It must be raining~ By Bob Perks

"It must be raining"By Bob Perks
The images flash across my television screenas I sit there in the comfort of my home.

"It's that time of year again," I thought to myself.

Then realizing how foolish that was to say, I satup in my chair and watched closer.

The news reporter was telling the story of one ofmany food banks in our area that were servingthose in need of the basics for the holidays.

This particular place had both food and clothing.Food for the body and warm second hand coats for children.

"It's that time of year again," replayed in my mind.

I meant that throughout the holidays wesee such reports over and over, unlike the other 11 months when the same people are hungry,in need of clothing, basic services and a little helpwith life.

Maybe I said it because I was becoming numb to it all, like watching the same commercials a hundredtimes.

I was about to feel the real impact of it all.

I was sitting at the counter having breakfast at a local diner the next day.

It's a small "quaint" place. Local people, husband andwife cook and serve.

A man walked in and sat next to me. There is little elbow room as it is and he was a big fellow.

On top of the milk dispenser is a small television placedthere for both the customers enjoyment and the owners when things get slow.

It just so happened that the news was on and once again that same report on the food bank. This time it included more information and a few interviewsof some of the people who participated.

There was a little girl looking through the coats.
The reporter asked her if she found something that fit.

She turned toward the camera and smiled. She flipped her soft brown hair up over the collar as she pulled and tugged at the front to make sureit would zipper properly.

"I like this store. Mommy said I could have any coat I wanted, but I'm getting this one for my friend. Her daddy won't come here. Mommysays he's too proud. Whatever that means.All I know is Mandy needs a coat."

Out of the corner of my eye I could see the man next to me lower his head. Without looking uphe fumbled for a napkin and began to wipe his eyes.

"Incredibly sad, isn't it?" I said.

He didn't respond.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yes," he said quietly.

"Hey, don't feel bad, I've shed many tears through the holidays for those who don't have nearly as much as I and I am in no wayfinancially set for life," I told him.

"I'm a writer. I live on my dreams," I added.

He turned toward me. I could still see thedampness of tear filled eyes. He raised his hand to his chest and pointing at himself he said..."I'm Mandy's father. That's
the first I've seen that. The little girl goes to
school with my daughter."

Oh, my god! My chest tightened, my hands shook and I shared in his tears.

"It must be raining," he joked.

We spoke for a few more minutes about how he felt and what he needed to do.
Turns out he's unemployed for more than
a year now and doing odd jobs to pay bills.

We said our goodbyes and I approachedthe register.

I whispered that I wanted his check.

"He only gets coffee," she said.

"Well, here. This is for my meal, his coffee and tell him this is for Mandy.He'll understand."

Many years ago I spoke at my friend'schurch in Atlanta, The Ark of Salvation.
A woman came up to me and said God told her to give me everything she had in her wallet. I was shaken by the thought and began to refuse it. Things were better for me back then.
I couldn't justify what she offered.

God spoke to me as I listened to her explain.

"It isn't very much, but God said that it would multiply. Please take it."

I did. I shared the story with Nathaniel Bronner,the pastor of the church and he smiled assuring me I did the right thing.

It was $57. I always carry it with me until thisvery day. I give it away and replace it. It has indeed multiplied many times. God is an amazing God Who has never failed to replace that $57 each and every time I use it.

I turned to walk away and another man sittingat the counter grabbed my arm and said..."I overheard your conversation with that man.I'll help him, too."

He then wiped his eyes and said, "He's right.It must be raining."

You can visit the church website, view or listen to
messages... The Online Word.

There's a lot of hope and inspiration there...especially when
"It must be raining."

"I wish you enough!"
J
Bob Perks

The Magical Bank!!

Imagine that you had won the following prize in a contest:

Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private bank account for your own use. However, this prize has rules, just as any game has certain rules.
The first set of rules would be:
1) Everything that you didn't spend during each day would be taken away from you.
2) You may not simply transfer money into some other account. You may only spend it.
3) Each morning upon awakening, the bank opens your account with another $86,400.00 for that day.
The second set of rules:
1) The bank can end the game without warning; at any time it can say,"It's over, the game is over!"
2) It can close the account in an instant and you will not receive a new one.
What would you personally do? You would buy anything and everything you wanted, right? Not only for yourself, but for all the people in your life, right? Maybe even for people you don't know, because you couldn't possibly spend it all on yourself and the people in your life, right? You would try to spend every single cent, and use it all up every day, right?
Actually, this game is a reality, but not with money!
Each of us is in possession of such a magical bank. We just don't seem to see it.
The MAGICAL BANK is TIME!
Each morning we awaken and receive 86,400 seconds as a gift of life, and when the day is done, any remaining time is gone and NOT credited to us. What we haven't lived up to that day is lost forever. Yesterday is forever gone. Tomorrow isn't promised. You only have today. What did you do with your 86,400 seconds? Did you waste some of it in anger, jealousy, impatience or did you use it in kindness, forgiveness, love, God? Did you have time for your loved ones? Did you kiss them? Each morning the account is refilled, but the magical bank can dissolve our account at any time....WITHOUT WARNING.
SO, what will YOU do with your 86,400 seconds? Think about that, and always think of this: Enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than we think. Take good care of yourself & your health and enjoy life. Live each day to the fullest, be kind to one another, and be forgiving. Harbor a positive attitude and always be the first to smile.
Here's wishing you a wonderful, beautiful day, each and every 86,400 seconds.
This email doesn't have one of those pass it forward or you'll have bad luck for a period of time, but it was worth reading that I thought I share it with you guys, really wishing you all the best 86,400 seconds of your day! hugs, cheryl

Leaves Fall...love this one! Took the Picture at Starved Rock!

Life 101

Guess since I have been on my blog so many things in my life have changed! Now I wish I had kept writing but sometimes life just throws so many curves at you that you cannot figure out where life is going next! Kerry and I got divorced in May...very tough time for all of us! We were married for 26 years and went out for three years! Never, ever did I think this would be me six months later alone in the house of my dreams...I am doing ok and the girls have survived so much this year! I am proud of who they are and what they have been able to go through in life! I think it has made us much better people and will be forever! Kerry lives in Ottawa and yesterday got a phone call that he is looking at moving to Florida...I guess you get the pit feeling inside and I am like most people I will always care about him...I don't love him like I did when we married but caring is something deep inside and I know he is the Father to my girls...he was such an awesome dad before he fell and broke his back! Tears are running down my face as I write this...Life sure isn't what we always dreamed of but we have to keep going and I am...

Very thankful for the friends that have been there for me in the good and the bad times...I am blessed more than I ever imagined! I have met so many new friends and I am so happy to have them in my life! I have so many that would drop what they are doing to help me if I needed them...I have more than I can count on my hands...

I have about five more months in my house till I have to move out but thankful that I have had time to heal and deal with the pain, loss and emotions that go into Divorce...I have to say it is probably harder than death in a way! I now have more sympathy for those that have gone through divorce and now will be that friend to others as they have no clue what it is like! Honestly it is a pit feeling so hard to describe...but I am making it and day by day it seems to get easier! Do I still have crying days? Oh Yeah...do they last as long...No! Thankgoodness!

I have been dating and going places...I never thought this would be me...when I got seperated I honestly didn't think anyone would want to date me...well it doesn't seem to be a problem! Now I just want to find one guy to enjoy life with...Life is going by so fast and the weeks are flying by tooo fast! I am in a Divorce Group in Naperville and Singles groups...they have been amazing support! Meetups.com was a lifesavor for me! I have joined a photography group, wine tasting groups, dating groups! Who would have thought that at 49 life could be honestly good!!! Not me at least ...A year ago I would not have ever thought this is where Cheryl Brown would be at in 2010...kinda now looking forward to 2011 !!! I turn 50 in January and gonna really make a difference in others lives...I have had so many help me that now I want to return the favor! I am planning on going to Africa in May with my church! How awesome to be going to the ends of the Earth and than to be able to give back to people that have nothing! Well, I am back and ready to start sharing my new adventures...I am also being creative and enjoying making things again! Hugs, cheryl

Craft Storage Area

Craft Storage Area, originally uploaded by thegoinggreenboutique.

My craft room...:-) so hard to pack all of my stuff up but moving forward!

My Painted Lady is for Sale! :-(

I thought I would be in my home till I grew old but life changes, children grow up, plans changes, divorce happens, and we have to go forward! It has been a time in my life that I never thought would happen to me but I can see so many new doors opening that I know we will be ok...God has taken care of us for the last 12 years and I know he is not going to leave me now! Packing up my craft room today and so hard to see this happen but I will be able to start again....Please pray for us and here is our posting of our home for Sale!
http://www.homesbylender.com/chicagosouth/listings/plainfield/

My daughters had an awesome time!!

Mallory and Natalie spent 13 days in Amsterdam, Italy, and Spain! It was a trip of a lifetime for both of them. I was happy to have them land and come back home for sure but so thankful they got to go and travel and do things that I have yet to experience! Here are a few of their pictures....Some day I will go to Italy!

My girls....Mallory and Natalie leaving for Amsterdam, Spain and Italy!!!

The four of us.....

My three daughters!

With their Dad!

Mallory and Natalie with bags and passports!

I am back...

Cannot believe it is March and almost Spring! Has been one heck of a winter and never dreamed all that I would endure these past few months...Kerry and I are getting divorced and just something I never, ever dreamed I would be going through! I started going to a divorce care group in Naperville and it is very helpful....started going back to Church! Losing weight and taking care of me! I am thankful for all my friends and the people that have kept me going through these difficult days...I started back to Bikram Yoga and love it...best thing I did for myself and what a workout!!! 105 degress and 90 minutes of sweating! Amazing you can feel so good after working out but you really do!~ Cannot wait to get my bike out again and start riding again! I feel like this winter was never going to end....Please keep us in your prayers and thanks for checking on me...hugs, cheryl

A Book I made for my Mom!

I made this out of an old book and took a picture of my Mom, Aunt and their friend from when they were teenagers and created a neat altered book out of it!!! One of my favorites!

Quote for today!!!

Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself.

A mismatched couple.

A mismatched couple., originally uploaded by BEAT NIK.

It is sooo cold in Chicagoland!!! BBBRRRRRR!!!!

When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child. ~Sophia Loren, Women and Beauty

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! -- Corinthians 5:17 We all like "do-overs" or second chances. God does much better than that! He allows us to become new again. Being the "God of new things" he can even make us new.. Let's use the opportunity of a New Year as a s...pringboard for living a life fresh and new and alive for God!

My other goal is to read the Bible all the way through! I have joined a group on Facebook that is doing this!!!

Here is January's!! If you want to join in...let me know!

Chronological Bible in a Year
1-Jan	Genesis 1:1 - 3:24
2	Genesis 4:1 - 5:32; 1 Chronicles 1:1-4; Genesis 6:1-22
3	Genesis 7:1 - 9:29
4	Genesis 10:1 - 11:26; 1 Chronicles 1:5 - 27
5	Job 1:1 - 3:26
6	Job 4:1 - 7:21
7	Job 8:1 - 10:22
8	Job 11:1 - 14:22
9	Job 15:1 - 18:21
10	Job 19:1 - 21:34
11	Job 22:1 - 26:14
12	Job 27:1 - 29:25
13	Job 30:1 - 31:40
14	Job 32:1 - 34:37
15	Job 35:1 - 37:24
16	Job 38:1 - 39:30
17	Job 40:1 - 42:17
18	Genesis 11:27 - 15:21
19	Genesis 16:1 - 18:33
20	Genesis 19:1 - 21:34; Genesis 25:12 - 18; 1 Chronicles 1: 28 - 31
21	Genesis 22:1 - 24:67
22	Genesis 25:1 - 26:35 1 Chronicles 1:32-34
23	Genesis 27:1 - 28:9; Genesis 36:1 - 43; 1 Chronicles 1: 35 - 54
24	Genesis 28:0 - 30:43
25	Genesis 31:1 - 32:32
26	Genesis 33:1 - 35:29; 1 Chronicles 2:1 - 2
27	Genesis 37:1 - 39:23
28	Genesis 40:1 - 41:57
29	Genesis 42:1 - 44:34
30	Genesis 45:1 - 46:9; 1 Chronicles 5:1 - 6; Genesis 46:10 - 12; 1 Chronicles 2:18 - 55
31	1 Chronicles 4:1-23; Genesis 46:13; 1 Chronicles 7:1-5; Genesis 46:14-18; 1 Chronicles 7:30-40; Genesis 46:19-25; 1 Chronicles 7:6-12; Genesis 46:26 - 47:12

Vintage Postcard ~ Chubby Angel

Vintage Postcard ~ Chubby Angel, originally uploaded by chicks57.

Just the neatest postcards!!! I love em all!

joy

joy, originally uploaded by pam garrison.

For my friend that has brought so much Joy into my life...:-)

CHRISTMAS REMINDERS

CHRISTMAS REMINDERS
-May the Christmas presents remind you of God's Greatest GIFT -- His Only Begotten Son!
- May the Christmas candles remind you of Him Who is the -- LIGHT of the world!
- May the Christmas tree remind you of another tree on which -- He died for YOU!
- May the Christmas cheer remind you of Him Who said, -- "Be of good cheer!"
- May the Christmas feast remind you of Him Who is the -- Bread of Life!
- May the Christmas snow remind you of the cleansing -- POWER of CHRIST!
- May the Christmas bells remind you of the glorious proclamation -- of His Birth!
- May the Christmas carols remind you of His glad tidings which we proclaim -- to ALL mankind!
- May the Christmas season remind you in EVERY way of -- JESUS CHRIST your King!!!

Neat blog..check this out!!!

http://www.wearethatfamily.com/2009/11/diyp-cheesecloth-rosette-pins.html

What are you thankful for???

This month on Facebook many of us have been writing something to say each day what we are thankful for! I have really enjoyed this as I feel we need to do this each day...what a difference it is to wake up and think about what are you thankful for to start your morning off!!! It sure makes even the tough days so much better!!! Thankful for my family, my parents, our home, our health even though somedays we are falling apart, thankful for the doctors that have been so awesome to us! Thankful for Food Pantry's that have helped us for so many years...the list goes on! hugs, cheryl

November???? Where is the time going?

I honestly had so many plans and dreams for this year! It seems it has been a year filled with hospitals, doctors and surgery's! I am still in a mess with my husband and his spine! Not sure what will happen this week. He has a huge mass on the outside of his incission and now looks like it will have to have another drain put in it this week. Please pray for Kerry and all that is happening here! Hopefully I can get creative this week. hugs, cheryl

Pumpkin Prayer.......

Dear God,
As I carve my pumpkin help me say this prayer.
Open my mind so I can learn about you (top of pumpkin).
Take away all my sin and forgive me for wrong things I do. (clean inside)
Open my eyes so Your love I will see (cut heart shaped eyes)
I'm sorry for turning my nose up to all you've given me (cut cross shaped nose).
Open my ears so your word I will hear (cut Bible shaped ears) Open my mouth so I can tell others you're near (cut fish shaped mouth)
Let your l ight shine in all I say and do! (place candle in and light it)
Amen
http://myhomespunthreads.blogspot.com/2008/10/pumpkin-prayer.html

Please pray for my husband!

We have gone through a rough couple of weeks once again but I know God is in control and I honestly have to trust him as the trials in life just keep throwing difficulties at us! My husband had a three level fusion on Oct 8, 2009. It was a rough time following the surgery. My husband has Post Traumatic Stress so everytime he goes into the operating room he goes back to 12 years ago when he went through a horrible surgery and ICU at a local hospital....I always thought it would leave someday but when Kerry goes into surgery all those memories come back so strong...so strange how the brain works and remembers things so intensly...you would honestly not believe how difficult to go through this over and over. The day after surgery we were told that my husbands interthecal cathater had been cut in surgery and had to be reconnected! Well, after getting my husbands staples out last week they discovered that the pump was still leaking and now Kerry is facing another surgery to go in and put a new cathater into his pump and spine! It has been up and down the last few weeks and just so difficult to go through more hospital and doctors.........I pray that this will be the last of this medical nightmare and hopefully this last surgery will give some relief to my husband. Tomorrow we go back for them to decide what is the next step and when they will decide Kerry can go back into the operating room as his incision was not healing well and had to wait for the swelling to go down. I am trusting God with all the decisons as it just gets so overwhelming to what will take place in the next few weeks and that their will be no infection in his spine! hugs and prayers, cheryl

PS It was neat today I went to get LiHeap help with our local County Office and the lady that was taking our application was so sweet and I told her I can either look at the cup half full or half empty! Today it is half full! She looked at me and said, "But sometimes we are still thirsty!" How true in life....Have a great week!

Love this saying!!!

I have always believed that God never gives a cross to bear larger than we can carry. No matter what, he wants us to be happy, not sad. Birds sing after a storm. Why shouldn't we? Rose F. Kennedy