this role, he managed more than 120 employees and successfully guided the financial corporation's technology infrastructure to handle its high growth during the past decade. His colleagues speak highly of his professionalism, devotion to his employees and passion for community outreach. During the last six months, he was an enthusiastic advocate for EverBank's Fast Path Program, which mentors at-risk teens in the Jacksonville inner city.
Doug handled his battle with lung cancer in the same manner in which he approached everything in his life: with courage, respect, unending kindness and unrelenting optimism. He never gave up. In the end, it was not cancer that beat him but pneumonia. When presented with treatment options, Doug's comment to his physicians was one of profound surprise that these options were no different from those presented to his father 25 years ago. If you would like to honor Doug's passing, please do so by contributing to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, whose mission is to support national research studies and activities focused on developing innovative strategies for better treatments, screening and prevention of all cancers of the lung. New knowledge gained by funding scientific and clinical research initiatives will lead to more positive outcomes and improved quality of life for all lung cancer patients.
To donate, with checks payable to Lung Cancer Research Foundation, write to Lung Cancer Research Foundation, 800 Third Ave. Fourth Floor, New York, N.Y. 10022
If you would like to pay your respects to Doug and his family, a gathering and funeral services will take place at Craig Funeral Home, 1475 Old Dixie Highway, St. Augustine, on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Dec. 22 at 2 p.m.



Later today we will be receiving Friends, Coworkers, Neighbors, and others who knew and loved my Daddy. It will be hard but yet wonderful hearing from so many how my Dad has impacted their lives and then on Tuesday will be the Funeral.
I love and appreciate you ALL so VERY VERY MUCH! Your prayers TRULY are carrying me each and every day. From the bottom of my heart..... THANK YOU

Goodbye My Sweet Daddy

This morning at 9:21 a.m. my Daddy went into the Loving Arms of His Savior. He was surrounded by his Loved Ones and went very peacefully.

We will all miss him so very much