Oh Christmas Tree

I have my tree up and for some reason this year it smells so good and pine fresh. I usually only smell it for a few hours and then it is just a beautiful thing. But this year it has been up for a week and is still a wonderful scent everytime I walk in the room. I think it is a great tree. Emily picked it in less than 3 minutes and I was not so sure about it, but it has been one of the prettiest and best smelling ever. Good job Emily.

I also love how my cat Titus loves to sleep under the tree. I never get tired of staring at my tree and remembering the birth of Christ.

Merry Christmas!May your tree be as special as mine.

Ecuador

I thought I would write a little about my mission trip to Ecuador. First of all I would like to dedicate my trip there to my uncle Gary. He has supported me for all my mission trips and always was interested in them and wanted to hear about what I did. While on this trip my uncle passed away. He was always a happy man and as far as I could tell enjoyed life. I am thankful for knowing him and will always remember him fondly.

Tom and I were able to go on this mission trip together and for that I am grateful. We had been wanting to do that for years and it just never worked out. This year we were able to join up with a group of people that we did not know except for my wonderful friend Elaine. We did so many different things on this trip. We did a children's ministry in a park in Quito to assist a couple of small churches. The kids loved the games. We also visited with some pastors in their home. We helped out with two ministries to keep children in school and off the streets. We played with them. Did a couple bible studies. Helped feed them. Gave them some supplies for their teaching. We made Christmas bags for over 300 kids. We attended and participated in a cultural night at the seminary where we were staying. Twelve countries were represented. We also provided a pizza night and prizes for about 100 students at the seminary. We got to see beautiful sights in Ecuador and ate some interesting food. Guinea Pig to be exact. We met some amazing people whose faith is incredible. We made some dear friends. We laughed and cried and enjoyed most every moment. God is working all over the world. He is bigger than we think! If you ever get an opportunity to go somewhere different and experience some new places and people, please take it. You can change a life and yours will be changed too.

Just right

I recently returned from a trip to my home in Minnesota. I was there for 2 weeks. The weather was absolutely the best ever with no rain and the sun shining beautifully and the wind blowing lightly and a temperature of around 70 something most days. Fall was in the air and everywhere I looked it was just amazing. The corn was tall and the hay fields were being baled. The animals were grazing and I enjoyed time with family and friends. I attended the wedding of my niece and thought that she couldn't have asked for better weather for her special day. All in all it was a wonderful trip. It was about time I got it right as in January Tom and I were there and it was the coldest temps of the year. We were also there the end of June and it was the hottest temperatures of the year. So I was due to get it just right. It was certainly a wonderful time to be in Minnesota. Best sweet corn I had in years. Great tomatoes! And I got to try Paul's pickles and they were just right too.

the hunt

I don't know how time goes so fast and then I realize how long it's been since I posted. I have been busy doing nothing. I am not working much and am looking for a new job. It's amazing how time consuming that can be. To find jobs online and then have to apply takes SO much time. Too bad you can't get paid for that. I don't love the process, but it is a necessary evil. Here is to all the people looking for jobs! Don't give up, the perfect job is out there somewhere. Someone wants and yes, needs you in their company. (that is what I keep telling myself anyway)

every day is new

The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each day.I say to myself "The Lord is my inheritance therefore, I will hope in Him!" Lamentations 3:22-24 (New Living)

lots of stuff

four generations... Duesterhoeft Burger and Stover




Olivia's birthday celebration.


I finally feel like life is getting a little bit back to normal...not totally normal, but slightly. The wedding is over and the newlyweds are back. We went on our Minnesota vacation and had a great time. We are getting the house back in order and life seems less chaotic. I will post a few pictures from the wedding and our trip. Oh my Olivia turned 2 yesterday! Life is a rollercoaster that never stops. You never stop climbing and never stop falling. Up and down, up and down through all the stages of life.

Two days until the wedding. Things going on like crazy. Wedding favors are made. Nails are done. Today is bridesmaid luncheon. Guests coming from out of town.(family) Rehearsal and dinner tonight. All the fun stuff now. Ready to enjoy all of the festivities and activities. Looking forward to watching my daughter walk down the isle to the man of her dreams. This is it! Next post will have pictures. Yippee!

Showers, showers and more showers

So we have a wedding in 2 weeks from today. The past month has been showers, showers and more showers. I have never heard of anyone having as many bridal showers as my daughter has had. Couples shower, room shower, prayer shower, lingere' showers, regular shower.....it has been exhausting. It's been lots of fun watching Alisha and James be so blessed by their friends and family, play fun games and laugh alot. However, I am ready for it to be over and here comes the bride be played. Don't get me wrong, I am totally enjoying the whole process, but I am ready to go back to normal life. The life where the most you plan is what to have for dinner and what show to watch.

Rain

It has rained on and off for over a week. I don't think May has had very many dry days at all. I love the fact that the grass and plants are all so green and healthy looking, but I am also ready for a few sunny days. The rain plays with my emotions. Any how.... those are my thoughts on that!

wedding time

As today is 1 month until my daughter Alisha and her fiance'James' wedding, I will post about it as I think I will be a little busy in the next few weeks. 1 month and I will have one less Burger daughter. I have been through this once before and should be a pro at marrying off my daughters. The planning can be fun (sometimes) The dress shopping, exhilerating. The showers...so much fun. The thinking about the money we need to spend, exhausting. But when it comes close I get excited for my daughter, especially when I know she is marrying the right guy. I knew with Sheila that she was marrying the right guy and I know with Alisha that she is marrying the right guy. That does give me peace and joy. The part I struggle with is the fact that my daughter is no longer mine and Tom's, she is her husbands. She will never be ours on her birthday. She will never be ours on Christmas morning. She won't wake up in our house and come down for breakfast or say good night when she gets home late. They may spend the night once in awhile but it's just not the same. They belong to someone else. They are married! So when June 20th comes and Alisha walks down the isle to James and he looks at her with tears of joy and she smiles that beautiful smile, I will have tears in my eyes, some of joy and some of sadness for another daughter who isn't mine anymore. But then I have to remember...God gave her to Tom and I to care for and raise right. She is His and was never mine to start with. That makes it easier. I am gaining another son too. Two down, 1 to go.

Happy Birthday Em

Tomorrow is my baby's 21st birthday! I am thinking that this cant be possible, but it is true. She is an amazing girl/woman. She is finishing up her junior year of college and has excellent grades. She loves God with all her heart and is a very loving person. I love to hang out with her when she is around home. She grew up too fast and I don't know where the time has gone. Emily, I love you and wish you the best birthday ever. Thanks for being my girl. You are the best! Love, MOM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHEILA

Twenty-six years ago today, I gave birth to my first-born child. A beautiful red headed girl and we named her Sheila Rebecca. I try to wrap my mind around the fact that she is an adult with children of her own. But when I think about her today, I see the sweet little face that looked up at me in wonder twenty-six years ago...and yet she is a grown woman. Time and memory is such a strange thing....and wonderful. Happy Birthday, Sheila. I love who you are. You are an amazing woman, a terrific mother, wife and daughter.

anniversary

It's my anniversary! Happy 28 years together my love, Tom. April 11, 1981 was a very good day.

I am thankful for the cross

Today I remember what Jesus did on the cross for me. I am thankful for the cross. I am thankful for Jesus setting me free!

Just a moment

I recently read a portion in Max Lucado's book It's Not About Me. What I read on Page 55 inspired me. It's talking about moments in our life compared with eternity. Here is a portion of page55...

God does the same with your struggles. On one side he stacks all your burdens. Famines. Firings. Parents who forgot you. Bosses who ignored you. Bad breaks, bad health, bad days. Stack them up, and watch one side of the pan scale plummet. Now witness God's response. Does He remove them? Eliminate the burdens? No, rather than take them, He offsets them. He places an eternal weight of glory on the other side. Endless joy. Measureless peace. An eternity of Him. Watch what happens as He sets eternity on your scale. Everything changes! The burdens lift. The heavy becomes light when weighted against eternity. If life is "just a moment" can't we endure any challenge for a moment?
We can be sick for just a moment.
We can be lonely for just a moment.
We can be persecuted for just a moment.
We can struggle for just a moment. Can't we?
Can't we wait for our peace? It's not about us anyway. And it's certainly
not about now.

there aren't words enough

There are no words necessary. These two are my joy!

almost heaven

I love being a grandma. Today I leave to go and take care of my grandkids while their parents are in meetings. I will get to play, love, kiss, hug, help feed, change, sing, run, shop,play some more, sleep, color, smile, hum, rock,and just relish the job of grammy! God sure designed life in an amazing way to give us nuggets of heaven. This next few days will be very close to heaven for me.

A beautiful day

I love it when spring really comes to Charlotte. It is spring today with temps in the high 70's. I love to open the windows and let the breeze air out my house. I love to clean floors, window treatments, carpet and whatever else might need a cleaning. I love to get out and work in the yard with the birds chirping and the flowers blooming. I got a surprise today. I went in the back yard this morning and discovered things were blooming. I had a pink and a purple hyacinth. I had forsythia, daffodils, and lenten roses. When did this happen? Last week we had snow. This week it feels like it is almost summer. It's confusing, however I don't care. I just love this weather. Bring it on!!!!

God wants to reach down and touch us, but first we have to reach up and touch Him in prayer. When we pray, we're saying,"I know You are real,Lord,and I want to spend time with You".

written by Stormie Omartian with Jack Hayford

missing my baby girl

My youngest daughter is in college. I have not gotten to see her much lately and it just seems like when I do see her all our family is together so I don't get one on one time with her. I think I am going to hang out with my baby(yes she is my baby even if she is in college). I miss her, Emily here I come.(alisha too)Going to the mountains this weekend.

I Choose to believe

My devotion the other day was SO what I needed. It talked about serving leftovers to company.That is something you would probably never do if you were trying to treat someone very special. The author then related it to our walk with God and giving God our leftovers. How many times do we give God the last of our energy rather than the first and best? God does require all of our lives. I am dealing with my oldest daughter, husband, and grandchildren leaving this year to go into the foreign mission field. I have not responded to God with my best. I have been selfish and self centered, because I love them so and don't want to be without them. I dont want to miss birthday's, holidays and just ordinary times together. I don't want to miss them.It breaks my heart to think about it. You see, it has been all about me. What is wrong with this picture? God is asking me like Abraham to give up my child.(and in this case my son-in-law and grandchildren). He isn't asking me to sacrifice them in the same way as Abraham, but He is asking me to give them up for His work and service. I want to please the Lord and no matter how this hurts, I trust God. I know He has a bigger plan than me having time with my family. I am encouraged. I am not alone. God may never let them actually go,or He may allow them to minister abroad for the rest of their lives. No matter what, I choose to believe that God is working all things out for their good and mine and His glory. I choose to believe God.

In the past week I have enjoyed a facial, a hair cut, and a pedicure. I have gotten to shop for new clothes and a book. I even treated myself with a free coupon for a coffee. Boy, am I spoiled. All of this courtesy of my family for my birthday.(except the haircut that was from ME!) I rarely take time for myself like this and really enjoy it when I do. I am thankful for the pampering. Sometimes in life you just really need that. If you are a bit in the dumps and ready for spring or just need time out of the norm. Try one of these pamperings. It will change your attitude.

Birthday message

This is ONE reason I love being a grandmother. It made my birthday special! My sweet, sweet birthday message! Thanks Olivia and Hudson! Grammy loves you!

could there be anything better?

Being a grandmother is the best job I've ever had. The love and peace I feel holding my grandson or having my granddaughter reach for me and saying" Ammy" is better than anything this life has to offer other than Jesus!"Olivia and Hudson, Grammy loves you!"

engagment dinner

January 24, 2009 was a day we celebrated the engagement of James McGinn and Alisha Burger. Tom and I hosted a dinner for both families and grandparents from both sides. We enjoyed a dinner of chicken parmesian,salad, rolls and a delicious chocolate cake. It was a very nice time to celebrate a special couple. Congratulations James and Alisha we wish you the best!

had a great trip

OK, so I am back and right on time. No snow holding us back other than it snowed in North Carolina the morning we returned. But as our traveling luck would have it there was no delay nor was there snow here when we returned. Tom and I had a great trip to MN. It was soooooo cold though that there was not much chance to do the outdoor stuff. -27 degrees without windchill is just a little crazy. We had a nice visit with my family and got to eat more than is humanly possible.( and I am not talking about healthy food, I am talking junk food.) We played games, laughed, ate and ate some more. We worked a little too. All in all it was great. Thanks all you Minnesotans, your hospitality was appreciated.

winter funk

I have been in a winter funk! It's been rainy here for days and I have had headaches. It just seems like this time of year after all the hub bub of the holiday season I get in the funk. So my hubby and I are going on a trip. Don't know if this will help but it is to MINNESOTA in the winter. Are we crazy or what? Hubby says he needs to get his winter in. Since we live in the south, we really dont get much winter. Hope this helps with my funk and lets him get his winter in. If I don't blog for awhile, it might be we just got stuck in winter.

Got a minute?

Life has not seemed normal lately, with holidays, vacation and kids home and work schedule different and planning Alisha's wedding, everything seems abnormal. I don't like when life is the same ole, same ole.....but there is some comfort in routine. I haven't prayed like I know I should and I am sure that is where my frustration lies. Isn't it wonderful to know that God never changes but also He is never routine, dull or boring? When I am discouraged or feel out of sorts all I need to do is spend a minute in prayer or read the Good Book and presto, my life seems to have perspective again!
But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy;And may You shelter them. That those who love Your name may exult in You. For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord, You surround him with favor as with a shield. Psalms 5:11-12