I am blessed!

I don't have anything really big to say today-just that somedays God blesses me in such little ways that it brings me to my knees to give thanks to Him.  That I feel so unworthy of His blessings it brings me to tears and I am humbled at just how much He loves me.
God really is so good to us-even during the hard times-we are called to be "Joyful" because we have a HOPE- a HOPE like no other.   He has already won the victory for us-this isn't the end-there will be a victorious celebration with Him one day.
What greater joy can there be than knowing and believing that!!!
Some days when I slow down enough to remember that-to truly see how much He loves me-how much He blesses me here while I wait for His return-it just makes me shed tears of gratitude.  Yesterday and this morning (just reliving the little blessings from yesterday) I was able to take the time to see all He had done for me yesterday in the little things and it made me really grateful.
I need to sit still more, to trust Him more, to believe His promises more, and to make sure that I am living my life the way He has called me to do more, and most of all to give Him the glory and share His story more.
I just wanted to do that today.  I am truly blessed.  My God is good all the time, all the time God is good.
I hope that not only are you blessed today but that you take the time to see those blessings and thank Him for them.
As I was writing these words were running through my head "Count your blessings name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done.  Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done."

On this Pathway-
Jill

God's Splendor

We have Peacocks at our local zoo in Abilene that are allowed to wander around free in the zoo.  We came up on this one the other night while we were there seeing the new Prairie Dog Preserve.  I was able to get really close while he was eating and snap a few photos.  The color on these birds is amazing to me. Absolutely gorgeous!!

God amazes me daily with the time and detail He put in everything He created for us to enjoy.

Hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed getting to be this close and see the splendor of God's creation.

On this Pathway-

Jill

Lifting Up My Children Through Prayer

Lifting My Children

               Through Prayer~

Lord, thank you for my children.  I ask your will for them in these things according to your Word.

Early in life, fill my children with love for you, that they would love you “with all (their) heart and with all (their) soul and all (their) mind.”  (Matthew 22:37-40)

Train my children, to love deeply, sincerely, and sacrificially, seeing and loving others as you do. (1 Peter 1:22- 1 John 3:16)  Empower me to daily model your love and compassion to them.

Give my children, love for your Word.  Allow them to know and understand it, and to follow it wholeheartedly. ( Psalm 1:1-3)

Fill them, “with the knowledge of  (your) will in spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of (you) fully pleasing to (you) bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”  ( 1 Colossians 1:9-10  Psalm 90-17  James 1:5)

Compel them, to pray continually (1Thessalonians 5:17) so that they will live and walk by your Spirit (1 Galatians 5:25)  Help them to listen to you as Samuel did.  (1 Samuel 3:10)

Help me, to train my children according to the unique way you’ve designed each one. (Proverbs 22:6  1 Corinthians 12:4-7  Ephesians 2:10)

Enable me, to commit them to your loving care and control rather than worry about them. (1 Philippians 4:6  1 Peter 5:7)

Dublin, Texas-The Home of the First Dr. Pepper Bottling Plant

Well, the boys are on spring break from school this week, as well as my hubby from Hardin Simmons and so the girls and I are taking our spring break from home schooling as well.  We thought it might be fun to take a few day trips that didn't cost too much money (especially since Bran went to the dentist today and has to have two chipped molar teeth fixed to the tune of $693.00) not sure where that will come from but I am not going to worry about it today.   So, being that we live in Texas,  and only about an hour and a half from Dublin, Texas (the home of the first and still working Dr. Pepper bottling plant) we decided to take a road trip/field trip (fun with a little education packed into it) to check it out.

I must say on our way to Ft. Worth to go to Brandon's hip appointments we pace the exit that you have to get off to go toward Dublin but we have never been out that way-it is out in the middle of no where kind of, a very tiny town that I am sure this little Dr. Pepper bottling plant has helped keep alive all these years.

When I was googling information on it and directions on how to get to it-their main page had some interesting facts about the place that I found very interesting and heart warming-thought I would share it with you.  It is a little long-but interesting and well worth the read I thought-I found out facts about one of my favorite sodas (when I drink them-trying to eliminate them from my diet) and really neat things-kind of a rags to riches story on the man who ended up owning the company until his death in the late 90's and now his son and two grandsons own it.  It still operates and it was really fun to see it and all the goodies this man saved over the years that are all Dr. Pepper and are in the little museum there.

Dublin Dr Pepper History

In 1885 Waco, Texas was a wild frontier town, nicknamed “six-shooter junction.” Wade Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store was a prominent business and popular meeting place in downtown Waco. People came in for everything from flea powder to stationery, from cigars to fountain drinks.

One of Morrison’s employees, pharmacist Charles Alderton, noticed how customers loved the smell of the soda fountain with its many fruit, spice and berry aromas. He wanted to invent a drink that tasted the wonderful way the soda fountain smelled. After much experimentation he finally felt he had hit on “something different.” Patrons at the drug store agreed.

Soon other soda fountains were buying the syrup from Morrison and serving it. People loved the new unnamed drink and would order it by simply calling out “shoot me a Waco!” But Morrison named it Dr Pepper, after the father of a girl he had loved back in his home state of Virginia. (We learned he was 20 years older and the father didn't approve and he never won her heart. :( )

In 1891 Morrison and new partner Robert Lazenby organized the Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company in order to bottle and sell Dr Pepper as well as other soft drinks. That same year, while visiting Waco, a Texas businessman by the name of Sam Houston Prim tasted the new fountain drink and knew he wanted to sell it in his bottling plant in Dublin, Texas, 80 miles to the west.

Under the direction of Mr. Lazenby Dr Pepper enjoyed steady growth in sales and began to spread in popularity across the country. But it wasn’t until 1904 that Dr Pepper gained real national exposure. Along with other soon to be favorites like ice cream cones and hamburgers, Dr Pepper was introduced to the rest of the U. S. and the entire world at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.

Since then Dr Pepper’s popularity has grown consistently over the years to become one of the top 3 soft drinks in the United States and the No. 1 non-cola. And over that time Dr Pepper Corporate Headquarters have remained here in Texas. That’s why Dr Pepper can truly claim the title of “Texas Original.”

The Story of “Mr. Dr Pepper”*

Bill Kloster never studied marketing. The words goals, objectives, strategies and tactics weren't part of his vocabulary.

He didn’t promote his product from a textbook; he promoted it from his heart — a concept that would have left marketing gurus cringing. Except that it worked.

Bill Kloster operated on instinct that was so on target that his tiny three-county Dublin Dr Pepper franchise is continuously among the top 10 producers in per capita consumption.

Bill knew his business. He started at the bottling plant when he was 14 years old — a job necessitated by the death of his father and his need to help support his mother and four siblings. For the next 67 years, including the day he died, he put in long, hands-on hours, focusing on quality control, community involvement and his own unique style of sometimes blustery, sometimes covert public relations.

Bill started as a bottle sorter for 10 cents an hour. He got his first painful lesson in economics when he dropped a pallet of glass bottles. After the damages were deducted from his paycheck, he took home mere pennies — his first paycheck. Before long, plant owner Sam Houston Prim took the young man under his wing, becoming a surrogate father as he watched Bill grow into manhood and into a self-styled promoter of Dublin Dr Pepper.

From the bottle sorting chores, Bill worked his way up to production manager. After a tour of duty in Europe during World War II, he returned to become general manager of the plant which was then operated by Prim’s daughter, Grace Prim Lyon.

Mrs. Lyon died in 1991 on the dawn of the plant’s 100th birthday celebration, leaving the Dublin plant in Bill’s capable hands.

As the owner, Bill continued to emphasize those same values he had learned as a young man. He held on to the original drink formula, the antiquated bottling equipment, and a massive assortment of Dr Pepper collectibles which became his passion. Through the years, he used those elements to develop a successful enterprise and a popular tourist attraction. And most important, he built a fiercely loyal following for Dublin Dr Pepper around the world. The media were drawn to him like bees to honey and dubbed him “Mr. Dr Pepper.”

When bottom line indicated the tiny Dublin plant should give up Imperial Pure Cane Sugar in exchange for less expensive corn sweeteners, Bill balked. He continued to subscribe to the country theory of “dancin’ with who brung ya,” refusing to change the recipe which has always given the local product its unique taste. Bill Kloster, the Dublin bottling plant, and Dublin Dr Pepper remained true to themselves.

The story was widely told that when his wife Iona told Bill he was drinking too much sugar and should switch to the sugar-free variety, he secretly had the regular Dr Pepper put into diet bottles which he stocked in his home refrigerator.

Residents of the community and the region enthusiastically support what they consider “their” Dr Pepper. But Bill was no less enthusiastic about giving back. Seldom does a community event take place without Dr Pepper, usually provided as a donation to a worthy cause. Most of the major projects in the area had a Dr Pepper signature somewhere, even though many of Bill’s contributions were done inconspicuously and, by his choosing, without fanfare.

Bill always spent long hours at the Dr Pepper plant. But following the death in 1995 of Iona Kloster, his beloved wife of 54 years, he dedicated himself to the expansion of the museum collection and the promotion of Old Doc’s Soda Shop.

The years took no apparent toll on Bill mentally, but he deeply resented the physical limitations caused by arthritis. He wore out the knees he came with, and several replacement knees as well. He rarely fussed about the pain, but he fussed often about the inconvenience, particularly when he had to take time out for surgery and rehabilitation. In the summer of 1999, he underwent his last knee surgery. As he began the therapy which would put him back on his feet, he suffered a severe heart attack, followed by several more. His doctors were not optimistic about his survival, much less his recovery.

But miraculously, Bill survived and returned to work, leaping headlong into the development of the commemorative 2000 calendar. He wanted this millennium calendar to be a tribute to the four young ladies who have worn the title of Pretty Peggy Pepper, his favorite advertising icon.

Bill died suddenly on Sept. 27, 1999 after a full day at the bottling plant where he had spent the day approving designs for this 2000 calendar. He is gone only in the physical sense; the echo of his chuckle and the shadow of the wide grin that accompanied his favorite Dr Pepper stories will always be felt in the oldest Dr Pepper plant in the world.

Bill Kloster was a man of conviction. When small bottlers have been gobbled up by conglomerates, the tiny, independent Dublin Dr Pepper plant remains. Its signature product is produced just like it was more than 100 years ago. Bill wasn’t afraid of bucking marketing trends because he believed in the unique quality of his product.

No, it wasn’t the textbook way of doing things.
But it was Bill Kloster’s way.

We had a great time.  Many more pictures were taken but I was having a difficult time downloading them all.


On this Pathway-
Jill

Press On-a much needed reminder from a friend today!

Prayers for my kiddos

On a happy note-Analeigh's antibiotic seems to be working-still coughing but she no longer has fever, is sleeping and eating well again and for that we are doing a big happy dance.
On a side note though, Alyssa caught whatever Analeigh had and had been fighting it all week and last night started complaining her left ear hurt.  Our history is not good with ear infections with her-she has had 3 sets of tubes and last year had a sinus infection that ruptured both of her ear drums.  Well, last night about ten after trying the Dr on call and going to the minor ER-closed at 8-so we didn't get in, her left ear drum ruptured and has drained all night and we can't get in to the Dr. until 3:45 today.  We didn't sleep all night and on she is crashed and I have to wake her soon to get ready to go to the Dr.-not happy nor fun.
Please pray she can get some relief to sleep tonight and get better quickly-I really would like to not deal with this anymore.
Also, we go to Children's tomorrow for Brandon's appointment on the new cysts that have grown back in his hip.  He says it doesn't hurt but Mike and I think it looks like he might be limping a little again-I would be lying if I said I was worried or scared about tomorrow appointment.  I am trying to give it over and let God truly have it, to be in control, it is just hard when it is one of my babies to release that and know whatever the outcome is that He is still God, still sits on the throne, still loves us and is in control of what happens.   My heart knows it my head has a hard time letting it go, all the "what if's."
I need sleep-it takes 3.5 hours to drive there and 3.5 back home-our Children's Choir sings in church tomorrow night and so I have to be back in time for that and I haven't slept great in a week, but really not great last night-we were up all night with her ear in pain.  I am weary and worn out and ready for spring to be here so hopefully we can kick this icky bug from out home for good. When I haven't slept this trip is a mighty long drive.
Please pray whatever I hear from the Dr.'s mouth tomorrow I would be ok with and remember God is in control-He knows what my tomorrow will bring-I am praying for healing of course-but I am thinking it is still there.  Just pray it would at least have not grown or no new cysts.  Our options at this point are very limited and my baby boy is weary too.
Thank you so much-I appreciate so that I can come to some of you whom I have never even met and ask you to lift my sweet babies up in prayer before the throne of our Heavenly Father.
I will keep you posted.
On this Pathway-
Jill

National Platypus Day!

My boys really like the cartoon Phineas and Ferb.  The cartoon has a Platypus named Perry on it and they have been advertising on the cartoon that March 5th, 2011 is National Platypus Day!  So my boys decided that they wanted to draw their version of Perry on the computer and then we decided we would print them out and make T-shirts to wear today.

A little silly-but that is us-a little silly and it was a lot of fun to do.

So here are the final products.  My Derek even designed a girl Platypus too and named her Penelope after his Nana.  So the girls could have a girl shirt.

So we put Brandon's design on the back of our shirts too.

My budding artists-walking in the shoes of their daddy-so glad!
On this Pathway-
Jill