On my knees in 2008

Luke 3:21-22
When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."

Happy New Year, friends!

Today is the last day of 2007 and it just seems natural to look back at all God has done in my life this year and wonder what He has in store for me next year. I am so very grateful!

It's been a lazy day around here. I took my daughter to the airport to go home this morning, helped get my son get ready for his "gathering" with his friends at college tonight. (I'm making his party sound sweet, right?) I put the Christmas decorations away and tried to get the house in a little bit of order. My husband has been getting some things done as well.

It seems the conversation around this time of year is always about resolutions. I usually don't even try to resolve to do anything because I have failed so many times. I am grateful for the do-overs God gives me every day! But for some reason something (The Holy Spirit) has been tugging on my heart lately. I want to go into 2008 learning to be more mature in my prayer life. I know I can only find true security with God being the center of my life. I think He wants me on my knees more and face down! I want to seek Him more this next year! I am going to start at the beginning of the Bible.  I've never read it from the beginning to end.

I am so grateful for God bringing you in my path! I will pray for you, my sisters in Christ, that God is always the center of your life and that you persevere in prayer with me! I want to please Him and I know you do too!

All my love in 2008,
angie xoxo

Music

Psalm 32:6-8

Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you
while you may be found;
surely when the mighty waters rise,
they will not reach him.

You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.

God speaks so clearly to me through music. I am so very grateful for it today! It's my favorite way to worship our Lord and Savior! I am one blessed girl!
Much love,
Angie xoxo

p.s. What is your favorite song?

I'm honored

Just a quick post to tell you that I went to one of our CHRISTmas services today because I was ushering. We will go as a family tomorrow. It was wonderful as you can imagine. I don't know if you remember me telling you that I love the part of our service where the pastor lights a candle, then we we all light each other's candles and the whole church goes from darkness to light. Well, we did it again, but this time since I was an usher I was in charge of lighting the first candle of each row of people. I was so emotional because God used me to light so many candles and I felt overwhelmed. I had to fight the tears. I am so honored to serve in a small way in our Church. God is so good to me! All of the glory goes to Him alone!




John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

I pray you have a wonderful CHRISTmas!
So much love,
Angie xoxo

My present = Her presence

I am SO excited for my favorite gift to arrive tonight at about 8:30pm.
She'll be home for Christmas!
We'll celebrate her home...

Merry Christmas!
Much love and hugs...
Angie xoxo

The best gift

Women of Faith Study Bible


I am excited yet nervous about a gift I am going to give a friend of mine. She was brought up in a religion that did not encourage reading the Bible. (I was just like her not long ago.) This has been a tough year for my friend and her family and I listened to the Holy Spirit's promptings to share this Bible with her. I have to admit that of all of the gifts I bought this year, I am most excited to give this one. I am going to drop it off at her house today. I'm a little nervous though, that she will not be as excited as I am. She is an avid reader, but she has never read the best love story ever written. What happens after she receives this gift is up to God. I pray she is open to hearing what He has to say!

Merry Christmas!
Angie xoxo
p.s. Please pray for my friend who could be another siesta!

Thursday before Christmas

I am so Thankful for this beautiful song this Thursday! I listened to it at least five times today! I am thankful that I am done working until next year! I am thankful that my daughter comes home tomorrow night and the holidays can begin. I am MOST thankful for everything God has done for me this year! I am not sure if I'll be able to post for awhile. I want to cherish my family!
I love my sweet siestas!
Merry Christmas to every single one of you!
Angie xoxo

Merry Christmas from Michigan

This is the next best way to enjoy the BooMamma Christmas Tour of homes. I wanted to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. It's just one week from tomorrow! I also want to tell you that my life has been blessed because of everyone who stops by here!


We got a ton of snow this past weekend but it's cozy inside with a cup of hot chocolate.

Here is our Christmas tree without the gifts.

I just love this little perfume that I got from our family in West Virginia on our mission trip. I had one of the best weeks of my life back in 2004.

Here is the ornament I got for my husband the year we got engaged. (1999)


Thanks for stopping by for this quick visit!
So much love,
Angie xoxo

Need to slow down, too?

In case we are not busy enough right now and we don't have enough snow to shovel, I thought I'd give you one more task to complete this week before Christmas. My sister-in-law tagged me last night. I better do it because I hate to admit this to my friends, but I was in such a hurry the other day that I made a peanut butter and ketchup sandwich because I was on the run. The squeezable ketchup looks a lot like jelly. I better slow down...

1. List 12 random things about yourself that has to do with Christmas.
2. Please refer to it as a 'hoopla'.

3. You have to specifically tag people when you're done. None of this"if you're reading this, consider yourself tagged" stuff is allowed...then nobody ends up actually doing it. The number of people who you tag is really up to you -- but the more, the merrier to get this 'hoopla' circulating through the blogosphere.
4. Please try and do it as quickly as possible. The Christmas season will be over before we know it and I'd like to get as many people involved as possible.

Let me think... these are not in any particular order, just random thoughts...

1- I don't like to share my kids with their dad, but know I have to.
2- I love the tree skirt my good friend's mother made us for a wedding gift in 1984.
3- My family celebrates Christmas on Christmas Eve.
4- My mother always made Polish cabbage rolls and boiled potatoes for Christmas Eve dinner. (I just looked up how to spell "Glumpkie" and I couldn't find it.)
5- I love to hear all of the Christmas carols, but for some reason the song, "The Gift" by Garth Brooks touches me deeply.
6- I love to see everyone's ornaments on their tree and hear the stories behind them.
7- We go to church on Christmas Eve and I love how during the service our pastor lights the first candle and we all light each other's candles and the whole church is lit up after total darkness.
8-We always send out Christmas cards with pictures. The first one I took, my daughter had to hold up my son when he was tiny.
9- I don't shop early.
10- The only cookies I must have are peanut butter buckeyes.
11- My favorite Christmas gift was a video that my kids gave me that they made in one of their high school classes. (They both made one.)
12- I love that I know the true meaning of Christmas and am so grateful for the gift God gave us! Jesus is all I need every single day of my life!
Listen to this sweet song...


Please pray for these girls from Thailand. I only know the names of the four girls in the front row, but God knows all of them by name! The four in the front are, Nabee, Meemeu, Arnong, Lamduan. If you want more info on them, visit Bev's blog.

I am going to have to break the rules this time and just ask anyone who wants to do it to join us. As much as I didn't want to have to think today, I am glad I just slooooooooowed down a little bit to appreciate this most special time! Anyone feel like joining me?

In His Love,
Angie xoxo

Big Day for the Baylis'

I'm so Thankful this Thursday that they put up the sign for my husband's new office today! It looks great! I am not trying to advertise, just share the excitement with my friends out in blog land! He will be opening in January. He's been doing a lot of house calls this past month. His clients have been so supportive and we are so grateful!

Is there a verse that would be appropriate?
Let's try this one...

Jeremiah 29:11
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

We give God all of the glory and praise!
Thank you for all of your prayers.
Much love,
Angie xoxo

Chris hair

My brother told me that if he had his own blog, he'd want this to be his opening song (below) whenever anyone would visit his site. I thought, since this has become somewhat a Karnowski family blog, I would add this song in honor of my amazing brother. I couldn't do it without adding this great picture of him. When I took it a couple of years ago we were making "the board" for my father's funeral. We were joking about which pictures we would want on our board when that time comes. We were having some fun with it. It's the real Chris in the morning. (Please don't be mad at me, Tina!)

The most awesome thing we would really remember about my brother is his desire to be used by God. His testimony is so good and he just shared it with me the last time I went to Wisconsin to visit him and his family. I enjoy hearing people's testimony and his is truly special because it is his! I am grateful that we each have our own story and God is the center of it all.



I appreciate all of the stories I've read through this blog. They have all blessed me so much! Thank you for sharing them with me!
Much love,
Annie xoxo

p.s. It's my desire, too!

She won

Because He Lives

God sent His Son - they called Him Jesus,
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.

Because He lives I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because Christ lives.

And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory - and I'll know He lives.

Today I went to a funeral for a patient who passed away after her battle with cancer. It is my understanding that she called it a "war" with cancer. (I had never heard it called that.) She went home to be with Jesus. The funeral was beautiful. It was the first one I have attended in a Bible believing church or the first one since I really "get it". Donna was loved by so many friends and family. Her faith was so obvious to everyone who talked about her. She was a Godly wife... I heard that over and over again. I heard this was her favorite song, especially during these past couple of weeks. I just heard this song for the first time recently and I've listened to it so many times since then. Donna was such an inspiration to me as well as so many! I'm glad she's with Jesus tonight!

I am so honored to have my relationship with Jesus.

Love,
Angie xoxo

He's awesome

You probably don't remember, but my computer crashed this past summer. I was SO bummed because I lost most of my data (pictures, music and ADDRESS BOOK). My i-pod still works and it had some of my addresses in it (but definitely not all of them). We really do have an Awesome God because I was able to find them! My Christmas cards will be in the mail tomorrow and I am SO excited!

It made me think of this verse...

Romans 8:28 ... (I am still in awe that God helped me remember this familiar verse. It seems like yesterday when I didn't own a Bible, now this evening I am able to think of it off the top of my head. Thank you, Lord.)
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

And then I remembered this...
Matthew 19:26... Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."


I'm going to sleep well tonight...I hope you do too!
Merry Christmas!
Angie xoxo

no worries

God is so funny! I just have to tell you what happened. I wanted to post something about my problem with worrying about entertaining. Our friends invited us to go see a play with them tonight. Since they bought the tickets we thought we should buy dinner. After all, it's the least we can do. Plus I think they are on to my not wanting to entertain. They keep asking us when we are going to have them over?

So, tonight's the night. I bought the food (although I went to this great store and bought the sides), got a new candle to make the house smell "homey" (and pretend I am not stressed out). But the truth is... I am! I don't know how I lost my confidence in entertaining. Actually the more I think about it I've always had a problem with it. I think it's a gene because I remember my mother stressing out before entertaining. So... what to do about it? I know, be a Mary... not a Martha. What I've learned is that the more nervous I am the more times I really do mess up!

I want to be different this time. I want to be more relaxed. I think I'll put on some of my good praise and worship music and clean the house. These are friends we're having over. They are good friends. They would not like it if they knew I was going to stress out all day.

I usually like to add a song to my entry and I looked up a song from the play we are going to see and this is what I came up with. We are going to see "The Lion King" and guess what song I found? Yep, God is so funny!

Only with God can we have days with no worries!


Have a stress-free day in whatever you are doing!
Love,
Angie xoxo

given grace

Please if you have a second (after you listen to this song), jump over to my sister-in-law, Stacey's blog and read her post from yesterday! She and my brother have a prayer request that would mean so much to them. It's not life or death (or is it?) but it holds a special place in their hearts!

Thank you very much!
Have a great weekend, dear siestas!
I love you all,
Angie xoxo

sweet patients make me smile

It's Thankful Thursday.

I have a thirty minute drive home from work. I drove in silence today. Usually I listen to the radio or make a phone call (I know, I am very careful). As I reflected on the day I was full of joy. Part of it was that it's Thursday and I don't work on Fridays. But there was more. I was thinking about all of the patients I saw today! I have to admit... I LOVE them and I love my job. I love the one on one relationships I have with them. Today was one of those days when I truly enjoyed every single one of them. I also love how I get to use my hands. It's probably difficult for you to understand, but I really do enjoy it. I've been doing this for 23 years and I never dread going to work and the fact that I get paid for it is just a bonus.

I am blessed to work with some amazing girls. I admit, sometimes we feel like sisters and we are definitely family. We have to give each other a lot of grace. We are all very different, but I think we really have a bond and I love all of them in their own way. My boss is also a friend and a great guy to work for.

I learn so much from my patients and consider them friends. I look forward to seeing them every 3 or 6 months. I am surprised when they remember my family and ask how they are doing. We laugh together, cry together and I am so blessed to know them. God is so good to me and He gave me a job that is very rewarding.

I am so Thankful!
In His Grip,
Angie xoxo

My friend

I have this friend...(wink). Her daughter had a relationship with a guy that ended over a year ago. I should mention that this guy broke her daughter's heart. For some reason whenever her daughter seems to start moving ahead and getting over him, the guy makes a reason to communicate with her. He is clearly over her and is even dating another girl. So, why would he do this to her? He gives her crumbs and immediately her mind starts going a million miles an hour trying to analyze the situation. My friend gets so frustrated with this boy. She wishes he would just leave her daughter alone. She knows, all she can do is give her daughter to God and pray for healing. Will you please pray for my friend's daughter? She wants to get over him, she really does. And please pray for my friend who needs wisdom to guide her and point her straight to the only one who can heal her heart and bring her someone who will treat her like a queen!

My friend thanks you from the bottom of her heart!
xoxo

For Patricia

Good evening, sisters (and brothers) in Christ,

My sister, Patricia helped me get my husband's Animal Hospital on the number one spot when people do a google search. (It wasn't easy!) She helped me do it without me having to delete my blog. She and I were so excited when it worked! The next day she e-mailed me asking me to post this song to my blog as a little thank you to her. I've never heard of her before I just posted this. She is my sister's all-time favorite singer and she cried when she died. She asked us to watch it to the end.

The Great Mahalia Jackson - "The Lord's Prayer"

So, there you go Patricia... THANK YOU so much!
By the way... it is absolutely beautiful! It is a great addition to my blog!
I love you,
Annie
xoxo
p.s. I would have posted it for you even if you didn't help me!

THE TREE

Our Christmas Tree

This weekend we decorated for Christmas. We decided to use our artificial tree after going back and forth. We love the real one that smells good and is just plain... the real thing. But we decided we could save a little money by using the artificial one. I whined for a little while, but now I'm okay. My husband put on the colored lights although I prefer plain white ones. The first thing my husband did (while I wasn't looking) was put on stuffed animals from "Rudolf's island of misfit toys". I thought since the kids are gone we can finally have a "pretty" tree. Instead, we decorated it with all of the familiar ornaments that we've collected over the years. I love seeing the ones that date back from when the kids were in pre-school. Then, we used to buy them one from whatever they were into that year. I placed the one of a church that I gave my husband the year we were engaged. I also saw the one from when my son first started playing lacrosse. Then, I saw the one from Sigma Kappa (my daughter's sorority)! So much has happened through the years. I have an ornament from the year my sister passed away... and my father... and one from a little gift of perfume that I got from a family whose home we fixed up in West Virginia on our first mission trip.

I never really gave the tree very much thought. Until today...

While we were at church this morning the pastor was talking about the tree. THE TREE. The one that Jesus hung on and he reminded us how Jesus was born to die on that tree.

I pray I never take the tree for granted again. Whether it's real or artificial, decorated pretty or traditional or silly. I will walk by our tree every day. I will turn on the lights. I'll notice the ornaments and the angel on top. I will not look at it the same. I will smile and remember how much Jesus had to sacrifice for me... and for you! He's the best gift I have ever received! I'm a different person because of that tree.

I love our tree!
In His Love,
Angie xoxo

no one deserves it more...

I'm so happy for my sister! Today she was notified that she won a contest that entitles her to go to Kentucky to see Wynonna Judd's Christmas concert on December 18th. She will get to meet her and she gets 6 tickets! You must understand something. My sister LOVES her more than any other musician. (She compared it to me meeting and going to lunch with Beth Moore.) I will never forget the summer when she (and I) listened to one of her c.d.s (actually it was probably an album or tape) over and over and over again.

She had to send in an essay about her favorite Christmas memory. I have not read it and didn't even know she wrote it until today. She told me Wynonna will read it during her concert!

I would love to join her, but it looks like all of the tickets are accounted for. That's one of the joys of being in a big family! I could not be happier for my sister, DeNaze! No one deserves it more than her! She is probably the most generous person I know!


When I hear her sing the above song, it makes me want to think of some way to get there!
I'm so excited for her!
Thank you for sharing in the excitement!
Praise God for being SO good!
Love,
Angie xoxo

12-4-07 ***UPDATE***
My sister gave me permission to add this. It's the essay that won her the tickets to "meet and greet" Wynonna . Apparently the concert is sold out so she will only get 2 front row tickets. The plan is for her to take her daughter, Rebekkah! I can't think of anyone more appropriate to take...


"Family traditions are wonderful, I know because I grew up in a large
family that had many, especially during the holidays. When I raised my
daughter as a single parent, though, I often worked as a nurse's aide
on Christmas Eve or Christmas day, which used to sadden me. We had
very few Christmas traditions as she grew up except that we were
always with family. One year she was with my brother and his boys on
Christmas morning. Because it was impromptu, he didn't have a stocking
for her. He managed to produce an old black tube sock on which he
wrote her name in glitter and filled with candy. Over the years, she
had different stockings because of different reasons, of course, that
one being her favorite. Traditions are nice, they provide a certain
stability and memories, of course. But honestly, I have learned that
the one constant in life is change and being flexible and appreciating
what little you may have is the only way to get through life. People
have died in our life, babies were born, nothing stays the same and as
long as we realize this, we make the most of every day. That is the
tradition I have tried to instill in my daughter. Live and love, each
day, as if it were Christmas."