HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS! I love the meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate.

I try to teach my children that it is not about "getting" but about "giving," not necessarily giving presents, but giving of yourself, which I have to admit that I have failed miserably in that department this year. I pray that God will help me do better this next year. There is just so much commercialism about selling and buying and the big department stores competing for sales, and they say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" because it might offend someone. What about offending me and other Christians because they don't say "Merry Christmas." I don't know about you, but I for one do not want to hear "Happy Holidays." There wouldn't be a "holiday" in the first place if it had not been for the birth of Jesus - He is the reason for the season.

So, MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone and HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!

Love, Bella

28 Years Ago

On Monday, December 15, 1980, at 3:00 a.m., 28 years ago, I was admitted to the hospital to have my first baby. I was 18 and scared to death. After my body decided that it did not want to have a baby naturally and shut down completely, the doctor decided I needed a C-Section on Wednesday, December 17, 1980, just about noon. Ever since then, Connie has been late for just about everything, except for having Emily Rhyse, who was 5 weeks early.

Time sure does fly by when you aren't looking. It is hard to believe that Connie is 28 and now a mommy. And my goodness, Morgan Ann is 15. I remember when they were just babies, it seems like yesterday, until I look in the mirror and see the years written all over me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNIE MARIE!!!!

Have a Blessed Day in the Lord!!

Love, Bella

High School

I don't remember life being so difficult, you got up, dressed, ate breakfast, went to school, came home, did homework, ate supper, took a shower, and went to bed. Get up the next day and start the process over. And do whatever your parents instruct you to do, whether it was mow the grass, rack the leaves, wash the dishes, etc., and you did it without mouthing.

Today, I get a call from my daughter, who is in tears, because a girl at school has decided for her "pet" project to try to destroy my daughter. The fleshy part of me wants to tell my daughter to kick her tail, but the Christian me says "turn the other cheek, and walk away." Why does it get so tiring doing the "right" thing? And how come they never tire of doing the "wrong" thing and what do they get out of it? Do they think it makes them look good, makes them look intelligent, by downgrading someone else?

I don't like it when my children have to experience this kind of abuse, senseless abuse. It has gotten so bad that my daughter wants to change schools, and I tell her that she can't run from this kind of stuff, that it's the same everywhere, mean and bullying kids.

You know, it doesn't have to be like this - I believe this is what happens when you have a generation of children that have not been disciplined at home, and are taught to "fight" no matter what and no matter who it hurts. I don't want my children raised like that - but society, it seems, almost dictates it to be so.

Please keep us in your prayers.

Bella.

Hospitals - Yuck

I received a call yesterday, our daughter Connie was in the hospital. The doctor said it is her gallbladder and it has to be removed; it is loaded with gallstones. She was admitted to the hospital overnight for pain and I think, to be sure none of the gallstones had "dumped" into her bile (I think that's the word). Anyway, little Emily and Tom stayed the night with her and she was released this morning. She was placed on a liquid diet and we aren't sure how that is going to work since she is breastfeeding. The doctor has scheduled her surgery for Friday. Please pray for the doctors, nurses, Connie, Tom and little Emily.

On another note, my niece, Kristy, has asked for prayer for her husband, Wade. He has been having seizures and they don't know what is causing them. Please keep them in your prayers also.

See ya in blog land, Bella

Thanksgiving

We had the most wonderful Thanksgiving. It started the Saturday before when we left home headed for South Carolina. The trip was long, but enjoyable. Our youngest daughter, Morgan Ann, kept texting me with weather updates like she was the weather lady. She did really well.

Fourteen hours later, we arrived at Laurel Bay and got to meet our grandbaby for the first time. She is absolutely beautiful, and she is such a good baby.

We took her for her first beach visit at Hunting Island, although she didn't get to see it, the wind was blowing really hard, drizzling rain, and cold, so she stayed wrapped up really well. I got to hold her, kiss her and love on her all week long - not sure when we will be back to South Carolina.

We left on Sunday, November 30, heading home. It was so hard to leave, I really wanted to stay. The drive home seemed like a lifetime, it took us longer to get home, it rained most of the way and the wind was really blowing.

Bella

THE CHILDREN ON THE COMPASSION WEBSITE

I just finished looking at over 600 children on the Compassion website (there are more than that), and my heart just breaks for these children. There are so many on there that have that little red heart in the upper left-hand corner that means they have been waiting six (6) months or longer for a sponsor. I just wish I could sponsor them all.

Jesus, I pray for sponsors for these children, for all of them.

In Jesus' Name, Bella

VETERAN'S DAY

Today is a special day for the military and their families. It is a day of rememberance and a day to give thanks to the many soldiers that fought for our freedom and a tribute to the families of the ones that "gave all."

My husband, Chalie, was in the Marine Corps from 1967 to 1975 and fought in Vietnam. Our family is very proud of his service to our country and thank God that he made it home safe.

Our son-in-law, Tom, is a Marine, stationed in Beaufort, South Carolina, and he just got back from 6 months over seas.

I heard on the radio, American Family Radio, the other day where this town was having a Veteran's Day parade and hardly anyone showed up for it, except, of course, the Veterans. The Veterans were very hurt by this show of indifference. If it were not for our Veterans and our current military this country would be nothing, they are why we are the "land of the free."

So, thank a Veteran today or any military personnel that you know or see today. Let them know that their efforts and sacrifices are not for nothing.

May God Bless our Veterans, our military, and their families.

Love, Bella

Great Opportunity For Giving/Sharing in The Name of Jesus

Rebecca (Becky) Lynn Murphy

On November 7, 2008, I attended the funeral of a good friend, Becky. We worked together for several years and became friends. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer.

I have comfort in knowing that Becky knew Jesus as her Lord and Saviour. We use to have conversations all the time about Jesus, and talking about the Bible.

Becky will be greatly missed. Love ya Becky, your still older!!!

Love, Angie Kay

Christian Motorcyclists Association - Changing of the Colors Rally, Mena, Arkansas

Every year, since 2003, my family and I have been attending the Changing of the Colors Rally in Mena, Arkansas. This is a Christian motorcycle rally where Christians who like to ride motorcycles can get together and fellowship and worship our Lord and Saviour; they provide services for the children and also for the youth, as well as the adults. It is a time where I don't have to constantly look over my shoulder and wonder if my daughter is okay - when we are on Iron Mountain for the rally, she visits all her friends that she has made over the years and attends the youth services, when she was younger she attended the children's service.

It always happens, every year, we go and get refreshed in the Lord and we always leave there extremely blessed. For the last several years, some of CMA International leaders have been attending this rally and it is just awesome to hear what God is doing in their countries through this motorcycle ministry. There have been leaders from the United Kingdom, Africa, Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, Dubai, and countless other countries. We really enjoy getting to meet them and listening to their experiences. We just have an awesome time in the Lord.

My husband and I usually work some during the rally, either helping clean the restrooms or helping out with traffic (unfortunately, we were not able to help this year because I got there late.)

CMA sponsors a Pastor's Retreat every year for pastors and we have had the privilege of helping out with this also, and have enjoyed our pastor attending this retreat. I believe we are more blessed by just being allowed to serve than the Pastor's are, but they don't think so.

Please pray for me.

Love, Bella

Compassion International

I have been reading the blogs from the Compassion Bloggers about their trip to the Dominican Republic this week, November 2-7, 2008, and their accounts of what they are experiencing are so profound and life-changing. I find myself teary-eyed at their experiences, from the one family that says they have no hope to the family that has hope and all because the mother in that family had a sponsor as a child, and two of her children are being sponsored. My prayer is that the family with no hope, through Melanie, who is sponsoring their little Ana, will find hope in Jesus.

It is difficult for us to grasp what these people are going through, what they are living in, what they are living without, and the fact that through Compassion and the sponsors, they are being cared for and loved.

I pray that all of the children that are listed on the Compassion website will be sponsored and that there will be sponsors waiting for children, instead of children waiting for sponsors.

What an awesome God we serve!!!!

Be Blessed, Bella

Just Some Thoughts

My mom (Emily) passed away on October 15, 2001, and my dad (Joe) passed away on January 10, 2008; and my husband's mom (Louise) passed away on October 1, 2008 and his dad (Carl) in 1979. If you are lucky enough to still have your parents, you are blessed. I don't understand why my mom got to live only 61 years and my dad 70 years, but I know that it was God's plan. In these last few years, I have learned to lean on my husband a lot more, like I should have been doing all along. Lord you will always be No. 1.

My family is slowly growing, with the addition of our first granddaughter, Emily Rhyse. I thank God for her and the joy she has already brought to our lives, she is a miracle - our daughter, due to previous complications, didn't think she would be able to get pregnant. We chose to be called Bella and Poppa by our granddaughter, we wanted something that would be special and that you don't hear everyday.

I told you these were just some thoughts.

My husband and I enjoy riding motorcycles and we are members of the Christian Motorcyclists Association (http://www.cmausa.org/). My husband rides a Harley-Davidson V-Rod, but is currently wanting a Kawaski Concours; and I ride a Harley-Davidson 1200 Sportster; we also own a Honda 250 Rebel that is used to teach others to ride.

I enjoy reading blogs that are written by other Christian women, they are so uplifting and encouraging.

Our youngest daughter, Morgan Ann, is 15 years old, and is a sophomore this year. She is hanging with a better group of kids this year (last year was a nightmare).

I work two jobs. My full-time job is as a legal secretary for a law firm that I have been with for 15 years now; and my second job I started in the middle of August, 2008, and it is at the Sonic.

I would love to be able to go on a mission trip, either with CMA or with a group like Compassion International. So far, my travels have only taken me as far East as Florida, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington, DC; West to Texas; South to Louisiana; North to Missouri and Kansas; and to Hawaii in December, 2007 (my first ever plane ride, I got woozy on the plane also). I've only been out of the USA one time and that is when we took a cruise during Spring Break of 2001 to the Bahamas, I got sea sick (well, really just woozy).

I think I need to end this post - it is really just some scattered thoughts running through my little brain.

Love, Bella

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Emily's Hospital Stay - Jaundice

On November 1, 2008, Emily Rhyse was admitted to Beaufort Memorial Hospital because her bilirubin count (Jaundice) was still high. This morning, November 2, 2008, the count was down from 15.__ to 12.__, so she will have to stay in the hospital a little longer, hopefully it will be down enough this afternoon so she can go home.

I was thinking about little Emily's weight, at 5.4 pounds she is just over the weight of a bag of sugar and when her weight dropped to 4.15 pounds, she wasn't as big as a bag of sugar. I just really wish I was there with her, to love on her and to let her know that Bella loves her so much. Her great-grandmother would have been beside herself.

No more news today, just please keep praying for her to continue to improve.

Have a Blessed Day!!!!!

Love,
Bella

Emily's 1st Doctor Visit

Little Emily Rhyse had her first doctor's visit today. She still weighs 4.15 pounds, but her Jaundice seems to be better because she is nursing again - Thank You Jesus!!

Connie & Tom are suppose to set up the webcam tomorrow so that we can see Emily Rhyse crying or moving around or something - maybe she won't be sleeping.

Please pray for her to keep getting stronger everyday.

Love,
Bella, Poppa & Aunt Morgan

EARLY DELIVERY

This is Emily Rhyse. She is our first grandbaby and she arrived 5 weeks early. Her original due date was December 3, 2008, but I guess she didn't get that memo, because she came on October 28, 2008, weighing in at 5.4 pounds, and was 18 inches. She was born at Beaufort Memorial Hospital in Beaufort, South Carolina, to her parents, Connie and Tom. We will not get to see her until the Thanksgiving holidays, at least that way her Aunt Morgan and her Poppa will be able to travel with Bella to her.

When we got the call that our daughter was in labor, I just laid in bed and prayed that God would protect Connie and little Emily Rhyse, because I knew she was early. God is faithful, he protected them both. Emily Rhyse only needed to be on oxygen for a little while, and she is eating and doing well. And Connie was not in labor for extreme amount of time, like you always hear people talking about, so that was a blessing also.

We love you, Emily Rhyse.

Bella, Poppa & Aunt Morgan