ADDICTION UPDATE

well today is two months that i stopped my gambling addiction.the desire has completely left me.and i have God to thank for that.many times i would pray for God to help me stop.and He did.but the problem was that i did not do my part.God will always help us in times of need but He wants us to do our part to.it took me a long time to learn that lesson.but thank God i have now.He will give us the same lesson over and over again,until we get it right.so its kind of like being in school for our entire life.the school of eternal life.and when we graduate from this school,what a wonderful day that will be.
now for my smoking,its going pretty good.i wish it would work faster,but i know not to push more then i can handle.i am down to half a pack now and i am happy about that.and i am very thankful to the people who are praying for me.well thats it for now.talk to you later.

FEELINGS OF PEACE

today while i was at work,i started to think about this feeling i have been having for a few days now.it is an amazing feeling.i have a peace in my heart now that i have never felt before.sometimes when i would think of my age and i would think that life is over half over for me,i would think of heaven and hell,and i would feel so afraid.i really did not know where i was going to end up.i prayed all the time but never found peace.i think this peace came when i finally quit gambling.that sinful habit weighed very heavy on me for many years.i feel so free now.i feel closer to God then i did before.now when i think of the end,i just think how good it will be to see Ed in heaven.if you can't find peace,then take a good look at what you do.the answer is all to often in your own life style.we do what we do not want to do,but what we want to do,we do not do.

DON'T GET NOTICED

do you ever feel you don't get thanked for things you do?does it leave you feel unappreciated?does it leave you feeling lonely and just plain left out?then join the club.we all go through things like that.when someone forgets to thank you,tell yourself its not that big a deal.wouldn't you rather get your thank you in heaven?we should be doing things for others because God wants us to.this is one way of building up treasures in heaven.so when we do things for others,do it with a pure heart.do it for God.

HOW CAN YOU NOT BELIEVE

how can people not believe in God?all they need to do is look around.look at what is happening in this world.compare it to what the book of revelations says.how can some believe one day and the next day they totally change their minds.i just can't comprehand this.when things are going good they believe.when things are going bad,they don't believe there is a God.they say"if there is a God then how can such bad things happen".God gave us free will.we are the ones who choose to do bad things.thats not Gods choice.when we choose to take the wrong path then we have to face the consequences to.don't blame God when bad things happen,blame yourself for the choices you make.don't you think its time we all open our eyes and face the truth.there is a heaven and a hell.i am so very worried for the ones who choose not to believe.especially when it comes to family members.

HIS NAME IN VAIN

this is the third commandment"YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF YOUR GOD IN VAIN"well i feel this one speaks very clearly.how many times do you hear people say"OH MY GOD".do you think thats ok?i heard a pastor talk on this one time.he asked"when you say "OH MY GOD",are you really talking to God or is it just slang to you?i feel when we use it as slang then its not right.God is not just a slang word and we need to learn to show respect when we say His Name.just because everyone else says it,does not make it right.next time you want to say"OH MY GOD"or other similar sayings,think of what you are saying and ask yourself if God is pleased with the way you talk.His name is precious,His name is Holy.give honor to His name.

NO GRAVEN IMAGES

and now this is the second commandment...You shalt not make unto yourself any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth......so,what are graven images?well i believe a graven image is occult like images or carvings.some say it also would include pictures of Jesus.i really don't believe that.a picture of Jesus or even the cross,are for us to better get a grasp on things.when we look at the cross,it reminds us of what Jesus did for us.so when we pray,remember that you are praying to God in heaven.
but i would like some input on this commandment.i understand the graven image part,but this part i could use some help on,"or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above,or that is in the earth beneath,or that is in the water under the earth".
so if you have a comment on this part,let me know.

NO OTHER GODS

most everyone knows the ten commandments.right?so lets talk about the first commandment today.YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.so what does that mean to you?many maybe think it is talking about some kind of statues.but did you know that whenever you become obsessed with something,it becomes your god.i mean things like vlt's,bingo,alcohol and thats just to name a few.when something becomes more important to you then our Heavenly Father,then that is like a god to you.remember that our God is a jealous God and He will not take second place to anything or anyone.

IF MORE WERE LIKE HER

I was just remembering about the day my granddaughter told me about this boy in her classroom.he would always come to school unkept.his hair messy and clothes were not very clean.for lunch he would have maybe an apple.one day she decided to share her lunch with him.she found out that his family did not have much and an apple was all he had to take for lunch.after that day she would make herself a bigger lunch so she had extra and could share with him.i found this to be so touching.that a young girl like her would see the need of another child and do something to help.
when we see a person on the street with tattered clothing and looking for a hand out,we are fast to judge that person.we call them bums or other names and we turn our nose up at them and walk away.why do we think we are better then that "bum".we are all Gods children .we don't know what circumstances brought that person to live on the streets.yes there are some people who are just simply lazy and want the free easy life,but thats not for us to judge.just simply help those in need of help.you may ask"well how do i know when someone is truely in need of my help".its simple,pray for God to open your eyes and simply look around.there are so many in need of our help right here in our own city.when you give to help others,it leaves a warm and loving feeling in your heart.this feeling is Gods smile upon your heart.when we give to help others,we are doing Gods work.so,come on people,lets get to work.
be more like my granddaughter and just be kind.

OOOPS,I FORGOT TO SAY

on january 14,2009 Ken became grandpa again.his daughter Shannon and Matt had a baby girl.so that makes him grandpa three times.but i still got him beat...i am grandma four times.and proud to be one to.we always think that once our children grow up and get married,that then we will be able to rest and not worry about them.but...SURPRISEEEEE.....now we worry for our grandchildren.well its not really worry,i guess its more like hoping they dress warm in the winter and that they don't get hurt by others and stuff like that.ok ok,i guess that is still worry..oh well,what can i say,i am their grandma. ;)

IT STINKS

Smoking.now thats a stinky subject.i sometimes wonder why we smokers say it tastes good,it helps us to relax and we enjoy it.what in the world tastes good in smokes?and relax,lol,now thats a joke to.how can anyone feel relaxed with a smoke when we know it costs a small fortune to smoke and we know that smoking can cause cancer and other diseases.and how can we feel good when we smell like doggy dodo.i can imagine what goes through my grand childrens minds when they give me a hug and all they smell is stale smoke.
i personally hate smoking and am now taking steps to quit.my doctor put me on champix now.and valentines day is my stop date.so to anyone reading this,help me by praying for me.quitting is hard.any smoker will tell you this.but i am very determined to stop this smelly habit.i want to get my health back and feel more energetic so i can enjoy my grand children again.
this summer i am hoping to be able to go for long walks and bike riding without loosing my breath.the one thing i will not do is to give my last breath to a smoke.you see,this is another addiction that just destroys your life.life will end for all of us,but why speed it up by smoking.God gave me three wonderful children and He has blessed me with four fantastic grandchildren.and i want to be here for them for as long as i can.so yeah,quitting smoking is serious business for me.
the champix program is a three month program,so i will let you know how things are going with it.will power and determination and help from God are the main keys to winning.

SO VERY RIGHT

i just read the comment carol made.and you are so right.when we decide to fight addictions,its all or nothing.if we open even one door,we loose.the door can be so small,like just looking at the thing you have an addiction to.or even just thinking about it.because what the devil does is put the thought into your mind.and then he will get you to visualize it in your mind.and when you start to get that picture in your mind,it is very hard to resist that temptation.what i do when that thought comes into my head,is i start singing anything i can think of.if the thought persists,i just sing louder.this works for me.basically do whatever it takes to side track yourself from those thoughts.i found that the first week was the hardest,but i am so happy i made this first step.this is a fight i will not loose again.with God on my side,i can do all things.all praise be to God.

IS IT SUMMER YET?

minus minus minus BRRRRRRRRR i'm voting we have summer now.lol.i was happy to hear the hanover school division closed today.the thought of my granddaughter having to go out in this cold was not a good thought.hope you had a good day kels.a good and warm day inside.

Can You Control It?

you have heard the saying"once an addict,always an addict".well thats true.i had stopped gambling for about three months.then one day i decided it was ok to just go watch my friends play vlt's.and it was ok,because i left without playing.the next time i gave my friend twenty dollars to play for me.i thought that was ok to.well the next time i again asked my friend to play the vlt for me,but this time i decided to push the buttons a bit.and that was it,i was hooked again.its like they say,"if you play with fire,you will get burned".i got burned.for a year i kept going and wasting more and more money.i knew my children were so hurt by this.but i just couldn't stop.i felt embarressed and so angry at myself everytime i went there.january 1,2009 i decided that i had had enough.i prayed for God to help me.and i have not gone back there.i honestly don't even miss it all that much.it wasn't easy to stop.you need alot of determination and trust in God.God will always help,but He wants us to do our part to.
so if you think you can control an addiction,you are kidding yourself.at first you may have some control,but trust me,you will get burnt.i decided my family is more important then any vlt or any other kind of addiction.so if you have an addiction,just ask yourself,WHATS IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE?

Addictive world

why is it that people seem to get addicted to things so easily?weather it be gambling,drinking,smoking to name just a few.we all think it can't hurt to do it just once.but think again.once can be fun and thats where it gets you.one day of fun and then another and another and BANG.you're hooked.and when we realize this,its to late.so of course we start to justify what we do.at least i know i did.and not to mention the money we loose to our addictions.the amount can be unreal.but its not the money that counts in addictions.its what happens to the family of the one who has an addiction problem.as an addict,we do not spend much time with family because we are to busy "having fun".we do not see the pain or the embarressment we cause to our family.addictions is just another tool the devil uses to tear families apart.
i have so much more to say on this topic.but for now i will stop.but trust me,i am not nearly done with this topic.

About Me

my name is Dora.i am married to Ken Hildebrand.i have three children and four grandchildren.Ken has three children and three grandchildren.we have been married almost six months now.we live in Steinbach.i guess there is alot more i could write here,but this will have to do for now.