Monday, December 27, 2010

Headcovering

Great video on the Headcovering...from Torah Life Ministries

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Surreal...

Yes, that's where I'm at. I'm at a place where I guess in the world's eyes, you should be in "turmoil" or "worried", but I'm fully at rest in the Father's Hands. Have you ever felt that way? If so, will you share?

Thursday, December 16, 2010

More Israel Trip Pictures

Here are the last two days of the Israel Trip.

Day 11
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=92380&id=1050784025&l=7c07dc4795

and Day 12.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=92383&id=1050784025&l=7f53a192e7

I pray you have enjoyed them, and I have an extra special surprise to share on Shabbat...so be on the lookout for that then!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Planning for Shabbat

I'm having a great week...busy...but great! :)

I've finished sorting my Israel Trip pictures and have been diligently uploading them every few days. It takes time to upload and caption them, so I'm spacing it out. I've also got all the videos downloaded to my computer...now to create a web page where I can share the best ones.

Then today, I saw on the headlines that there is an out of control wildfire near Haifa, Israel on the Carmel Mountains. I was there!!!! Less than 1 month ago (November 9th to be exact), we went to Haifa, went up on Mt. Carmel, and then drove through those mountains to reach Tel Meggido. It is so sad to watch the news reports, yet so real after having been there. Pray for rain for Israel! They have not received any rain for the month of November...due to working on dividing the Land (that's the spiritual reason why)...but they so need it.

My boss got me this really neat CD today called Maccabeats. I've been enjoying it this evening while syncing my iPad which was the last thing I needed to do to have my electronics back fully working after my recent computer reformatting due to a bad wifi card. Thankfully that was covered under a recall otherwise that would have been about $300 to repair it. Praise Yah for His provisions!

And now, we're beginning preparation for Shabbat. We're hosting a gathering for any Messianics in Ohio at our home this Shabbat, so I'm looking forward to seeing many of our friends... We'll have a Midrash on Spying out the Land as well as I'll get to share about my trip to Israel.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

More Israel Trip Pictures

I have continued to post more Israel Trip Pictures. Days 3 and 4 are now up, so here are the links. I still have Days 5-12 to go! :) So enjoy...

Day 3
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=89978&id=1050784025&l=9171da317d

Day 4 - Also one of the two best days on the whole trip...
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=90360&id=1050784025&l=0f7241ea6c

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Home from Israel...

Well, I am home now. My trip to Israel was absolutely AMAZING! There are no words to describe it other than to say you have to go to fully understand it. It's is the Father's Land. You can sense His presence there in such an amazing way. I took over 2,400 pictures, and they don't do the land justice. I have begun posting the pictures on my Facebook and rather than try to copy them all over here, I believe I can share the public links to my Facebook albums...and then you can see them. Enjoy! That's only the beginning.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=88062&id=1050784025&l=00b7f7eaf6
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=89544&id=1050784025&l=198359e89a

Also, you can hear me tell about the trip as I shared at our congregation this past Shabbat. The recording is available here - Jocelin's Israel Report 11-20-10.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Timothy and Maria's Wedding

Just 4 Weeks ago, I spent the day with a dear friend who was getting married as her bridal assistant. It was a lot of fun and wonderful to see two dear friends of mine who love each other get married. Congratulations Timothy and Maria!

Here I am with Maria...
Alicia and I already knew each other long distance, but it was great to finally meet and spend time together as we both helped Maria.

Maria looking stunning and contemplative all in one shot.

The beautiful bride...

The sweet couple...

Their first kiss after saying their vows...


Cutting the cake...

Feeding each other...


Myself and Sara Freeland serving the cake...

It was a beautiful day enjoyed by all. Please do keep Timothy and Maria in your prayers as Timothy has just been diagnosed with mono, and Maria is undergoing further testing as she is showing signs of a possible auto-immune disorder.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Preparation

Well, I'm working away on getting ready for Israel. Since I will be almost totally out of pocket for two weeks, I'm making sure my team is prepared before I go and all set. I'm also working to wrap up a couple of projects before I go, and they are coming along quite well.

I leave in just 5 days for Israel and can't wait! My suitcase is almost totally packed too.

A veery good friend of mine has been diagnosed with mono, and his wife, also a dear friend, is experiencing similar symptoms...yet she doesn't have mono. So they are doing further testing to see if it is another auto immune disorder. Please pray for Timothy and Maria's healing and peace during this time. They were just married 4 weeks ago. I hope to share wedding pictures before I leave as well.

Well, off to get a good nights rest...

Thursday, October 28, 2010

10 Days till Israel

Well, it's 10 days until I fly to Israel. I bought the pre-paid minutes I needed for in the States as I didn't want to take my more expensive cell phone with internet access with my on an international trip. I've also got international calling set up on our house phone for my parents to be able to reach me...and me an Israeli cell phone to rent while there. I think everything is just about ready to go other than notes for those covering for me while I'm gone from work. :) And a few things to go in the suitcase.

I'm having a busy but good day at work. Getting a lot done always makes you feel good!

Then tonight is the last night of my Course 1 Cake Decorating class. I have next month off due to the trip, but I'll be offering another one in December.

And good news on my computer. I've been having issues with my Wi-Fi not working part of the time. Turns out it is a major known issue on my particular laptop and is caused by the Nvidia video card not working properly. PTL there is a recall where HP will fix my laptop for free by replacing the Wi-Fi and Video cards which are built into the Motherboard, so that also get's replaced. I'm very glad for the Lord's provision there as that would be a $300 repair otherwise. My laptop will go in the shop while I'm gone and should be home waiting for me when I get back.

Well, it's off for a late lunch I go...

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Countdown to Israel

Well, I've started to countdown to leaving for Israel. 12 days till I head to the Promised Land. I'm so excited. I've been working on my packing just to make sure I don't miss anything or am rushing around at the last minute. As a result, I'm all packed except for the items that can't go in till the last minute. Okay, I must be a huge planner!!!

I'm still fighting a cold but feeling much better. Just to get 100% of my energy back, and I'll be a happy camper. At least I figured out why my eye sight was blurring while working on the computer and solved that. It was due to too high of a prescription in my left eye. When I used what I was using in my right eye in both eyes, it went away in about 48 hours and hasn't come back. Praise Yah!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

This week...guest blog...and more

This week was a busy week, and I got a lot done. My to do list was quite long, and I have gotten 95% of everything done on it. So I was quite the happy camper. The rest will get done in time.

I had been interviewed for the Sowers of Hope SEED Series which is about women who wear headcoverings. That was published on the 15th, and you can read that interview by clicking here.

I've begun packing what I can so I don't have it all to do for my trip to Israel as it is now just 15 days away. I truly can't wait. I'll really miss my family, but this is a trip of a lifetime...and I'll probably only get this chance to go.

And I got the news this week that the Camp Yeshua DVDs which have the recordings from all the messages on it as well as PICTURES is in the mail!!! I can't wait to get mine. :)

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Wonder???

Well, I had wondered why coaches would get so frustrated with a coaching participant not showing up...I had the privilege of finding that out this week. It saddens your heart as a coach...you so want each one to succeed!!!

This week has been quite busy at work. Lots of projects going on. Plus my boss is on a mission trip to Russia, so my co-worker and I are covering for him. I'm just glad to hear that his trip is going well. When he gets back, it will be two weeks until I leave for Israel! I can't wait.

I did slip in some time for a massage from my massage therapist and an adjustment. I feel so much taller and "looser." I'm also being faithful to do my exercises which I do believe is helping my body heal even more than I had ever done so after my fall on the ice 6 years ago.

Well, that's all folks! :) Pictures from the recent wedding I went to coming soon.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Sukkot, Part 4

Our Sukkot was an extra special time...and here are the last of the pictures!

Daddy did a supper job teaching. Here he is leading our closing service Friday night as we went into our last High Holy Day.

We were glad that Daniel and Deena were able to join us both Shabbats. They are a sweet couple.


Friday morning, we had a special breakfast brunch. Normally, we did breakfast on your own, but this morning, we cooked big together - eggs, turkey bacon, pancakes, hash browns, maple twists, cinnamon apples, and fruit. That was yummy!


And yes, we had the guys arguing over chocolate!


The kittens were a big hit with the children. Here's Ashley with Speckles.

Teresa gave a presentation on how to have an evacuation or "Go" bag if you had to leave your home due to emergency evacuation. We all learned a lot!


Tom and Teresa's dog, Levi, was our Sukkot dog!

Here we are studying and midrashing...


We even got some black-eye pea shelling in.


And finally our Sukkah! We weren't able to build one as we don't have but a few "baby" trees on our property, but we had our dining canopy top up and added a few branches to make it our camp Sukkah.

Sukkot was a very special time for us, and I hope you enjoyed the pictures!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Sukkot, Part 3

Finally sitting still long enough to post more about Sukkot. After we had a couple of days to clean up, try to catch up at work and home, clean up, and sleep in a bit, it was time to run again as Timothy and Maria (both of whom are good friends of mine) were getting married!!! Then home again, some doctor appointments for my grandparents, and now, I've caught a mild cold! I guess it's from allowing myself to get run down. But I'm drinking my organic vinegar with the mother in it, honey, and water to help get rid of it along with colloidal silver. So I'm hoping to be back to normal soon. :) Now to Sukkot...

On Sunday afternoon, we took an herbal first aid class. Here's Dawn teaching us.

And we were good students who even took notes!

On Monday afternoon, Doug, our neighbor, came over and taught us Cast Iron Cooking. Here he is showing off the beef cubes we had prepared for that while Daria finishes chopping up our vegetables and Momma and Daddy look on.

Here's our meal - beef stew - cooking over the campfire. The cornbread was already done. :)

Time for a test taste. And????

It passed with flying colors! More on Sukkot coming soon...

Monday, October 4, 2010

Sukkot, Part 2

We were all busy setting up before we were able to sit down for our Erev Shabbat meal. Here's Uncle Mark and Aunt Debbie setting up their tent.

Helping set up Daria's tent...

Our tent...

Hey, even the doggie, Levi, got into the act!

And our fourth and final tent...

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Sukkot, Part 1

We started our Sukkot on Friday, September 24 with a Thanksgiving style meal consisting of turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, squash casserole, apple banana salad, and pumpkin pie with homemade whipped cream. It was delicious, and we had the table specially set with our Shabbat tablecloth and a special centerpiece.


Daddy opening our Shabbat with Momma looking on...

Here I am lighting the candles...

All of us enjoying the meal together.

Daddy pouring coffee...

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Loving Sukkot

Well, we have been sukkoting since Friday, and I'm loving it. Daria was the first on here on Friday. Then Tom and Teresa were next. And finally Uncle Mark and Aunt Debbie. We all got our tents set up, and then enjoyed our delicious thanksgiving style meal. We did the Shabbat blessings over the bread and wine which set apart our time together. I got some great a video clips which I'll post next week along with pictures of course, but I'm almost exclusively using my iPad this week for the quick access on it.

On Shabbat, Daniel and Denna joined us for the day. They brought tomato soup to share which went great with the sandwich fixings we had. Then we all enjoyed Aunt Debbie's teriaki chicken and rice, Teresa's broccoli salad, Daria's peaches, and my cupcakes for dinner. That morning Uncle Mark had lead the Torah portion midrash. Then that afternoon, we informally midrashed. Afteer supper, we were joined by George, a friend of George's - Phil, and Phil's daughter, Nicole. Nicole is just two years younger than me, so it was nice to have someone around my age! We also had a y Kung man, Joseph, who had found us via FeastGoer.org join us. George shared on the importance of restoring the Father's name. After being up till midnight, we all called it a a night.

Speakaing of being late, it's late now, so I'll finish telling more tomorrow...

Friday, September 24, 2010

Hungry yet?

Sukkot is almost here. Daria got here around noon, and she along with my mom and I have been busy working on supper for tonight as we are opening with a Thanksgiving type meal - turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, squash casserole, sweet potato casserole, challah, apple banana salad, and pumpkin pie. Yummy! I can't wait.

It was nice to find some notes from fellow Crown staff who were missing me at the Crown Reunion. I would normally be there, but with Sukkot, I'm not there.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Sukkot is Almost Here!

Sukkot is almost here, and I can't wait! The Fall Feasts are always exciting...better thanChristmas ever was!

I'm trying out a blog post from my iPad this time around. We'll see how it turns out, and if I like doing it from here. If it does, it allows me more flexibility and hopefully I'll get back to blogging on here on a regular schedule. :)

Today, I got a therapeutic massage, and it felt wonderful. Ever since my fall on the ice, almost seven years ago, I've had ongoing neck and should issues. The chiropractor helped greatly, but it had gotten to the point where it just didn't seem to be lasting as well. I have a friend who's going to school to be a massage therapist and he explained that for the full benefit, you actually need both massage therapy and chiropractic care. Today felt heavenly, and I truly think my friend, Timothy's, advice was correct as she said my neck felt like cement even though I had just been adjusted on Friday. I feel looser than I've felt in a along time. Hopefully this will greatly help.

Well, it's off to bed I go...

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Sukkot is almost here...

This week has been busy with work and preparations towards Sukkot at our house. I can't wait for that special time of rejoicing before our Father. You can read more about Sukkot at http://www.hebroots.org/sukkot.htm.

Plus I have started blogging for One Money Design on Finances from a Biblical perspective of which I greatly enjoy. I'm also working to get back on a regular schedule since we've moved Nana and Gaga to skilled nursing care...so I at least had to post a short update here. More coming soon...

Friday, September 10, 2010

Am I Really Another Year Old?

Yes, it's hard to believe that I'm another year old. I celebrated my birthday on August 22 with a family and a few close friends. It was a very special time. That morning, we ate breakfast with Nana and Gaga. It was a very good meal too. Then we returned home and grilled out a late lunch with friends. Spending the afternoon relaxing, talking, and playing games was just up my alley!

Saturday, August 28, 2010

DFW Trip - Part 3

As promised, here's the final piece about my trip to DFW - the Money Map Coaches' Meeting which was a real treat! I was able to be with just under 100 fellow coaches! I also had the privaledge of leading the Coaching Panel. Here's my panel praying before hand with Tim Ballog (Area Director for Fort Worth and a good friend). My panel was Julia Sizemore, Jim Johnson, and Reid.


Introducing my panel...


Here we are answering questions. We even had some fun with "What do you do with distractions during a coaching session such as a cell phone?" by having Julia answer her cell phone during that question. And, yes, we set her up. Tim, the Area Director, called her on that question!


Here I am with Doyle and Charlsey Greenlee who are in my department.


It was great to meet Bill Caldwell, one of our Online Coaches.


And Joan Neshem, also an Online Coach, and her husband Stan as well as a friend Dave.


After the meeting, we ate lunch at Hard Eight BBQ which is not only famous in the DFW area but DELICIOUS! I had BBQ Beef and loved it.


Brad Jack coordinated the meeting and treated us to lunch. It was great to get to spend some time with him once again.


The time in DFW was wonderful. :) Now, I'll have to tell about the Georgia Trip and my Birthday...then we'll be caught up on the highlights.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

DFW Trip - Part 2

My trip to DFW was truly the trip of a lifetime. I made so many WONDERFUL memories there...I'll definitely be going back at some point. But I'm home to stay for a while...enough traveling for this travel bug...until my Israel trip in November. :)

Julia had the neatest aquarium...

On Friday, we went down to the Fort Worth Stockyards for lunch and some shopping. I was able to get a few souvenirs to take home and some great pictures. The old timey train was really neat.


There were real cowboys there too! This one stopped and smiled when he realized I was taking pictures.

Here's Lindsey, Kristen, and I by the train.


We had lunch at Riscky's BBQ. I had a BBQ Beef Sandwich with fries. Charlie got jalapeno poppers (deep fried with a cheese filling) and Julia and I both got into them! Yes, this is from the girl who does NOT eat hot stuff!


On our way to the airport, we drove by and stopped at the Mustangs of Las Colinas which was really neat. Due to the location of the fountains, it looks like they were running through the water and actually kicking it up.

One last picture with my "extended family"...I truly feel like Charlie and Julia are family now!


It was a super special trip to Texas. And yes, I got a lot of work done...I just told all about the fun on here! I'll do one more post about the Money Map Coach Meeting that was held while I was in DFW.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

DFW Trip - Part 1

Just 10 Days after returning home from Oklahoma, I flew out to Dallas Fort Forth for a few days for Crown related travel. I had the privilege of staying with Charlie and Julia Sizemore, friends of mine and Crown volunteers. They truly treated me like a princess. By the end, they were adopted family!

Here's my room and welcome basket...


Julia and I stopped at the Gaylord Hotel which was huge! It's a large tourist attraction in the DFW area.

I met with Professor Presslor who has the largest Stewardship Museum (even larger than the Library of Congress's collection on stewardship). Here we are in the museum.


The middle bank (round looking can) was the oldest bank in the museum dating from the 1500s.

Here is Larry Burkett's Giving Bank and an old version from the 1800s.


While I was in DFW, I had the privilege of being interview by Chuck Bentley on MoneyLife and sharing about Money Map Coaching. That program can be heard at http://www.crown.org/media/relatedcontent/080310.aspx.

I was also interviewed by Michael Moore on 1220 Hot Pepper for the DFW area on his radio program, Pastor's Corner.


Here I am with Michael after the interview.


And there's even more to come. One more post about my trip to DFW and more pictures coming soon!