It is New Year's Eve. Happy New Year to one and all. May God's blessings richly rain on your heads today.
Just got an e-mail from Alexandra who is in London for the next two weeks. She's taking an Art & Theatre Appreciation course with Samford University. Her itinerary made me tired just reading it. It's great to be 21 and enthusiastic. Go Alexandra go! After London she and her friend Marie will be taking the train to France, Germany, Italy, and Austria. So if there are any people who would like to share suggestions on cheap eats or accommodations. Or would like to be a host please get back to me.
I'm filling out an application today to go on Medical Missions to Honduras in late February. I feel a pull to Honduras since I heard that soldiers were shooting at homeless children in the street.
Blessings upon blessings to you this last day of the year.
Love,
Misfit Mom
aka Mom Milner

Yesterday I spent the day in Charlotte, NC with Jessica. What a wonderful day. The sun was shining and the temperature was perfect. We were off to see John Kuhns glass at the Mint but it was closed. So we wondered through the lobbies of most of the tall skyscapers downtown and throughout the complicated mall mazes which connect the buildings to each other. This reminded me of downtown Cincinnati. We ended up seeing a fair amount of his art glass which is placed in many a lobby around Charlotte. I'm going to try to get to his studio here in Winston and find out how he produces such fantastic pieces of art.
Jessica and I caught up with each other which was great. It's like an old friend you just pick up where you leave off.
One thing that I'd like everyone to pray about is a trip to South Africa. We would both like to go there and work with the aids/orphaned children. Please pray for funds and for confirmation. I know what God wants you to do, He is able to work out each and every detail. So, lets lift it up to Him.

It's almost New Years Eve. What are my reflections for the past year? I learned to play bridge. Took a web design course. Posted my first item on e-Bay. Created a website http://www.fineartservices.org for Jan, my husband. Check it out and tell me what you think.
Went to Jamaica WI on medical missions, central Europe with frontier Fellowship, Prague with GOD, found out that sin is waiting on my shoulder like a cold ready to pounce in a moment of weakness.
Today I'm off to Charlotte to meet up with Jessica. What a joy that will be. I'll post later and tell you all about it.
Andrew Jones http://tallskinnykiwi.com is going to London with his family. I'm so excited for him. I'd love to plan my escape as well back to London.

It's Sunday morning and I'm off to church. One thing that's different today is that I will be babysitting with the infants during the service. It's amazing that even infants can praise GOD and be affected by GOD'S love. There's hope for each of us.
Anyone out there have any experience with any of the AIDS agencies that work with orphans in South Africa. I'm planning to go to SA in August God willing and would appreciate any contacts or information.
Have a blessed day.
Mom Milner

It's Saturday morning and I just came home from playing racketball with friends. I think it's very therapeutic in general for what disturbs you. After hitting that ball for an hour and running around you get all your stuff out. Three cheers for outlets.
Yesterday I successfully posted my first item on eBay. I was jumping for joy. I don't know if it will sell. If anyone has any eBay pointers please share. Do you want to know what I'm selling? Go to item 3648704902. It will be around for the next 6 days. A treasure hunt in the making.
How was everyone's Christmas? The next holiday coming up is New Years. Resolutions to be made. Contemplative thoughts of doing better or life changes that could be made.
Alexandra, my daughter is on her way back to Birmingham, AL. today. Tomorrow she flies off to London for a month. Two weeks as part of her college studies and two weeks traveling. Keep her in your prayers.
Have a blessed day.
Mom Milner

Firewalls are funny things. You want protection and sometimes you get more than you ask for. I have to turn off Zone alarm before I blog. Does anyone else have this problem?

I have great news Jessica is back in North Carolina. It's great news for me because I am going to see her next week.

I'm over Christmas now. Christmas is an interesting holiday. Filled with expectations most of which I don't accomplish. But some of which I do. The fantasy and the reality tend to be different. I want this Norman Rockwell Christmas and it never really happens like that. But it's over now and what's left undone is undone for another year. Hopefully there were some things done. We served almost 100 meals at the Salvation Army in the morning. Then I picked up 2 young international women who are at University here in Winston-Salem to spend Christmas with us along with someone from my Sunday School class who was going to be alone. We had a lovely meal together. Then we went off to a friend's house who has the gift of hospitality. There were about 50 people there of every age and description. Great eats and drink made some connections with old friends and new friends. Then I delivered everyone safely home.
I wonder if I made Jesus smile during the day?????????

I wrote this wonderful Christmas letter to my daughter Alexandra. I thought wouldn't it be lovely to share with other daughters. Maybe others who do not have mothers living or are separated for one reason or another.
So here it is for all the beloved daughters of the world.
My dearly beloved daughter,
Another Christmas has arrived sooner than I expected. I wanted you to know how proud and grateful I am for having such a wonderful daughter. A daughter who delights in the LORD, a daughter who has a heart for the less fortunate, a daughter who has been a light to so many, a daughter who pursues excellence with all her might, a daughter who has a heart as pure as gold, a daughter who is one of the sweetest young women I know. Thank you for being you.
How many ways can I bless you? I want to bless you in every way I can. I wish I could speak in a prophetic way like Father Abraham, for I would bless you with every spiritual gift known to man. I would bless you with the desires of your heart. I would bless you with God's best. Thank you for being you.
You are so beloved not only by me but even more by GOD. Know your worth, know your value, know your purpose. There are things that only you can do that have been predestined before you where born.
You are so special.
You are so loved.
Mom
xoxoxoxo
This is for all you daughters you need a kind word.
May you hear God's voice this Christmas saying
"I LOVE YOU"

I just typed a huge Christmas Eve post and there was an error on the page which caused me not to be able to post it.
FRUSRATION CAN REIN..........
But let's no let it...................

ARE THERE ANY OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WITHOUT FAMILY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON? IF YOU'RE ALONE E-MAIL ME AT MILNERS@TRIAD.RR.COM
HAPPY HOLIDAYS ESPECIALLY TO THE ORPHANS.
I LOVE YOU.
MOM MILNER

Did anyone see Oprah yesterday? . Well if you didn't check out her website. If you did give me your thoughts. I was sobbing throughout the entire program. What can we do? Does anyone want to go to South Africa with me?

This is a postscript to this mornings blog. 35+ men and women accepted the LORD Saturday night. Some of the people where first timers and some rededicated their lives. But whatever their decision was please keep them uplifted in your prayers. For in the beginning of our spiritual journey we need all the help we can get.

On Saturday of this week I had an unexpected present. Our church decided to have a Luke 20 Banquet and invite every homeless and hungry person in Winston-Salem, NC that they could find to come. They worked on this program for months. They collected gifts and personal care items that they thought would be useful. The day arrived and bus loads of people came from all the shelters and beyond. The air was filled with excitement. There were about 175 men and women in addition to 50 plus volunteers who served. Serving where men women and children of every age. I think the youngest might have been three. Just shows you you're never too old or too young to be used of God. The youth group provided music, we passed out song sheets so that we could remember the words to our favorite hymns.
We sang, we ate, we heard the gospel message from one of the greatest women evangelists I've ever heard. Do you know what made her great? It was GOD! She had been a crack cocaine addict living in an abandoned building here in Winston-Salem, strung out on crack, absolutely hopeless then one day she cried out to JESUS. She simply said HELP ME JESUS. Do you know what happened? He did! Her excitement, her enthusiasm, her hopefulness where all contagious. She was so uplifting. She said "If He can do it for me, He can do it for you". Isn't that the GOOD NEWS? One sinner who has been saved telling another sinner that they can find a future, a hope, a new beginning in Jesus Christ. All they have to do is cry out.
It was an exceptional evening. Because Jesus was there. The Spirit was alive and well. There was appreciation for the littlest thing. A hug, a hot cup of coffee, a meal served with love, a place to fellowship, and God's grace. I know that that was a gift to me that I will not soon forget. I want to wish everyone a HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a hopeful New Year. Love, Mom Milner
aka Misfit Mom

I can not believe it's been so long since I last blogged. It's been so long that I am embarrassed. Please forgive me. But the good news is that I'm on a journey. A spiritual journey of sorts. A physical journey of sorts. A geographical journey of sorts. An emotional journey of sorts and I want as many people to come with me as possible.
It started several months ago when GOD put on my heart Africa and the orphaned children who where both dying from AIDS and without parents because they had already passed away because of AIDS. There are millions of homeless, hungry, sick and generally very needed children out there. I thought to myself what can I do? This is a GOD SIZED problem. Can I do anything for anyone? Several thoughts passed through my mind. Maybe I could go there and be a mother to many. I thought I've traveled all over the world as a nurse missionary. Maybe I could travel there as a professional mother. Then I thought maybe there are other mothers who would like to be mothers to a couple of children. It could be full time or could be part time. I'm in the thinking and praying part of the journey. But if you have any thoughts tell me. I want to do something. I know I can do something for at least one other human being. I may not solve the entire problem but I can be a part of the solution no matter how small which is better than doing nothing.
Tell me your thoughts. Oprah went there and gave out gifts to 100,000's of orphans. She is also starting a school for orphaned children It was one of the happiest days of her life. Check out her site www.orprah.com. Her story made me cry and the pictures will definitely touch your heart. I need Andrew to tell me how to link pages. Sorry professional bloggers but you can find the information if your interested. It will require a couple of additional clicks.
Has any one heard of the European Betel Communities? If you have e-mail me back. That's another area of life I am interested in. These are communities for drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, and worse. They a part of the biggest protestant church plant in Spain. They are also self sufficient. Do I have spell check on this baby? I found the spell check. Hurray for me!
Well I want to wish everyone a Happy Christmas. I was praying the other day with my prayer partner and I thought what present could I give GOD to make Him happy? He gave us all the best present in the world. What would He ask of me????????????????????????
What would He ask of you???????????????????????
Food for thought.
I'm sending you all peace, love, joy, satisfaction, and hope.
LOVE MOM MILNER