This Is Why!

This cute new little badge I received in my box at my new place of employment this afternoon explains it all. I mean -- everything -- from May through today, August 22!

It explains......

*why Rick has had to survive on nachos, Sonic, sandwiches, t.v. dinners, and anything else he could muster up
*what God orchestrated and directed me to do
*why I basically lived away from home the entire month of June
*why I have bribed and "practiced" testing so many adults and kiddos around town
*why I continue to make meetings/training at least two times a week (nights, Saturdays, etc.)
*why I will be working parttime (when I finish all these requirements!!!)
*why and how I want to continue to invest in the lives of our children at school
*why my blogging has been so sporadic lately

And....that's a wrap for tonight!

CHRISTMAS CARDS DON'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!

Do you like e-cards? No? Well, see you later. Yes? Then continue.

I like them but really prefer the short little interactive ones. Ashland College up in Ohio has a beautiful Christmas card from the past still posted out there in "web-land." Take a few seconds to enjoy it!

Merry Christmas!

Spinning Plates

The question “How do you find balance in your life?” has been asked over and over. You may have heard it posed to someone during an interview either in person or on the television.

Have you ever given this some thought personally? Well, I am throwing this one out to you today.

Now, first let me say I acknowledge that as Christians we know it takes faith, prayer, daily communion with God, and many other attributes of a meaningful relationship with Him to find true joy and peace.

But for just a second, let’s talk though about the nitty gritty of our day-to-day “earthly” challenges. As a mom, daughter, wife, etc. I know we all have days where we begin to “feel” the spinning of the plates!


Bottom line….what do YOU do?

Is it a pedicure? Is it a girls’ night out? A hot bath? A shopping trip? A workout? Saturday outing? Listening to music?

You get the idea. So again--what do YOU do? Leave me a comment. We are all ears!!

Merry Moments

A fabulous night at home with a little of this..........

And this...........

AND a Christmas special on television!

Aahh! Merry Moments

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"I will always trust in you and in your mercy and shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord because He has blessed me so richly." (Psalms 13: 5-6)

REAL FRIEND TEST! 

 This is GOOD...Pass it on!

 A simple friend when visiting acts like a guest.
 A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps herself AND doesn't feel even the least bit weird shutting your Diet Coke drawer with her foot! 

 A simple friend has never seen you cry.
 A real friend's shoulder is soggy from your tears.. 
 
 A simple friend doesn't know your relatives' first names.
 A real friend has their phone numbers in her address book. 
A simple friend brings a gift to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean. 
 
A simple friend hates it when you call after they've gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call. 
 
 A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.
 A real friend seeks to help you with your problems. 

 A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
 A real friend could blackmail you with it! 

 A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.
 A real friend calls you after you had a fight. 
 A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
 A real friend expects to always be there for you! 

 It keeps us together......our Circle of Friends!

Traveling Longhorns ("Red Hen") passed this, Honest Scrap,  on to me. I've been a little slow to respond--but not because I don't appreciate the thoughts. The rules are you have to tell 10 honest things about yourself and then pass it along to 9 bloggers who you adore! So here goes (with the short answer version).

1. I am very fearful of drowning even though........

2. I used to water ski and even though.........

3. I have been on a cruise.

4. I love holidays.

5. I love family time.

5. I love to travel.

6. As a kid I loved to watch Andy Griffith, I Love Lucy, Dick Van Dyke, and other educational shows!

7. As a 4-H girl, I made my first cake and my first dress.

8. As a G.A. girl, I learned my first scripture and rode my first train.

9. I terrribly miss my parents, mother and father in-law, and brother-in-law.

10. I take comfort in knowing they are with God, and we will all be together again some day.

Psalms 16    ".........the Lord has richly blessed me."

 

(I pass this on to any of my family members who want to participate;  I SIMPLY ADORE YOU!)

LOVE-ly Things

I just LOVE Sonic's Happy Hour. A couple of reasons--sweet tea and diet coke half price!

I just LOVE Ladies' Bible Studies. Several reasons come to mind.  I love the fellowship we have together! I love the opportunity to learn how the Bible applies to us as women. I love the snacks we share with each other. I love our prayer time together. I love how we lean on each other. I love how we can learn to join God as He works. I love the accountability we have with each other.

We have a new study beginning in about a week. It's "Life Principles from Women of the Bible." I'm ready!

Happiness in Homemaking

It feels sooooo good today to get some things done around the house to start the week off. Got the house vacuumed, floors mopped, the laundry done, pot roast cooking, and it's not even noon yet! Anybody impressed besides me?

1. rain
2. everybody seems to be well
3. cooler weather (until yesterday!) 

4. Jenna and the sushi experience

5. family time/meals

6. more jelly making

7. worship time

8. new dessert by Keelie

9. repaired a/c

10. church family

1. grace
2. birthday blessings
3. worship music

4. forecasted cooler weather

5. family time

6. leftovers

7. church family

8. rest

9. hugs

10. diet coke and sweet tea

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Check out the fun giveaway coming up from Beth at The imPerfect Housewife. 

1. watching Jonah and Jenna at her apt. pool
2. phone call from one of Ganna's special friends
3. wild blackberries --- See Saturday's post below

4. baking

5. boiled (already peeled!) shrimp

6. hugs

7. providence of God

8. Justin's picture in Dallas Morning News

9. worship time

10. crock pot meal (so easy!)

Give Us Clean Hands

We bow our hearts
We bend our knees
Oh Spirit come make us humble
We turn our eyes
From evil things
Oh Lord we cast down our idols

So give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh give us clean hands
and give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
Oh God let this be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob
Oh God let us be
a generation that seeks
Who seeks Your face, Oh God of Jacob........

1. family time
2. visiting with friends
3. home-cooked meals

4. new recipes

5. rain

6. worship time

7. AC

8. fireworks show

9. cooler temp

10. nap

1. family time
2. getting vacation photos in an album
3. a Friday night home-cooked meal

4. kicking off the July 4th season with Greg's fireworks stand

5. fresh fruits and vegetables

6. worship time

7. "home" time

8. new pastor and family arriving 

9. a Saturday night home-cooked meal (Wow!--two in one weekend)

10. visiting with friends

************************************************************

July 4th brings family, friends, fireworks, and food together!