Perseverance

 

Double Nickles

 This year I will be double nickels, that is crazy.  For my birthday, I am having a Trades of Hope on line party to support women around the world who are getting out of Human Trafficking, poverty, providing a safe life for their children.  

Human Trafficking continues to rise as well we are starting to hear more and more about this issue.  Thank you for the movie that is out now "Sound of Freedom" bringing awareness to this heinous topic.

     

    

   

Party Time

Some fantastic deals are happening right now, here are some examples:

Warmer Cleaning and wax swap

In 2019 I started a business in home fragrance by partnering with Scentsy.  Initially it was because of the licensed partnership with Disney, Star Wars, Harry Potter, etc.  My site is Crabshack - Scentsy Site.

Today is Wax changing day, cleaning the warmer day.

WOAH, my dish was dirty, it took a little counter cleaner and "elbow grease" and it came out beautifully clean.  Here is my beautiful kitchen warmer that is warming some Cinnamon Buttercream.  

It one looks at the bottom of the dish it should tell you how many cubes can be placed into the dish.  I have placed 3 in the dish, it is already smelling fantastic in  here.

What's your favorite fragrance?  What are you warming?

Stress, Monkey and Circus's

Have you ever felt like you were in the middle of undue stress only because others are not doing what they need to do, or should be doing, and they are trying to put everything on you for you to solve a situation?

I have felt that way for a couple weeks now.  Very frustrating, but those who know me know that when my mind is made up it takes a lot to change it, and it is the Lord who changes it, not caving into a situation.  My yes is yes and my no is no.  

I will not take on another's responsibilities or actions that they need to take.  

I feel like this has been a motto for a couple years now.  

What do you do when you feel that you are being pulled into a circus?  

I will say that yes, I have monkey's, we all do to some extent.  

The difference?  My monkey's fly and soar, in confined cages.  I try not to put my monkey's on other people for them to resolve issues for me.  My monkey's = my responsibility, not yours.

I take my monkey's to the Lord.  Why?  Because he knows the best way to deal with the monkey's in my life.   

On another note, this year my word has been perseverance and boy have I been tested with persevering in all circumstances.  

Some dreams that I would like to persevere after, one day these will come to fruition, just need to get my monkey's off my back to get my focus and vision back.

• Going back to school to get my Masters Degree, not sure what area I want that to be in.  I've thought about getting my degree in Missiology or Theology.  I originally started that degree in the early 90's working towards a bachelor's degree and that got side tracked.  
• Going back to school to get a Certificates in Security or Auditing Compliance.
• The ability to travel, both for personal desires and to share the gospel message

Vader is gone to kitty heaven

 My handsome Vader left Thursday, June 1, 2023 morning around 5:00 am, like normal and didn't return home that day, I thought it was strange, but he has done it before.  When he didn't return the following day I started getting worried.  I kept calling and calling him.

One time I looked out the back and saw a red cardinal and thought, oh my dad was visiting.  Then another time I looked across the street to the church office and I saw a bunch of birds digging at something.  I thought hum, I wonder if that is Vader over there.  

It wasn't until a couple hours later, after some meetings that I started going for a walk around the yard and the church to see if maybe he was laying around over there hurt.  I decided to walk down the street towards Alexander and I saw a black blob in the field and I thought please tell me that is not him.

To my horror, it was him.  He had been attacked by an animal or two, I'm thinking coyote or foxes or something that snuck up on him and took him by surprise because he was in 4 pieces just ripped apart.  I was in shock.

I was so upset, but, kingdom work still was at hand and there was nothing I could do at this point.  I could not bring myself to pick up to bring him home to bury him properly.  He already had flies all over him and intestines hanging out, etc.  Horror site to say the least.  

So, I cried a bit and pulled myself together to go and set up for Vacation Bible School (VBS).  I shared with a couple people what happened and everyone in shock.  

Got up again Saturday morning to work on more VBS and I was about to leave when Randall came in and said I couldn't leave, I needed to stay until 4:00 pm, joking of course.  I said "I don't think so" I've had a bad weekend and showed him the picture of Vader and he was so upset.  I left and met with Christine to go to lunch and some girl time. 

Laura called and was distraught to say the least and just couldn't believe it.  She reminded me that Satan is just hitting me hard right now now.  With everything happening with tests this next week Satan is trying to distract me from Kingdom work.  When one is in the middle of the Lords will Satan will always try to hit hard, I just don't get why he is so stupid to think this would distract me from kingdom work.

anniversary party

Tonight was the anniversary party for Hewitt and Christine Mincey.   What a great time of fellowship with good friends celebrating 35 years.

VBS Planning

 I love how the Lord works and brings together HIS plan.  Tonight I met with Brenda to discuss this year's VBS and what our focus would be.  We came up with a plan and the Lord blessed it so much with giving us ideas that we were able to bring to fruition after dinner when we went to the Dollar Tree.  We wanted to work on some decoration ideas and we were BLOWN away with what we found tonight.  Can't wait to get it all together for the kids.

KIDS giving to KIDS.  Love that.

We also were able to come up with our Mission action for the week.  In August we will be packing backpacks for students so we will be collecting school supplies to go into the bags.  The kids will be participating in collecting items to go into the bags, then during Sunday School or Worship time they can make cards that will be placed in the bags to encourage the students.

So, went into the bathroom and in one of the bathroom stalls was an electrical outlet.  WHY?  What would you need an electrical outlet for when you are going to the bathroom?  HMMMMMM.

Some Favorite Disney movie quotes

 

Trades of Hope

 

Trades of Hope is an opportunity to buy fair trade ethically made products.  This company is giving people a chance to a job, get out of poverty, out of the depths of Human Trafficking.

My business link is  https://tradesofhope.com/barbracrabtree

There are beautiful pieces of jewelry, home decor, purses, etc.  

I love my Trades of Hope pieces.  I feel that I am able to give a piece of hope to someone on the other side of the world by giving them an income from my purchases.

Wisdom Wednesday

 Today I had my mammogram.  The appointment was scheduled a couple different times.  I wasn't really sure why we needed to keep rescheduling on the same day, but you run with it and trust the Lord.  After my mammogram, waiting to see if I would be having an ultrasound as well I was in the waiting room at the Breast Center of South Florida Baptist Hospital and met a dear lady whose name is Miriam.  

Miriam was there for her mammogram as well as ultrasound for a mass on her thyroid.  She was filled with anxiety.  I spoke with her for a bit to get her story.  She has a family history of cancer and was extremely nervous today.  Not knowing if she was a Christian or not, I asked her if I could pray WITH her, not FOR her.  There is a difference.  Many times we say we will pray for someone and yet forget.  I don't want to forget.  I want to be used by God in every moment of my life.  When she said yes to prayer, I got up from what I was working on and went to hold her hand and pray with her right then.  I continued to pray for her throughout the day as she came to my mind.  Will I know her outcome, no.  That is not the purpose.  My appointment was changed so that I could pray with her and offer a bit of peace and encouragement for her.

After coming  home and working for a bit, I received a call back from Lisa at the Breast Center indicating that the radiologist has stated that we should do an MRI with contrast first before a biopsy, the MRI may determine that a biopsy is not needed.  Lisa was going to get with the doctor office to have them send over a script for the MRI and trying to get that scheduled prior to the scheduled biopsy on May 31, 2023 at 8:00 am.  Lisa said it might be a good idea to reach out to the office to help speed the process along.  She wanted to keep the biopsy appointment just to be on the safe side in case anything on the MRI determines that the biopsy is needed.  

All this may have been just to meet Miriam and pray with her.  In my spirit I have been at peace the entire day and have not felt anxious once.  I know many would be at wits end with the thought of needing a biopsy.  I trust the Lord so much, that I know he has everything in his hands and that no matter what I will be alright.  

I do not know what the Lord has planned, I know he has me through anything that I go through.

Until next time....

Random thoughts for a Tuesday

 Today, as I went to work I was THRILLED with the fact that I had left a little later than typical and I had ZERO traffic on I-4.  That is a miracle.  It only took me about 30 minutes to get to the office.  YEAH!

Then I went to Publix to get some lunch and the total came to $14.01 (I was buying excess stuff as well).  When I went to check out I didn't have any change and the cashier didn't want to count out .99 cents so she said don't worry about it.  I thanked her and as I was walking out I looked down and saw a penny on the ground.  

I picked it up and promptly went back to the same cashier and handed it to her.  She said "thank you, the next customer left a penny as well."  Touches of heaven is what I see there.  You see, as a former retail worker I know what it means to have your cash drawer check out properly at the end of the evening, yes the cashier probably has a couple dollars of wiggle room.  But, if she continues to let people off with a penny all day, those add up fast.  This is what integrity is about to me.  See, I could have picked up that penny and went my merry way.  I could have left the penny for the next person.  Nope.  I picked it up because I didn't want her drawer to be off when her shift ended. 

This month  has been so busy with different things to prepare for, go to or get done.  I want to encourage everyone to find the Lord in all the details of your life.  The big, the small, the unexpected.  God is always with us, if we are His child.  If we are not His child, he is calling out to you to come and have a relationship with him.

A year ago during routine mammography I was told they are watching a spot and to come back in 6 months.  I went back again after 6 months and they said all was good see you in another 6 months for follow-up.  Tomorrow is the yearly follow-up exam.  I have zero concerns and I will praise God for upcoming test results, whether they be good or bad.  

I know He has my life in His hands and He will guide me every day.  

We must remember to praise Him in the good times, in the middle of times and in the bad times.  

Every once in a while I chose to praise Him for something that may be coming down the road.  That is what I chose today.  What about you?

I saw this image above of the girl with the umbrella and it spoke to me, then I saw it was from a purposeful singleness website.  Now, I have not looked at that site, but my singleness is very purposeful in all that I do, I want to make sure that I am honoring the Lord and following His plan for my life.  

Until next time...