denartong

Posted on November 28, 2007 11:32:12 AM PST

what is your email address? RIC

Posted on November 11, 2007 1:11:02 PM PST

hey i finished one of the baby blankets i was working on, now i just got one more to finish. RIC

Posted on October 30, 2007 12:28:54 PM PDT

Hi Dena, First, Congratulations on the Boston Red Sox World Series Win! This Yankees-fan tips her hat to her rival..tee..hee.. I have been praying for you and your husband. Continue with your efforts in China because when you have touched one, that one becomes many, then it becomes more and more. I also know how you feel about getting in that rut of housework and meals. I love to cook world style dishes, and see it as a hobby; but, I too get in a rut and just don't feel like being that cook. It's those times that I just have to refuel myself and meditate on God's words. When my meditation is done...and, I mean a quiet room, area, even the bathroom where you can just go and meditate with God's words to refuel yourself...I feel happier, joyfully, renewed, refreshed,and alive. Sometimes we want to be superwomen but forget that superwoman also had to rest, rejuvenate, and refuel her energy to make her better to serve family, friends, and others. We have to say,it's okay to not clean this week because I need that time to refuel myself to make me a better person. So,Dena,refuel yourself because you will be rejoicing afterwards.

God Bless,Donna (a cup of joy)

Posted on October 27, 2007 4:59:43 AM PDT

Lately, I've realized more and more the importance of principles in daily life.  Principles help us to do what we don't want to do just because we should.  As I see how things are progressing in the world, I realize that American children aren't learning the priniciples that we learned when we grew up.  For example, when I was growing up, our church had ingathering every Christmastime.  We would go out and sing carols from door to door and solicit funds for the poor people.  It was fun and we all showed up to help, because it was the right thing to do, even though it was on Saturday and Sunday nights for six weeks, we would go because supporting the church activities is what people did.  I've been feeling an increasing sense of apathy in my daily life.  I just don't want to clean the house one more time or cook another meal.  I realized last night that I need to look at my principles and do these things and do them well because it's right to do them, not because I enjoy them or feel like doing them.  I thank God for this little reminder.  And hey, there's always take out for the days I don't quite make it.    Dena

Posted on October 21, 2007 6:28:56 PM PDT

You are so sweet. You will be in my prayers too. Hoe things are going well in China. I would love to hear more about your experience there. Like what took you there? Do you work? If so what kind of work are you doing? I have tons of questions. RIC

Posted on October 21, 2007 11:22:13 AM PDT

Hi! Thank you for the prayers I really appreciate them! RIC

Posted on October 21, 2007 10:40:39 AM PDT

Thank you for the friend invite:) I am looking forward to chatting with a fellow sister in Christ even more. The work you are doing with deaf people is awesome! It is God working through you giving them hope, encouragement, lifting them up, and strength :) I work in an ENT office as an Audiology Administrative Assistant and their assistant for such things as checking hearing aids and helping with hearing tests for children under their supervision; consequently, being exposed to deaf and hard of hearing people of all ages daily, I know the work you are doing in China is a blessings. May God continue to bless you, your husband, your dog (I have 2 dogs myself who are like my children) and the people you help

Have a beautiful day, Donna (a cup of joy)

Posted on October 20, 2007 8:49:34 PM PDT

"'There shall be showers of blessing;' Precious reviving again; Over the hills and the valleys, Sound of abundance of rain.  Showers of blessing, Showers of blessing we need;  Mercy drops round us are falling, But for the showers we plead."  Ez. 34:26  Song by Daniel W. Whittle

Today I just want to write about God's blessings.  As part of my Deaf work in China, I've been wanting to set up a vocational school for Deaf people.  Well, I have to say, it's finally looking like it will take off.  God has been blessing in so many ways.  I've had newspaper interviews and people that want to talk to me and help me and I feel very blessed that God is helping me in this way.  God is so good.  His mercies are new every morning.  Tell me, how has God blessed in your life?

Denas

Posted on October 15, 2007 7:16:56 AM PDT

hey,

working on the blanket almost done, haven't worked on it for past week, got busy. 

Posted on October 13, 2007 8:08:54 PM PDT

Hey Lady!

Thanks for the well wishes for a wonderful weekend!  Indeed it was!  I LOVE to watch God working in our lives and today I saw first-hand what an awesome God we have.  We are SO blessed!

"Dream Giver" is about having courage, facing giants and moving forward in your life to realize the dream that God put in each of our hearts.  It's an awesome book.  I hope you check it out!

Tammy :)

Posted on October 13, 2007 3:43:33 AM PDT

" Lost, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset two golden hours each set with 60 diamond minutes.  No reward is offered for they are gone forever."  worldofquotes.com

Time is incredibly important to humans in this day and age.  In an age of jet planes and automatic settings on our microwaves, who has time to sit and relax.  But I am determined that this week I will take the time to meditate on God's word.  My favorite form of meditating is to take one phrase, or word, at a time from a verse and write down alternate meanings for it.  It really puts a whole new perspective on the word and I've gained a blessing from it in the past.  Here's to hoping that you might gain a blessing this week too.

 Dena

Posted on October 5, 2007 6:12:44 PM PDT

"Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth."  Hosea 6:3 NKJV

These past few weeks I have gotten a much better idea of what verses talking about the former and latter rain are all about. (It's been raining here for weeks.)  In this part of China, there is rain in the spring.  This second, I can't remember what month, it is, when it rains so much but I CAN tell you that every year, almost religiously, it rains cats and dogs in August.  You see, the spring rains help to establish the crops.  This is especially true for wheat growers, and wheat is what they grow in the north of China, where I am.  They plant the wheat and the rain gets it growing.  In the fall, they need the latter rain to cause the wheat to fill out in the stalk and then it gets dry again and they harvest it.  Isn't this beautiful?  God comes to us like the former rain and starts us in our spiritual walk and then we will receive the latter rain to finish our growth and make us fully what he wants us to be.  God is good.  Have a wonderful week.  And write to me if you so desire.

 Dena

Posted on October 1, 2007 3:59:08 AM PDT

hello, I like crocheting also. I am working on a baby blanket for a friend that just had a baby. I also just learned how to quilt. I like doing different kinds of crafts, and like to draw when i can. I do read also right now i have been reading books by Ted Dekkar, he is a christian aurthor. He is really good. Melissa RIC

Posted on September 29, 2007 1:26:18 AM PDT

Hello All,

Despite my seemingly somewhat strict ideas (three s's in a row, how fun) I'm really an easy-going person.  Like my comments say, my husband and I are living in China long-term.  We're enjoying getting to know the Chinese people and their culture and learning the spoken language but, at the same time, I feel lonely for American women to share Christian relationships with.  I do hope that you will write to me and we can talk about our lives and our struggles and our hopes and our dreams.  God bless.

 Dena