We will miss me brother David...

THANK YOU FOR THE PRAYERS:

My precious brother David was found passed away in his home this morning! It was a shock to our entire family, but our Lord has already filled our hearts with a peace that passes understanding!
Between the tears, we have been celebrating his LIFE!

Princess Savannah & Princes Alisa

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Last week was full of MANY blessings!

We just spent a week in Orlando and had sooooo many "take-away" moments! We had special time with dear friends and family too!

Scott and I especially enjoyed giving both of our granddaughters a

"Princess Appointment" in the Disney Castle.....

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Flying back home tomorrow...

OK, a little sad because - we are flying back home tomorrow!

However, we are taking these awesome

"FAMILY" memories with us!

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Praise the Lord....we will be together again soon!

We will all spend 6 days together at Disney World, the first week of December! Yipeeeee!

October Family Fun in Maryland...

Having a ball visiting our daughter, son-in-law and PRECIOUS grandbabies! These 7 days are flying buy!

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Flew in on Tuesday: Visited a Petting Zoo, Apple Orchard, watched Sheri teach ballet class, eat, laughed, played, ect......

God is so good!!!!

Fall Retreat Blessings....

Our Fall Retreat was so incredible!!!

God touched us all in a new fresh way!!!

IMPORTANT:

Turn your volume up - before starting these three slideshows!

Make a Smilebox slideshow ~ Slide Show #2 ~

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~ Slide Show #3 ~

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NEWS FLASH: Looking for more CRAZY girlfriends?

Our Women's Fall Retreat is coming up this Saturday!

URGENT NEWS FLASH: We are looking for more CRAZY girlfriends to come join us in a midnight pool volleyball tournament!

Are YOU interested?

Register NOW! :-)

Donate to Mercy Ministries- NYC Marathon

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Hello Sweet Blogging Friends-

I have a very special mentor, Pam Winters!

Pam (Winters) is walking the NYC Marathon November 1,2009....in honor of Mercy Ministries.


If you would like to make a donation or find out more about Mercy Ministries, check out her personal page at Mercy. Click here and visit - Pam Winters Donations for Mercy

Thank you for your support and prayers.

Fall Guest Speaker - Alana Grotewold

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EXCITING NEWS TODAY:
Our Fall Retreat Speaker was just announced!
Back By Popular Demand - ALANA GROTEWOLD


"Alana is not only a wonderful friend of mine, but one of my favorite role models of Biblical Womanhood. She communicates biblical principles with clarity, passion, humor and grace. It is clearly evident that she loves people and wants to see them walk in spiritual freedom."

Alana’s significance to our Fall Retreat can not be overstated. She proclaims the Word of God. She is the model of what Jesus can do in women’s lives. In a sense, she is the Lord’s representative, speaking on His behalf to woo women into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and to build up those who already know Him. The speaker sets the tone of our Fall Retreat, making it an inspiring God-glorifying experience!

Alana is very successful in business so people from all across America….seek her financial council. However, her most treasured ministry is in her home where she and her husband Matt are rearing their four children – Mason, Pearla, Gabriella and Lilyana. Alana is passionate about the Word of God and considers it her calling and privilege to teach women how to study the Bible and grow in their knowledge and love of the Lord Jesus Christ.
*We are all blessed that Alana has committed to spend this weekend with us!!!

Are you living in the Land-0f-Exhaustion?

Are you living in the Land-0f-Exhaustion?
Come take a “TIME OUT”…..

Come join our Women's Fall Retreat!!!

Click HERE to see all the exciting details!

http://www.pamriley.org/

Why Go To Church?

Pam's Page 38 - "Family Life"
Why Go To Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor.

It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: "I've been married for 30 years now.. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this.. they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something!

Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

Registration for Fall Women's Retreat just started!

Bring your Friend or Family Member (+16 yrs)

Click HERE to see all the exciting details!

http://www.pamriley.org/

Can I feel like a Princess too?

Pam's Page 37 - "Family Life"

Can I feel like a Princess too?Like my 3yr old granddaughter, Alisa?

SURE!! I think you can rediscover, at any age, the “little girl” inside! You’ll always be our Heavenly Fathers “little girl” – and He loves to watch YOU dance, celebrate life! You are His princess, so celebrate each day in YOUR castle.....

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But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God." - Luke 18:16

Great Book for Christian Women-

"His Princess: Love Letters from Your King" by Sheri Rose Shepard

Could I be a Redneck?

After I left the Nail Salon, I was feeling like I looked “Mighty-Fine”.
So I stopped off to do a ton of grocery shopping, more than an hour!

Upon arriving home, I glanced down at my FEET!!!!!

I just realized that I never noticed my Nail Tec forgot to take off her rubber toe dividers!-Did anyone at the grocery store notice this disaster?
-Was anyone tempted to ask me why I needed these on at the store?
-Does this define me as a….Redneck?

The story - "Take My Son"

Pam's Page 36 - "Friendship"This is great. Take a moment to read it; it will make your day!
The ending will surprise you......

"Take my Son"


A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.

When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.

He said, 'Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.'

The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. 'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift.'

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.

The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.


On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. 'We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?'

There was silence.


Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, 'We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.'


But the auctioneer persisted. 'Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?'


Another voice angrily. 'We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the
real bids!'

But still the auctioneer continued. 'The son! The son! Who'll take the son?'
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son.. 'I'll give $10 for the painting..' Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.

'We have $10, who will bid $20?'
'Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters.'

The crowd was becoming angry.. They didn't want the picture of the son.

They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. 'Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!'

A man sitting on the second row shouted, 'Now let's get on with the collection!'


The auctioneer laid down his gavel. 'I'm sorry, the auction is over.'


'What about the paintings?'

'I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.


The man who took the son gets everything!'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God gave His Son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is:

'The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?'

Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.


FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE...THAT'S LOVE

Chesapeake Bay - family beach fun today....

Today was such a blast at the ocean waters in Chesapeake Bay!

Special family fun with our Daughter (Sheri), our two granddaughters and baby grandson!

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What a blessing to have these memories......

Awesome World....

~We live in an awesome world~

Make it an awesome day.

Peace To All and May God Bless You.

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply.

Speak kindly.

Leave the rest to God.

4th of July Family fun.....

4th of July Family fun with our Daughter and her Family....

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Out in Washington D.C. visiting our Grandbabies...

Great fun.....

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B-Day family fun for my Husband….

My sweet husband had his 40th Birthday, AGAIN!

Yes, Scott’s idea of the perfect Birthday is:1) Family time, at our home!
2) Grilling and lots of great food!
3) Movie Time!
4) Not getting one year older!Well – three out of four happened last night (tee-hee)!

Our daughter in a 5K race with a baby stroller???

Pam's Page 36 - "Family Life"

Can you believe it?

Have you ever heard of a Mother running a 5K race with a Baby Stroller?

Well you have now......

Our daughter just completed such a race in Washington D.C., with 1700 other women! Only four of these women were sporting a stroller (tee-hee). I am sooooo proud of her!!

She wanted to include her 10 month son, Levi.....who loves the whole experience. The sidewalk audience would clap for him....and he giggled and clapped too!

ENTIRE FAMILY: The day was additionally special because even Daddy (Tony) ran along side Savannah & Alisa as they enjoyed a special "Kids Race".

WHAT AN AWESOME FAMILY DAY EVENT!!!!

Family Reunions are SUCH a blessing...

To My Sweet Girlfriends-

I felt so blessed to spend time with family this weekend.....

EXAMPLE #1 - My Mother is one of the BIGGEST kids I know! Friday we hit the Mall-of-America, were she was curiously entertained (tee-hee)! She kind of stands out in a crowd! :-)
EXAMPLE #2 - My brother Steve and his daughter Amber joined us at the mall. Needless to say they didn't exactly "BLEND IN".....not even a little (tee-hee)!

EXAMPLE #3 - Then we spent the rest of the week-end at a fun family gathering in Hudson, Wisconsin....

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Yes, family truely is a gift from God!

Arrived home today - Florida memories....

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We just arrived home from several days at the beautiful Sandestin Resort in Destin, Florida. The sparkling sand of Destin beaches are among the whitest in the world.
Our take away moments are not just about the beauty God created, even though it is magnificent to be by the ocean!

Florida beach vacations don’t get any better than when you are spending time with family, friends and mentors! Our most treasured take away moments are the moments we shared with our precious brothers and sisters in Christ.

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What would you do if you had no FEAR?

Pam's Page 35 - "Friendship"

Let's proclaim the truth over FEAR. Take biblical verses that say......

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Psalm 3:6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side.

Psalm 9:10 Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You.

Psalm 13:5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Ps 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

Psalm 31:14 But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."

Psalm 40:3-4 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

Psalm 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will trust in You.

Psalm 91:2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Psalm 91:5 you will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

Psalm 112:6-8 Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous man will be remembered forever. He will not be afraid of evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established; He will not be afraid, Until he sees his desire upon his enemies.

Psalm 115:11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD- He is their help and shield.

Psalm 118:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Psalm 125:1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight

Proverbs 3:25 have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

Proverbs 29:25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Isaiah 12:2 Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation."

Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 51:7 Hear Me, you who know what is right, you people who have My law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults.

Isaiah 51:12 "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mortal men, the sons of men, who are but grass,

Isaiah 54:4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

Isaiah 54:14 In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you.

Jeremiah 39:17 But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD; you will not be handed over to those you fear.

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him,

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, "Abba, Father."

1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened."

I John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Revelation 1:17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.

Do YOU have another scripture (not mentioned above) that you stand on, one that helps you over come FEAR?

Teaching at a Health Fair in Southern Iowa…

Pam's Page 30- "Finances"Saturday was such a blessing!
My dear friend Karen, had invited us to come teach at her Hospital Health Fair.

Our topic was “How to FEEL and LOOK younger!”

Sandy and I conducted three classes, with precious women…..hungry to learn!

Elizabeth remained in the Expo area, and handled additional questions from the participants. It was a day well spent and filled with fun memories!

Thank you Lord:1) For my dear friend Karen, Marketing Director of this Hospital
2) For great business partners, Sandy & Elizabeth
3) For such a great opportunity to reach out and touch more lives