JAZZING UP JANUARY

That is so awesome Celeste!

We are having some unusually warm weather for this time of the year. The sun was out yesterday, it was a nice day. Hopefully we will see the sun today.

Today my mom went shopping at the mini market. she got to the till and her groceries cost R160 (about $11usd). As she was delving into her purse to find her card, a young woman (mid 20's) said....pls put this ladies groceries on my bill. My mom was bowled over and asked why?
Her answer.....because I can.

She was paying it forward...how awesome is that?!!!

It was still only 33 when we came home from errands this morning...I thought it was to get up into the 40s! They are now saying we should get up to 67 next week! How can we be almost in to February??

The 60's sound real good right now. We are supposed to make it into the 40's this weekend I think or maybe early next week.

We had rain overnight...most of the snow gone, but we sure are soggy. Temps were 55 this morning at 6 but will be dropping into the low 40s for the day. Easier walking, for sure. The temps will get into the 60s this weekend.

Sounds like it is going to be a good time had by all.

We actually got rain last night. That is so weird being that we are in the deep throws of winter. Oh well it won't hurt my feelings any. I haven't been outside to walk in a few weeks due to all the ice we have. I can't wait to be able to get out there today.

You all have a wonderful day!

I asked the first sister for help and got a half hearted ok. But then talking to a sister, only 4 weeks in our congregation, she OFFERED her all. So Im going with sister B. Thats the help I want. She is sooo excited, because this will be her first social with her new congregation too.

Depending on the group we were having, I often enlisted the help of the brothers to keep an eye on things...esp the one graduation party we had...I was SO grateful for their help (we had a couple of party crashers and the brothers kept things under control waybetter than I could have.)

I had such a lovely experience today. I recently reconnected with my moms cousin. She is an ex naval officer and we have had no contact through my growing up years. Internet is a great connector. But, she is very anxious about the political situation in South Africa and regularly sends me anti-government things to forward. Despite my best efforts in explaining about NOT getting involved, she still sent them. Today, after a particularly malicious email re the president, I decided to fully witness to her about my stand for gods kingdom, with Jesus as its already reigning king and quoted some scriptures...I began with mans inability to rule man(Psalm 146:3), moved onto Jehs promise to us in Revelation 21:3&4 and showed her when she can expect this promise to be fulfilled using 2Tim3:1-5 and Matthew24:3-14.
I didnt hear from her, so thought she had an attitude, but today...she responded with this.

A most insightful, interesting response. Thanks Celeste.
I am envious that you seem to know the Bible so well. I am a Catholic and am only crawling towards knowledge.
Keep well. Lots of love,
XXX

How nice is that. So next week I will show her where I got the articles from and maybe she would like to look through jw.org herself.

I will rent a hall...but I always have for our music shows over the years. I pay for it up front and then put a contribution box just inside the door. Ive always covered the costs plus some. The excess we always put in the contribution box at the kh...and since its the congregations money, it goes back to the congregations use. I only take what it is needed to pay for the venue minus my own portion. We've had great success with leaving it up to each persons contribution. If they have no spare money...thats also ok. Its not a paid entrance fee.
We usually have +-50-60 and I always include all ages to keep some form of control. So far we have had no dramas...all has gone well. So im hoping this one will too.

That sounds like so much fun Celeste. It so wonderful of you to do that and it is important for someone out of the world to feel included. I remember missing my family holiday celebrations and the congregation was so good at including me in parties. I always had such a great time and got to know so many of the friends.

Look forward to hearing all about how your plans progress and about how the party goes.

Well, if you can keep it simple..and maybe get your resident drummer to play music, have everyone bring food, you should be able to pull it off if you can get them to come. I much prefer smaller groups. When we had cong parties here on the farm, it was usually between 75-80 people (incl. the kids). So you have to rent a location for the party?

I would love for the next generation to pick it up....but it is what it is...my kids recently returned and his wife is still studying, so its up to me. Maybe this will be my last time, who knows?
We have a small congregation again, only 45, but mostly older ones, so Im going to go to the sister congregation and my previous congregation and talk to someone there about this party. Ive asked a sister to help me and if she isnt able to, Ive 2 more I plan on asking. The person who usually helps me, is my sister, but she will be away visiting her grown sons, and my other best friend is away caring for her mother who is dangerously ill.
But Im positive I will find someone, even if its my dil who has tons of energy despite having a small baby.

Good for you, Celeste'. Hope you are enlisting help! I used to do cong. parties all the time...with little "help" to organize or run it. Congregation has grown too much for me to tackle them now, but as another sister said, let the next generation (ages of our grown kids) pick it up.

I echo Asta's message. That is absolutely wonderful for your family.

I think Ive gone mad....why? Because Im planning a fancy dress/dance party for the young ones in my congregation. LOL I have a very young dil who is coming out of the world and I want her to see that we do have fun in a healthy way. So, Im inviting young ones AND their parents so that those, like my kids, have a baby sitter on hand and supervision for the unmarried youngsters. Planning for march....phew

How WONDERFUL, Ginna!

My son in law was reinstated Thursday. Looking forward to getting to know him. We are working out in service this morning.

I agree. I used to read the entire bible reading in one go to get "the picture"...then we had an assembly which spoke about buying a weeks groceries but not eating it all in one go. for best health benefits, we eat a little each day. It took some getting used to for me, but being obedient is always best...and so I adapted.

Hello everyone. I do love the new format. The first part of the meeting seems to fly by. I like how the Bible reading is incorporated in to the parts. It helps me to really sink it in. I have a really horrible memory for reading things and not remembering what I've read 2 minutes later.

Have a great weekend!

Thank you, Asta! I will fill you all in about my goals and progress later on... right now I've got to get to work! Glad to be here. :)

Welcome (back) 2BSLIMKIM1969 So glad you are here!

Glad to see you, Leah, whenever you can pop in.

Who loves the new midweek meeting format? We have been going just a little overtime getting used to it but the enthusiasm is awesome. I love that the weekly reading seems to weave throughout the whole meeting in some way.

Celest, I am really sorry about your nephew's loss. There aren't words for that.

Hope all are well. I'm trying to pop in just a little more when I can.

Leah

Wonderful that she got such a warm welcome. It would have been good for her Dad to see that, but he will, no doubt, hear about it and have time to think about it.

The results of the visits was that my dil's father did not end up going after all, but she did. she found the congregation very helpful. A sister sorted her out with a bible and a watchtower and seated her with their family and introduced her around to others. After the meeting a lot of people came over to introduce themselves to her. she said a scripture that came out was 1Corr 13:13 the greatest of all the assets is love and she says she saw that in action today. So, even though her father didnt go this time, Im glad she went and got to see other congregations on her own without mil or hubby to pave the way. In time, her father may wonder why she is so committed to learning more and may still go to a meeting. He allows her to tell him about what she is learning, whereas once upon a time, he used to insist they cross the road when witnesses were preaching in the street. So....who knows.

I have found that some congregations are warmer than others...and occasionally a visitor "falls between the cracks" and is not properly greeted and welcomed. We will all be eager to hear the results of this first visit.

I believe they will. My dil has a very charming personality, bubbly and makes friends very easily. But even so, I believe the congregation will. I just hope nothing goes wrong between the decision to go and tomorrow morning. Satan is so busy. So I wait to here how it went.

Fantastic. Hope the congregation will warmly welcome them.

No, sadly not. I wish they were. She is in her hometown an hour away from me. But, quite frankly, this way...as my dil says...he will see total strangers showing love, not her in laws or a congregation that she even knows. this really will be love in action.

Will he be attending where YOU go, Celeste"? I am sure it will be an exciting step for all of you..and hopefully, father will enjoy his first visit.

I am so excited. My dil has spent a few days with her father while her hubby is on the rig at work. She just let me know that her father agreed to go to a meeting with her tomorrow morning. Right now, he is very disappointed in his church and minister because he recently needed a small financial aid and the minster said he was unable t help him. That was in December. Now in January, the minister is driving the latest bmw. My dil's father finds this very disturbing.
Well, I cant wait for him to attend and discover the love, the lack of forced contributions. He has no bible and will no doubt end up being given one...at no charge. He is in for an eye opener about love in action. Cant wait for tomorrow, almost wishing today was over already.

Positive emotions go far in helping ones heal.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Thank you all for your kind thoughts. Its a shock to ones system and something we just have to cope with. My nephew and his sister are doing better now, but still obviously very sad. Both have decided to stop feeling so angry, and rather be positive. Leoni was a very very very positive young woman and a very happy one who ended all her letters/emails to anyone she wrote with.."wishing you joy and happiness. If it doesnt find you, create it" with a smiley face behind. Based on that, my nephew and niece (who was Leonis best friend) have decided to honor her memory by being positive and happy and to wait patiently to see her again in the paradise. She, is there already.

Dear Celest.....
I've been away from SP for a while. Just coming back today and...I just read your post about your nephew....my heart and prayers go out to him and to you.



Edited by: LYN-EDWY at: 1/11/2016 (23:27)

SO very sorry. My prayers are with you and family also. Hugs

Celeste, that is horrible! So very young to have a heart attack. Will be praying for your nephew and your whole family. Just so heartbreaking.

Just got the team digest ...and I am not on the fitness minutes at all. Wonder how that happened since I walk about 120 minutes a day. Curious.

Oh Celeste', that IS tragic. May Jehovah hold your family close and help them through this terrible experience.

Our family has suffered its first 2016 setback. We had a most wonderful holiday together for a week. Literally fun and sun all day every day. Laughter reigned and all too soon it was over and time to return to our day to day lives. On route home (a short 3 hr trip) my nephew proposed to his year long gfriend and she accepted. They were due to buy a ring in the morning. the following day they were on their way to shop for the ring when she had an unexpected, as yet, unexplained heart attack. He sped to the nearest hospital after doing all he could to help her but she arrived what they called "dead on arrival" and currently on a machine keeping her breathing. her temp keeps flaring, so she is on ice with fans but her prognosis is very very very poor. IF she survives, its unlikely she will have any brain function. Such a shock because she was only 24. its so wrong that the young are dying the way they are. The tox report shows no drugs or any specific cause for the heart attack and further tests are being done. My nephew is utterly distraught and raging angry right now as can be expected. He has lost so many loved ones in his short 28 yr old life...its utterly tragic.

Welcome Sneaky! Glad to have you on this team, too!

Yes Celeste, to be in the ministry while we wait, so all those whose hearts are right will have a precious relationship with Jehovah. Get to work with daughter tomorrow. Don't get to very often so it is a special treat.

Every extra day, difficult as it may be, is one more day to try and help ourselves and someone else. I know so many people who have learned to love Jehovah since 1975.

I remember when I was 11 years old which was 1975, my oldest sister was studying with witnesses. She was going around saying the world was coming to an end. Not knowing anything about it at the time, it was pretty scary to hear that as a young child.

She never became a witness, but I did. It is a comfort knowing that in Jehovah's time this system will end and a beautiful paradise is in store for us.

I was very nervous about "woe to the pregnant woman..." yet had four children and now have five grandchildren! When my first child was 3 mos old, took a trip with my non-JW mother and grandmother to visit my aunt and uncle...we stayed in the parsonage of the Moravian Church in old Winston Salem. I was sure Armageddon was coming that Oct...and very nervous about being there, much as I love my family!

Yes, another year has passed. We are another year closer to that glorious new world promised by Jehovah! We just have to keep on holding tight to Jehovah to get there. :)

Love your pic too Celeste!

And I, too, was one of those who was in the truth and thinking I'll never graduate from high school or learn to drive a car... LOL or marry or have kids, etc., etc., etc. ;-)

Well, I'm up for seeing what the next year brings! :)

Fresh start with the calendar. Each day is one day closer to the end of this system of things. Greetings 2016!

Well who would have thought another year would fly on by.....2016 is another year to do all we can to please our heavenly father and the do all we can to be healthier and happier. I grew up with the "Armageddon coming in 1975 misconception" by some, and wasnt going too leave school in this old system. Here I am, sending my grand son to school. Its all in Jehovahs time, not mans. We have the privilege to keep on showing ourselves faithful till then. Are we out the woods yet? *smiling*