A Bike Ride with God

A Bike Ride with God
Author unknown

At first I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like the president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know him. But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal. I don't know just when it was that He suggested that we change places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control, I knew the way. It was rather boring but predictable ... It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, and it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal." I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are You taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance, and joy. They gave me gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine. And we're off again. He said, "Give the gifts away, they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light. I did not trust Him at first, to be in control of my life, I thought He would wreck it; But He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, knows how to jump to clear high rocks, knows how to fly to shorten scary passages. I'm learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus Christ. And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He smiles and says ... "Pedal."

Altered Book ...Best Friends

Here is an altered book with a picture of my mom, her sister and best friend from the 30's....on their bikes........

Record Albums Altered

Here are more of the altered albums...they can be put on a plate rack or can be drilled and hung on the wall...I can also personalize them...

Here are some of my new altered albums...

check them out on etsy....www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5804635

Happy Birthday to Kerry and Natalie!

Kerry turns 50 today and Natalie turns 17...hard to believe how fast the years went by...how neat they share the same birthday...hugs, cheryl

Through the Years of Weeping

There were chapters & seasons in this journey of life
that were harder than I dreamed they would be,
Where the climbing and the toiling was an uphill battle
with no end in sight I could see.
But God in His beauty penetrated the darkness
that tried to overwhelm me there,
And I found that the knowledge of His truth was more important
than any heartache that didn't seem fair.
It was there in the tossing...and the uncertainty of life
that I held onto the Anchor that holds.
For the blessedness of His Sprit dwelling within me
was more priceless than mountains of gold.
It was there that God taught me & tenderly brought me
to a truth that I needed to know;
That faith must be tested in the fires of adversity
to be refined and have chance to grow.
Through the years of weeping...my Father was always keeping
my prayers and petitions in His hand.
For the times He answered "no" or said I wasn't ready
He gave the grace so that I could understand.
No matter the circumstances or whatever it involved
God strengthened me with His faithful heart.
And when the trial was over, I knew much more of God
than I ever knew of Him at the start.

©Sheila Gosney

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Psalm 30:11-12 NKJV

Pray

We have sure had a medical week again..but this has been our life...everyone tells me to write a book and it sure seems like I should...my voice is going once again and I had to go to U of C yesterday to an ENT and he scoped my throat but thankfully my vocal chords are still moving and is trying medicine again to see if that will stop my choking on food and get my voice to come back strong again..I have to go back to get more tests at Loyola done now...then Kerry my husband came up to me last night at 11 pm almost in tears as he has had so many surgeries for back and pain...he has a stimulator and interthecal pump inside of him and we are not sure if he has a hernia or what so I called his doctor early this morning and had to bring him into Rush this morning and they injected it with steroids and are going to try and help his pain as he is in so much chronic pain that they have to change his meds in his pump on Monday and on Friday give him an injection into his spine for relief of foot pain..so another week of medical next week...Kerry turns 50 tomorrow and he became disabled 10 years ago...hard to believe! They never thought he would survive and he we are 10 years later but so hard to watch someone you love suffer daily and nothing you can do but watch...I really have lived the richer, poorer, sickness and in health when we married almost 25 years ago this fall...hugs, cheryl

Be Thankful

BE THANKFUL


Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who
are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

~~Author Unknown

Payton

Payton is not feeling good and she is the sweetest dog...she has an abscess on her back right paw..they are testing it for cancer! Pray for her...she is our baby!

Tests came back and it is not cancer but they want to do a biopsy now as they think something is in her paw...it is looking better and she is finally walking on it..hugs, cheryl

Teenagers

I will survive the lovely teen years and early 20's with my daughters! I have three beautiful daughters but at times I feel like how did my mom ever do it? The challanges of trying to keep cars running, going to jobs, one in College and the stress of a disabled husband...I will survive but somedays I feel like running away..hugs, cheryl

 

Old window decorated

My husband made this for me for my birthday present...we use to have a craft business and we would take old windows and chairs and decorate them...I asked him to make me one and this one we have behind our couch in our living room! Something I will always treasure of what Kerry made me...hugs, cheryl

By The Things We're Allowed To Go Through

By The Things We're Allowed To Go Through

There are seasons of life & sufferings of the heart
that God will allow for His own;
Where the pain is almost too heavy to bear
for the garden of tears that are sown.
But little do we know about the future itself
other than Christ will hold tight to the redeemed.
And that God will have a way of always being faithful
no matter how hard that it seemed.
For He brings us through trials to test our faith
and filter off what doesn't belong.
In the end we realize that God is truly God
and our weakness is what makes us strong.
God brings us through hardships that threaten to break us
to show us He is sovereign each day,
And to show us the hope of the King will deliver
when the current tries to sweep us away.
God will allow us to have desperate needs
to show us His perfect, provisional glory.
Then we walk away humbled...knowing He's in control
of each detail within our life story.
The pain God allows is never meant to break us
but to showcase what He alone can do;
When He takes us from heartache...to victory of the heart
by the things we're allowed to go through.

©Sheila Gosney

"The definition of success--To laugh much; to win respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition.; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived--this is to have succeeded." ~
Ralph Waldo Emerson

I was the runner up in a Repurposing Contest!

I came in as runner up for Linda's contest on repurposing things that you have and how can you reuse them. This is what I am really trying to do this year as I am doing my crafts! I love to challange myself and this is the perfect challange for 2008 to be repurposing items into neat items! I am sure we all have closets of things we wanted to do over the years but never got to them. I challange you to start getting out those old projects and see how you can use them today in maybe something else...There are so many awesome websites! I will go through and put some of my favorites in this weekend so check back to see what neat sites and blogs to check out...It is amazing what some crafters have done. Have a Great Weekend! hugs, cheryl

Here is how I took old CD's and melted them into jewelry pieces...they are so colorful and unique because each one is different and unique!

Here is a book I took and altered it into a handmade treasure to give to someone special..you can have them ordered with your own pictures and sayings that you want or just have one made for That Special Person in your life! I love making these as they challange me to try new techniques!

http://lindapetersondesigns.blogspot.com/2008/03/spring-is-in-air-time-for-garden-crafts.html

http://lindapetersondesigns.blogspot.com/2008/04/winner-of-national-craft-month-contest.html

Angels in the Yard...Old Chair with flowers decorated in the front of our yard~

I love trying to figure out how to put different items together and what can I do to reuse things that I have already in the house or the garage that I can paint or put together....I love Angels and flowers and this goes together perfect! Touched by an Angel! hugs, cheryl

Before and After...House Painting

Here is the before and after pictures of our home!

This is my dad at 82 years old painting our home...We did it together father and daughter! Amazing when I think back to all this work! hugs, cheryl

Queen Anne Victorian House 1904 it was built in...Illinois

Here is our 1904 Queen Anne Victorian Home that my dad and I painted in 2005...My dad was 82 and I was 45...my husband is disabled and we had a painter doing our home and he ruined it by power washing it and he left it so I started painting and my mom sent my dad to help me...the two of us did it in a month! My husband fell on a roof about 9 years ago and became disabled so he had the hardest time watching his wife and father in law painting his home! I never dreamed when we moved in 24 years ago that I would ever have painted a home like this with five colors...I am so glad my dad and I got it done!

Just starting out....

I have wanted to start blogging and this is my challange to get this done today! I enjoy making crafts and jewelry...I have been fortunate to have a craft room just for doing crafts in one place so the rest of the house does not get destroyed! I have tried soldering, altered books, jewelry, scrapbooking, sewing and floral arranging. I am so glad to be able to be creative as it is the neatest thing to be able to take something and make it into something beautiful just by adding flowers, paint, or beads to it! I also love gardening in the yard..I will post my flowers later and that is the best therapy is to get out and dig in the yard! People stop all the time to look at our flowers and the different items we have put out there to accent the garden! Only a few more weeks and we can start planting again! later, Cheryl