FLUUUUUUUUUUU

Hello Bloggers, This is AGPman.  I just want you to know that the blog post Rebecca had promised for today will be delayed a day or two at the least.  She is currently at the doctor with a 103 temp.  She has apparently come down with a very nasty flu and is more sick than I have seen her in a very long time.  Please keep her in your prayers and I will do my best to keep her in bed AND NOT WORKING!  :-)  Which is never an easy task.

Please check back in a few days and I am sure she will have something funny, silly, or wonderful for you to read.  She never seems to stop talking, I mean run out of ideas.  :-)

P.S. I am sure I will pay for that one.  Oh well, when the cat's away..........  He He!

~~~THOUGHTS ON A SUNDAY MORNING~~~ NEVER GIVE UP

I've shared with you many times over the past couple of years my deep appreciation for the writings of Max Lucado.  I believe he's been blessed by the Most High as well as being given the gift of encouragement.  He never fails to lead me in a positive direction while gently reminding me that God will forever be faithful to His children.

For many the New Year brings with it continued promise for better days.  How grateful and thankful those of you must be who are in this place!  However, for others the future seems bleak and scary with no hope in sight for the situations pressing in upon them to improve.  And so, it is to you, the broken and afraid, the downhearted and afflicted that I share with you a short passage from one of the books by Mr. Lucado.

From "He Still Moves Stones"

"The God of surprises strikes again...God does that for the faithful.  Just when the womb gets too old for babies, Sarah gets pregnant.  Just when the failure is too great for grace, King David is pardoned...

The lesson?  Three words.  Don't Give Up...

Is the road long?  Don't stop.

Is the night black?  Don't quit.

God is watching.

For all you know right at this moment...the check may be in the mail...

The apology may be in the making.

The job contract may be on the desk.

Don't quit.  For if you do, you may miss the answer to your prayers."

Two-thousand eleven is a new beginning.  A fresh start!  A clean slate!  Think positive and press on.  You can make it!  You can!  I'm believing along with you the answer is on it's way and better days are ahead!  I've always heard that Prayer is the key to heaven but it's our faith that will ultimately unlock the door!

Blessings and love to you this first beautiful Sunday of the year.

~HAPPY NEW YEAR - Making Your Life Count~

~HAPPY NEW YEAR~

Today marks the beginning of my third year of Blogging.  Somebody peal this girl off the ceiling, please!  What a ride I've been on for the past 730 days!  I've managed to meander my way through what has proved to be truly fascinating journey through blogland and because of you I've traveled via the internet to many places I once only dreamed of seeing.   You've inspired me to follow my sometimes restless heart all the while helping to keep my feet firmly planted in the place I love the very most.  Home.

The year 2010 was wonderful for me and in many ways I've hated to see it end.  I sometimes glance back to the past, but only as a gentle reminder of lessons learned during days once lived.  I'm a firm believer that I can't know where I'm going if I don't have a good handle on exactly where I've been...

I'm soooo very excited to have you travel along with me!  I still love reading your comments and smiling at your quick wit and endless muse.  I continue to be blessed by your prayers as well as your encouraging thoughts and words as they mean more to me than you can ever possibly know.

Additionally, I'll be continuing to expand the offerings on my A Gathering Place Website and also sharing more design ideas and photos relating to the refashioning of my La Chaumière de Briarwood.

Oh...and watch for my BLOGIVERSARY GIVEAWAY (it's fun and fabulous)slated to begin in a few days.

Thank you again for everything!  Blessings to you as you enjoy the first day of 2011.

An Ever Grateful,