My Papal

My Papal passed away this morning.  I know he is in a better place, but its still hard.  He is singing and dancing with Jesus.

Party @ the Matsons!

This Sunday we are (finially) having our house warming party!  YAY!  I am so very excited to open up our home to our friends and family.  Living with my mom was a learning experience and IM glad to have had it, but I missed the freedom to have friends over, to have that "open house" feeling.  I missed partys and late night get togethers.  So this feels like the begining of getting back into that!! 
I want our house to be a welcoming place and place where people can feel safe, feel happy, and where God reigns supreme!!

As for me and my house... We will serve the Lord!!

On another note... we have decided to have "fair foods" for he party!!  I got a cotton candy maker (one of my yardsale find @ $1), and Shell gave us her funnel cake maker!!  So we have that, plus we are going to try mini corn dogs (homemade, of course, not the frozen nasties), caramel dip with apple slices, lemonade, popcorn, and baked french fries (my attempt to have something un-fried! lol!).   I love fall and I think this will be a great way to celebrate fall funness!!!

I know, random post, but sometimes life feels so serious and crazy, I just wanted to share something fun and exciting that I am looking forward to!  Yeah, really i should be cleaning right now... the living room needs vaccuumed soooo bad, but eh, it can wait! haha!! :o)


And to end this random post, here is a funny for you:  Madi was upstairs watching My Fair Lady (love that movie), and I went up and sat with her for a few mins to sing a long with "Loverly".  We love to sing that song together!  Anyways.. she was singing and came to the part where she sings, "lots of chocolate for me to eat" and Madi suddenly stopped singing and got a thoughtful look on her face and said "Mommy, she must not be very healthy if she eats lots of chocolate, and thats not appropriate".  OH MY.  She is definitly turning into me!!  I am always saying to her, thats not appropriate.  We explained that word to her very early on becuase she had a lot of behaviors and ideas that were really bad, like she always wanted her belly to be showing and to wear short skirts and shorts (shes 8, so at this age it is definitly not ok!).  So now she uses the word a lot (all in the right context, but its always so precocious and funny!).  Love my little girl!!!

The End of an Age

Clarence Altland, otherwise know as Pete to the world is my grandpa.  The past few years, he hasnt been so much of the grandpa I knew due to the alzhiemers that has attacked his brain, but before that he was a wonderful Papal.  I remember him always having a hug for me, always having time for me, and always loving me.
He cleaned the church I grew up in for years, mowing the lawn, vacumming, clearing the communion cups, and lots of other tasks.  He had an "office" and I loved going in there.  The lost and found box was a treasure trove to a young girl, and he had stuff marked so that if it had ben in there for more than a certain time it would either go to the goodwill or me! :o)  It was mostly little junk and trinkets, but he knew I thought it was wonderful, so he always let me riffle through it.
One thing about both my grandparents, Papal and my Mamal (Betty), they always supported my dreams... especially my dream of music.  Before my Papal's disease really got a hole of his brain, he told me one day that he loved my voice.  He loved the way I sang and played and that it reminded him of grandma (who taught me to play piano) and he asked me to sing at his funeral one day.  I laughingly said yes, subconsiously feeling as tho my Papal was immortal, so i would never have to do it.
Hes old.  He is mortal.  And today Im facing his mortality in a strong way.  My poor papal has gangrene and it probably has gone septic.  Its the End.  They are bringing in the morphone drip and the hospital bed.  He cant walk anymore and is in a lot of pain.  Its The End of an Age.
My grandparents have been together for ever!!  I know the best sceneario is for Papal to go first, because he couldnt live without his "sweetie".  But my heart breaks for my grandma and the loss that she will have to face.  The end of her lifetime with her true love.
If you read this.. please pray for Pete.  Pray for Betty.  And pray for my family.  My family has a lot of people who like to be drama queens and who seems to know just how to make life miserable for others and this isnt the time for it.  Pray for peace within my family.

Madi's Mask

Im sitting here in the living room listening to Madi talk with her adoption worker and she is making a mask with her that shows how she feels on the inside and she said loved.  And drew a heart and put a dot in it and said God makes her feel loved.  Then added two other dots that were Mike and I and said that we make her feel loved too.
Im glad she feels loved by God.  That makes me know that we are doing a good job.  Even if she hadnt put us in there... just that she immedietly said I feel loved and its God who makes me feel that way, thats worth a 1000 words telling me that we are doing a good job.
Last night after Bible School, she asked us why she couldnt go cause she wants to go to bible school and learn about the bible and about Jesus.  I love that!! I love that she wants to learn more about God and she is hungry for His word in her little 8 yr old way! She has a big girl bible that she cant really read very well, and she asked for a bible that she can read, so Im going to make sure I set aside a few bucks to get her an easy reader Bible soon!! 

Sometimes I really feel like Im screwing up royally.  I feel like I have no patience with her, that I am not teaching her anything.  And that she is going to grow up to hate me and God and life becuase Im not a good mom.  (Yea, Satan has been messing with my mind!) But things like this are God's way of subtly pointing out that Im doing ok.  Im doing my best.  I can always get better, but Im trying and praying and thats what counts!

Battle Ground or Play Ground

Last night, I started my first Bible School class with International School of Ministry.  Im really excited about this opportunity!!  I can be ordained in 2.5 years, and the best part is, I will spend the next 2.5 yrs learning more of the Word, drawing closer to the Lord and learning how to be a better Worship Leader! 

During our discussion time, we were talking about how the Bible and knowing scriptures can help us in our spiritual walk.  One of the girls said that it helps prepare us for war, for the battles we have to face as Christians.  Then she said something that stuck with me... she said that Christians need to treat this walk as a Battle Ground... not a Play Ground.

Oh my goodness... seriously, thats soooo true!  I know for me, I skip around like, la de da, this is a lovely life.  And, yes it is.  It really is.  Im blessed and I love life, but if Im being honest and not putting my baby christian blinders on, there is serious stuff out there.  Now, I dont think we should be getting our panties in a bunch and going crazy with the battle stuff, but its important!!   Remember that we do not battle against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers.  This is a spiritual battle that needs to be waged in prayer and w/ scriptures!!! 

Im going to try to be more aware of the battles going on around me.  Im going to try to see this world through God's eyes more often, and mine less often.  Father, help me to see when I need to engage in battle.  Help me to be clothed in your Holy Spirit and help me to remember my armour.

This is For REAL!

The following is an actual post I just found on Craigslist.  Seriously.  I just about peed my pants when I read this!!

FREE Whole frozen turkey 15-20lb (Strasburg)

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Date: 2009-09-16, 3:52PM EDT
Reply to: sale-fgtw8-1377716510@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

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I have a whole frozen turkey by Esbenshade Farms that we will not be using. I cannot find the weight of it on the package, but it has got to be at least 15-20 pounds. There is nothing wrong with it and the plastic packaging on it was never opened and it has no rips or slits or anything like that. I am hoping that someone out there can use it because I have no other options than to throw it away and I don't think my trashman will appreciate that heavy bag lol. If you can use it, you are more than welcome to come and get it. The sooner the better, too!


Thanks!!

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I feel as tho I MUST point out several "FAIL" points.
1. No rips or slits!?!
2. The trashman wont want to lift it!?!  For real!?  Seriously!?!  You actually think your trashman will be unhappy at that 15-20lb heavy bag?  Thats heavy!?  Youve GOT to be kidding me! HAHAHA!
3.Why is that you have no use for a turkey?  Last time I checked you can cook it and eat it! lol!!  people!
4. Lastly... I guess if there is anywhere to post a free turkey that you have just sitting around in your freezer, it would have to be Craigslist.

yea.  nuff said.  Nite all!!


WAIT.... I just saw this and thought it was the perfect fit for the turkey above... used turkey oil!!!

FREE Turkey Cooking Oil (Lancaster, PA)

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Date: 2009-09-14, 8:23PM EDT
Reply to: sale-uu3gk-1374742443@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

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Selling oil used in a turkey deep fryer... call 717-***-**** for more info. thanks.

• Location: Lancaster, PA
• it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 1374742443

Hot Chocolate on Cold Fall Mornings

I love hot chocolate on a cold fall morning. 
The cool misty air swirling around the leaf littered ground makes everything look magically and mystical. 
Sweet colors fill the landscape as trees begin their transition to winter's sleep.
My steaming mug perfuming the air with lucious smells of deep rich chocolate.
The warmth filling my belly as the cool air teases my face.
I love hot chocolate on a cold fall morning!

I really love fall!  The smells, the sounds, the VIEWS!  Its a gorgeous season.  God is sooooo cool to give us this season!  Madi-potomus (haha... she loves that nickname!) loves to play in the leaves. She cant wait until they start to fall and can be raked into large piles to jump into and run through.  I love the mums, the colored leaves, and pumpkins, gourds and apples.  I love hay rides, hot chocolate, APPLE CIDER, and pumpkin pies!

Well, time to walk Madi-potomus to the bus... and enjoy this crisp cool fall morning!!