Saturday, November 29, 2008

Christmas Video

I recently ran across the video from a blog buddy - TIFF..... if you havent seen this - I think you're going to look at the Holidays a tad differently. What we can do as Christians & churches - together.... Please watch... you'll be so thankful you did!




Friday, November 28, 2008

Black Friday

I have to say - Black Friday has been great today. I normally am out doing the shopping thing with but Ricky working & my dental bills eating up my checking account - it was a no go for me to hit the stores. I was thinking I was going to be dreading it, thinking "everyone is getting all the deals" - but I ended up having the best day!
I woke up when Hubs got ready for work - & THOUGHT I would stay up & get a start on cleaning the house. Heck no - I fell right back to sleep & slept till 11:00 - something I can NEVER do when Ricky is home. He panics if I "sleep in" past 8:00!!!!



I got up & started opening ornaments to the tree & my friend Lynn called & asked me to come over for some lunch.... egg noodles were calling my name... YUMMY! I just love Lynn's family - they are all incredible - so I completely enjoyed my afternoon with friends...
Coming home - I got the tree up & got all the boxes up - the only thing left now are our big Disney figures that are scattered around on the tables... much too heavy for me to lift... I got to put in my Beauty & the Beast DVD & sing my heart out while I was finishing up - ain't a better way to put up a Disney Christmas tree.

(Here's a picture with the lights on - I took without the flash & it just makes it blurry....)
But going back - Thanksgiving was great - got to spend time with my family - my nieces - love hanging out with little girls, playing make up games as you go along... what a way to run off sausage balls!!!
Here's a picture of the girls doing "model poses".... the two older ones know what its about - my nieces - I guess their ideal of "posing" is raising their shoulders up.... its cute regardless... The olders ones - one told me "When you model - you can't smile - models dont smile - they suck their cheeks in".... oh how they pick things up quickly!

And of course, Madi (aka Spider Girl) had to find a tree to climb - this child is climbing up EVERYTHING!!!! And I have to tell you - my slow cooker turkey - UNBELIEVABLE!!! Ricky even told me - "This is the best meal I have EVER have....And I can't believe YOU made it".... I could have got offended - but I totally agreed!!! And while waiting for the turkey to cook - I had doggies following me everywhere - the smell must have been getting to them. Here's one picture I took of them - if you look close enough - you'll probably see drool hanging from their mouth!



So hope everyone enjoyed their Black Friday - if it was in stories shopping - or just relaxing or decorating for Christmas!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! It's official - the kick off of the Holidays! How do I know.... as I'm getting a turkey ready - I'm watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I always love to watch that parade.... wonder what it would be like in person - is it magical? Or is it just crowded? I'll take watching it from the comfort of my home....

Then I go take my shower & turn on my shower radio - the Christmas music has started - all Christmas - all the time - until December 26th.....

We're getting ready to go through the ads in the paper - see what the hot items are going to be tomorrow. Ricky & I normally are the crazy ones out at 5:00 but he has to work for the first time with his new job - so it wouldnt be the same so I think I'm just going to relax tomorrow. We really dont have money anyways to shop after all the fun with the dental nightmare I had... alas, my house hopefully will be welcoming to Christmas by tomorrow.


And what about today.... I'm trying to keep a positive attitude for all my Thanksgiving crazy friends - Lynn, Deidre, & Dawn immediately come to mind!! We're doing the best we can to make it nice.... Ricky's family & my family are having dinner the same time (as every year) - so this year - he's going to his family - I'm going to mine - so we dont have to rush.... but the best will come tonight.... I'm making a dinner for the two of us... YES - I'm making a turkey!!!! Slow cooker will be my friend again! Its already cooking - will take 8 hours (its just a turkey breast) so it'll be ready by the time we get home tonight... I hope this will be a nice Thanksgiving doing it this way.

I have to say - I was gagging as I was cutting the fat off the turkey - now I see why I dont cook often. It didn't help with Ricky behind me making noises & saying "WHAT IS THAT?" .... I have an easy turned stomach.... needless to say - its now cooking!!!! We'll see how it turns out!

But today - I am truly thankful for so much! My family, my friends, my life, & without doubt, most important - Jesus Christ - who I'm so thankful for every day of my life!! So in closing - hope everyone enjoys today - hope that Jesus is part of your celebration of Thanks - & here's a verse to go on your day with!


1 Chronicles 16:8-12
8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.
9 Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
11 Look to the LORD and his strength;
seek his face always.
12 Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Secret Santa brings a tear!!!!

I got involved with the Secret Santa from over at Decisionally Challenged a few months ago & today was the day I received my package!!! Before we even go any further & you see this - know that my Secret Santa made me cry!!!! What a gift....



So this is what I found coming in the door from the grocery - something that I hate to do is grocery shopping - so it was so fun to come home to a package. Instantly, my husband said, "Did you buy more yarn?" - I told him no & had him feel how heavy the package was - no way was this yarn!

So I open it up & get a card from my Secret Santa...Simone (dont you just love that name!!!)

Then look what else was in my box....


The first thing I noticed were barretts. I LOVE beautiful barretts but hate to buy them because they are so expensive!!!! I got not one, not two - but THREE pairs of gorgeous barretts. Then I got a package of soaps & lotions - yummy! Also a coffee mug with the cutest puppy on it (you all know I love me some doggies!) & the mug was FULL of chocolates!! (Gotta keep the hubs away from that!)

THEN - yeah, we're still NOT done!!! There was a Knitting Journal! Now I've seen this journal in stores through the years & have always wanted to get it but chose instead to purchase yarn. I have picked up this journal & thumbed through it many times so I instantly knew what it was!!! Now its mine!!!! How cool....

Now the best part - get ready for the tears!!!! - There was a beautiful silk wrapped package & I could hear metal hitting - I looked at my husband & said, "Knitting Needles?" - but on the outside was a letter from Simone. OH MY - the story brought tears to my eyes & caused my husband's jaw to drop. I have to share what it says.... if you feel this is long - its worth it - believe me!

Dear Rebecca:

Although the knitting needles are old & used, they hold a special significane - the knitting together of friendships.

I met Inja while our daughters trained at a USA gymnastics training center. Her husband was a pastor at Crystal Cathedral & together, they were raising two great kids. Howard was born & raised in California but as God works in his own way, he brought them together in Korea, where he met Inja at a church service.

Theirs was a love that many romance books could be written about. He clearly loved her & Howard was her world.

Unexpectedly, Howard suffered a heart aneurysm without warning & passed away leaving Inja distraught & ready to give up. She cried out to God to take her. She didn't want to live, yet, her children needed her.

God knitted together a friendship between the two of us. Here we were - a Korean woman with extreme talent in knitting, sewing, cooking & me, an African American woman, who also loved to cook & create but from a totally different culture - Yet, we spoke the same language because of our love for God.

She shared with me her passion for creating with her hands. I shared with her the gift of laugher.

Slowly, what was once ashes became beauty. She cried but at times, there were tears of happiness & not from sadness. She missed the love of her life tremendously, but found hope to live & breathe again.

Inja wanted to share her passion of knitting with me so she gave me a gift of tons of knitting supplies as well as needles. I had tucked them away & hoped that I would find someone that would enjoy them as much as she did.

And with you, my secret santa..... I give you a treasured gift.

Enjoy!
Simone

OK - I am ready to cry again!!!! I cant thank Simone enough for sharing the story with me as well as the knitting needles. As you can see - the packages are weathered over time & are very old. There is a set of needles with the cost being 25 cents & another for 75 cents.

The thing that really hit me even more is my friendship with my dear Stephanie who has passed away & how knitting was such a huge part of our lives & how we would tell stories & become sisters while yarn was in our hands. And I look at my friendships now - & how knitting has been such a big part of developing the wonderful relationships.

And now, a person I have never met in person - & have never heard of before today - has shared with me a touch of her friendship that involved knitting..... I will truly cherish these needles - I will put them with all the knitting supplies of Stephanie's that I still have as well. Another story to tell when someone asks why those needles are seperated & what they mean.

This gift is the best gift anyone could have given me.....I can feel it from the heart.....

Thank you Simone.... My Holidays have truly been kicked off in the best way possible!!!!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Scavenger Hunt

Our youth group had it annual Scavenger Hunt Saturday... I got to team up with some of the girls that I went to see Twilight with - so it was another night that I knew was going to be fun!! We got our clues & the point was to figure them out & take pictures with digital cameras at each location with each clue being different point levels.....

This one - how many people can you fit on a buffalo... yes there is a buffalo underneath there!!!


Another clue was to find Sponge Bob in a Hardware store.... we walked in & the guy who worked there was SOOO THRILLED (being sarcastic here) when we asked him if Sponge Bob was around

We also had to do a pyramid in front of a Mexican restaurant. (We actually got the clue wrong & was in front of the wrong place- but it was fun anyways) - one of the girls is a cheerleader (the one on top) so she knew just what to do!

Had to put on all kinds of clothes in Wal-Mart...(And yes - we were good girls & put everything back!)



And had to find Princess movies with a tiara - & as you can see - the one who was named to have the tiara is so ANTI-Princess - we loved having her hold it!

Had to get a picture with an associate with a Santa hat - we couldnt find Santa Hats so we did the next best thing - putting Santa's on our heads!!! I thought it was pretty clever if I do say so myself!

Along the way - we had so much fun - we went & started taking pictures at the most random places & doing the most random things.... we had the most amazing time - laughing & screaming - you can imagine with a car load of girls.

Then we had an idea - lets go get our picture with Santa Claus. Well, the scavenger hunt was only 2 hours long & we had to be back at our home base at 5:05....we thought, lets go for - it'll just make us about 10 minutes late....we get there - Santa is on dinner break.... AAHHH MAN!! So I made the leader, executive decision to wait it out - we were going to be late anyways & we were there anyways - so we hung out at the mall for about 30 minutes - eating cookies, looking at Twilight stuff & just having fun hanging out - so here's our picture of us with Santa


Needless to say - we ended up being an HOUR late getting back - oops! So all the points we got for the Scavenger Hunt - they were all deducted (loose 5 points for every minute we're late)...but all the girls didn't care - they wouldn't trade the night of fun for anything.


The best part - we all went & got some coffee & french-vanilla flavored yumminess & went to Crossroads & talked for hours! We laughed our butts off....Erica can tell the funniest stories of anyone I know!!!


What a fun night- any chance these girls can get to grow in their friendships with each other & to allow me to be a part of their lives - there is not a word that even describes the blessing they all are in my life!

(All girls from our small group!! Each one special in their own way!!!)

As we are nearing Thanksgiving - I am truly Grateful for each one of these girls & each one of the kids in our youth group that are in my life!

Remember


Yesterday, I heard the most powerful thing during the communal message - it hit me hard (love when that happens...)

Everyone has heard it said many times - especially during the time of communion - that Jesus took the bread & broke it & said "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me" (Luke 22:19)

Jesus - being the smart guy that He is - KNEW we have a tendancy to forget things.... is it possible that we would forget the gift he gave us in his death on the cross? Apparently Jesus, hanging out with his crew, did absolutely see we would forget the big things. It was just right after that Jesus was telling Peter that he would deny him....

That SAME night - when the rooster crowded three times - the words of Jesus came to Peter's mind - he remembered what Jesus said!!! (Luke 22:61) He completley forgot the words of Jesus as he was denying him. It took the rooster crowing for Peter to hear those words again!!!

Also - you see it again right after Jesus arose from the dead - when the women went to the tomb & the angels told these women -
"Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men & be cruicifed and that he would rise again on the third day. Then they remembered that he had said this." (Luke 24:6-8)

See - these women forgot too!! How do you forget such important things? Because we focus on other things - we're human - we sin!! But Jesus knew how we would be - and asked us to remember Him.....

We get so busy doing things - our lives take over & schedules get over loaded & our minds feel like they are going to short circuit with smoke coming out of our ears....we forget things...

I am so guilty of forgetting things at the grocery - or sending that card I meant to sent - or making that phone call! Ricky forget to shut drawers, turn off lights, take off his socks before he gets in the shower (joking - just seeing if your paying attention!).... but we all forget something all the time

Oh - that we NEVER forget the gift Jesus gave us - that we have the opportunity every day to remember what he did - Saved us from our sins!!!! That we keep him the first thought in our mind where we dont even have the opportunity to forget!!

Thank you Lord for daily reminders that you love us!! We know YOU never forget us!


Saturday, November 22, 2008

Twilight Night

So yes, I was in the Twilight madness at the movies last night!!! It was incredibly fun!!

I met up with some girls from my small group & RYAN - how funny is that - one guy in our group of 8!!
We ran & got some candy, got to the theater & the lines were INSANE!!
The theater was completely sold out - not a seat left in the place!!!!!
When the lights went down - everyone started clapping & screaming - it was so much fun with the energy that was in the room. When Edward's face first came on the screen - the theater BLEW UP with screams - it was fun....stupid me - I thought I was going to tear up....WHY? I don't know... but it was so exciting! Then when Charisle came on - again - the screams...I'll admit - I even screamed on that one - he is one of my favorite characters in the book! Then it was like we blinked & the movie was over....
What did I think - of course, the book is so much better (aren't they always!) but it was really good! Going to go back again..... Loved putting faces with the names in the book. And it was funny coming out - the lines for the next showing was already completely wrapped around the lobby!
I took my camera for pictures - but forgot it in the car as we were running to get inside....Friends took pictures & I'm waiting for them to send them so more of that later....


Then we went out to eat & its always so fun to just sit around & talk with these incredible young ladies! The coolest part of the night - our bill came....Ryan ended up picking up the tab & said - if you want, just leave what you want for a great tip - let's make our waitresses night! So our bill was $40.55 - but we ended up leaving a $45 tip!!!!! We just signed the back of the receipt with a note that the youth group from our church wanted to give this waitress a blessing..... We were so excited to give it to her.... hope she felt blessed by it!!! It was late & she looked tired so hopefully her night ended on a good note!!! I loved that the girls were excited about it too!!! They talked about it all the way home - I think they'll remember that for quite awhile.

But talking to Ryan at the end of the night -we both noticed something - the screams & the awe for the character of Edward. How girls - even me at my age & there were women much older than me there - we all have that thing in us that craves & screams for the perfect man - the man who will give protection & security - the man who shows loves completely - that will never leave us - that will do anything to stay with us ..... sound like someone we know? So many things came to mind about how Jesus cares for us & the relationship he WANTS to have with us.... really want to work now on a lesson for these girls to show them this point.... Pray for me on that because the girls really love this character & I think it could potentially hold an incredible lesson there!!!!
Does the perfect man exist - yes - only one!!!! Thank God for Jesus!!!


Awards....

WOW! I got to the computer today to see I had two - yes TWO new awards. I am so thankful.... so lets get to all the bloggie fun!

This first award was given to me by my new blog friend Yaya. Stop by & visit her - she is always such a joy - expressing her love for God & the joy that adoption has brought to her life. That little girl of hers is just precious. The rules of this award:

1. I must first post the Award on my blog
2. Link to the person who gave it to me - I'm telling you - go visit YaYa
3. Link to the originating Post to describe what this award means.... Reading it - I have to say - I LOVE it... anything that says you have the spirit of a child... I'm ALL FOR!!!
4. Pass the award on to 5 people - so let's get to it!

The first one is of course my dear friend Lynn who technically is an amazing writer - she owned her own Christian newspaper for goodness sakes! And on the other side - she truly lives life with a fun attitude - the two of us together - yeah, big kids!!! If you havent stopped by her blog yet - you'll be blessed by her insight, plus pictures & stories of her family!

The second one I'm going to send out to is from Finding Normal - I so enjoy reading this ladies stories of life & the adventures of her children. What beautiful children she has too! (Always love a red head!!!)

The third - another new blog friend that I enjoy so much reading. Mulch in their Pockets Any mom with 3 kiddos & a doggie who holds a focus on God - gotta love 'em!

Fourth - another dear friend of mine - Joe - I have watched this young man grow with the Lord & he is turning into a mighty Minister for the Lord. Plus - he's going to be a daddy soon so he's going to have lots of baby stuff coming up soon too! Love to see Fatherhood from a Christian Man's perspective!

Finally - but not least - For Such a Time as This - I adore this woman & her family. It is so fun to read about her little girls that have such a heart for the Lord already!!! Some of the stories of these kids & the passion they hold for the Lord just bring tears to my eyes - it reflects a parents guidance of raising them in the way they should go....


I know most people see these awards & skim over them but I really encourage you to visit each one of these sites - they truly ALL are blessings to me.... I would love to give awards to even more I feel - but most of you have already received it - rightfully so!!!


And then - I got another award from Rebecca Jo - no not me - there is ANOTHER Rebecca Jo in the world!!! YES!!!! We found each other through blog-land...how fun is that!!!


I feel so international with this one!!!! But what this means is "This blog believes & invest in the proximity" - looses something in the translation - but it means believes in the closeness of people through blogs -


The receiver of this award are: "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”


I will say - I do aim to find friends & more importantly to be a friend - so I appreicate this award in all its foreign language!!!! I am going to find 8 more blog friends & pass that on at a later date....


I got to get bills paid & have a Scavenger Hunt with the youth group tonight- lots to do - NOT TO MENTION - I have to post about my night last night with the most awesome group of kids going to see Twilight....it'll be a fun post! More to come later!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Beauty

Last night when I came out of Jazzercise, it was the most beautiful sight.... it was snowing! And not just that rain type of snow that is wet & yucky... but it was the fluffy, light, big ole' flakes that land on you & you can actually see the details of the flake! (Still amazes me that God creates each one differently!!!)

When I got home, I tried to take a picture of it - but have you noticed - there are some things that a picture can not capture?

A picture can not grasp the same affect of standing in the middle of those flakes landing on your sleeves.

There are other things that I have tried to take pictures of - things that take my breath away - things I could stare at for hours because of how beautiful it is.


Ever see a gorgeous sun rise or sun set & the shades it makes across the sky? A picture doesnt grab what its like to actually see it.

Every try to take a picture of your Christmas tree when its all lit up & the light sparkles off your ornaments or the ribbons from the presents below? Nope -a picture doesnt capture the same thing as if you were sitting next to it watching the lights twinkle in your own eyes.

Ever try to take a picture of a bundle of leaves in Fall with all the colors? They are awesome pictures - but not the same as looking at the colors in your hands when you stare at the colors of leaves that you pick up!

Even a baby's face.... I see some incredible cute pictures of babies (even my own nieces & grandbaby apply here!) all the time & no doubt - they are beautiful - but come on! As a parent or a grandparent or an aunt or uncle - does the picture actually capture how cute that smile is in person? Not really - when you can HEAR the laugh & giggle that comes along with that smile....

The Grand Canyon - beaches - ocean waves - storm clouds - a field of flowers....

All of these things are beautiful in photographs - but what makes them even more beautiful is that we are EXPERIENCING THEM!!! We get to touch them - hear them - see things with our own eyes - enjoy it for ourselves - it brings a whole new life to something....

So looking at that snow yesterday & trying to capture it in a picture -it made me think - can you imagine how Heaven is going to be? Or what the smile of Jesus is going to look like? We try to think about what it will look like in our mind & we can imagine the Beauty of it all - but I think its going to be even more than we imagined - even more beautiful than our minds can ever grasp!!!

Oh - the beauty that I think God has in store for us when we get to EXPERIENCE Heaven with Him!!!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Stronger

Yes - the girls in the youth group have totally sucked me into the "Twilight" Madness! We already have tickets purchased for tomorrow night & I think I'm just as excited as they are. The book just sped by & I was addicted to this story.... so as soon as I laid down "Twilight" - I picked up "New Moon" - the 2nd book in the series.

Well, if you know me - I'm constantly writing down things out of books that really hit me & I really love to look at them through a Christian view. In this part of the book (I wont give anything anyway) - Bella is struggling through some pain in her life:


"...I found I could survive. I was alert, I felt the pain - the aching loss that radiated out from my chest, sending wracking waves of hurt through my limbs & head - but it was manageable. I could live through it. It didn't feel like the pain had weakened over time rather that I'd grown strong enough to bear it." -New Moon

Haven't we all had times in our lives where pain feels so unbearable - the it actually hurt as in physical pain? But I love how it says that the pain didn't weaken - but we grew stronger.

Instantly, I thought of all the verses in the Bible how Jesus is our tower of strength - a refuge in time of troubles:

Psalms 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength & makes my way perfect

Psalm 18:29 You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet

Psalm 119:28 My soul is weary with sorry; strengthen me accord to your word.

Tons of verses about strength - but my favorite I stumbled upon -

How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, David, Samuel & all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, & received what God has promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire & escaped death by the edge of the sword. THEIR WEAKNESS WAS TURNED TO STRENGTH. They became strong in battle & put whole armies to flight. -Hebrews 11:32-34

WOW!!! There you go - its shows through all of history - the same things have been going on. We are faced with things that make us weak - feel like we will never over come - things that get us down - but we become stronger with God has our strength. It doesn't discount what has happened to you - only shows that you can overcome - become stronger!!

Turn your weakness into your strength by God's mercies!!!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

I remember when

Today's writing assignment from "Mama": I REMEMBER WHEN: AAHH - memories...Lets see:

Do you remember when families use to have dinner together every night - & they were big home made dinners - always hot & yummy?

Do you remember when you could care less about what time it was as a child - you just had to watch the street light to know it was time to go home? And do you remember that the street light came on during the best part of a kickball game?

Do you remember being sick & staying in bed all day long & having your parents take care of you? Do you remember what it was like to have your mom or dad wipe your head & make you feel better just by being there knowing they would do whatever it took to make you feel better?

Do you remember when hanging out with girlfriends & giggling till the middle of the night was the funnest thing you could ever do?

Do you remember that first time you got your drivers license & all you wanted to do was drive on your own? And it was scary those first few times? And then you felt so grown up - you could go anywhere you wanted...as long as mom & dad said it was ok....

Do you remember your grandmother's cooking? There was always something she made that was the best thing in the world. In my family - Thanksgiving meant Mama's Dumpling's....Do you remember everyone else trying to make that dish but its just never the same?

Do you remember having your first "crush" & having your heart broken? Thinking that there could never be anyone has perfect for you as this 16 year old boy? That you really believe you have felt love & that no one "understands" - oh, how funny is that now?

Do you remember the first day you were graduated from school & you didnt have anywhere you had to be? How that feeling was reviving but scary because now you had to figure out what to do with your life?

Do you remember all the emotions of your wedding day - the excitement & joy in an event? How you walked down the aisles with so many hopes & dreams of what Marriage would be like?

Do you remember what it felt like to experience death of a loved one? The raw pain & helplessness it makes you aware of - that there is nothing you can do sometimes but let go of people that you love?

Do you remember events in your life that you wish you would have listened to someone's opinions? When you thought for sure you were doing the right thing only to have it be such an incredibly bad choice. Do you remember those events daily wishing you could just go back in time & change them?

Do you remember what it felt like to hold a baby that is just a few minutes old in your arms? To hold something so fragile & see their face & wonder what their life is going to be like?

Do you remember what life was like before the grace & mercy of Jesus came into it? How life with no hope was just a life of despair - but the newness of life that comes with Jesus can give you joy like no other?

Am I the only one who remembers these things?


Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Money going where?

I've heard it said before & it was said again in our past Sunday's sermon - show me your check book & what you spend your money on, & I'll show you your priorities. Its so true though - where you care to spend your money - & working in Accounting for a living - I am always a stickler for watching where my money is being spent. I'm one of those freaks that gets excited when the bank statement comes to see if I balance - & if I ever don't balance - I'm sitting there until I figure out what's going on. So how much fun is my job where I get to do that for a living?

Anyways - I just wanted to pass on an INCREDIBLE web site for those of you who like to know where your money is going. I use it & LOVE it & have heard from others who appreciate this site. It's called Mint & it will show you EVERYTHING about your money. If you are one of the people who do alot of on line banking or pay your credit cards on line - this is for you!! I dont know how it does it - but if you set it up with all your links to different banks & credit card pages - it'll keep you updated on what you owe, what you pay, & exactly how you spend your money! It even has catagories to break it down & graphs that are BAM, in your face! Even a budget set up for you to see if you are going over or need to adjust things. I think you'll like it - if your a geek with numbers like me!

What did I find out - I love yarn (SURPRISE?) - gas spending has dropped (Thank you Lord for oil dropping) - I go to Walgreens more than I should (so convenient being right on the corner) - my health insurance is a HUGE ugly chunk on the graph (sigh...) - & the part you'll see - when you give to your church - you think you are giving so much & you'll see even if you tithe - that you still have so many other things that you spend so much on.... that 10% in the grand scheme of things - doesnt really hurt you - but only blesses you & your church & your church family....

Let me know if you have tried Mint or if you like it.... join the Revolution of Number Geeks like me!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Scripture

Just ran across this scripture on a fellow blogger.... I needed to be reminded of this - some of you may need to hear it as well

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm" - Exodus 14:14


Bloggy Baby Shower


OK - when I joined the Blog world - who knew that you would meet some amazing people! But the blog world is full of just that - people that can touch your life in unexpected ways. Well, a fellow blogger, Kelly from Kelly's Korner is one of those people. She has touched so many people with her words of encouragement, of faith, of prayers & who she is.

Her fellow blog buddies are hosting a Bloggy Baby Shower for her today. How cool is that! And who knew they existed??!! So today, in honor of Kelly & this new baby Harper, that is soon going to be arriving - we're taking time out to wish Kelly the best & send prayers her way.

You have to go over & visit her blog if you never have & check out how fashionable little baby Harper is going to be....I've never seen so much "chic" stuff for such a little baby - she's going to be the heart breaker of the nursery!

And Kelly is just adorable how she is giving constant updates along with pictures of how big the baby is - everything from fruit sizes to vegetable sizes - to now, the size of a little chicken!!!! We've watched Kelly's belly grow & now, we are anxiously awaiting pictures of this little one.

Kelly - you are going to be wonderful mother - you are so full of God's love & grace & its going to be so much fun to watch you raise up your child in the way she should go. You will be an inspiration to other mothers. Times will feel stressful, hard & sometimes unbearable - but you know the love of that baby will make everything worth it & you know that God is giving you the most amazing gift of this baby & entrusting her to you & Scott & I know you both are going to return that blessing back to God!

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and KNIT me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know it!" - Psalm 139:13-14 (NLT)

Harper is wonderfully made - Cant wait to see what else God has in store for her, you & Scott!! God Bless you Kelly!


Friday, November 14, 2008

Time of their life!

So, every day when I get home - I'm getting in the habit of seeing what the dogs have dragged outside. They are very good dogs, but they HATE when we leave them during the day & our Aussie is a pro at showing us she's mad by taking out our shirts, pants & shoes out in the back yard through the doggie door - & once its in the back yard - its fair game!!! So in other words - its trashed! In shreds! With 4 dogs pulling & tugging in every direction - nothing stands a chance in their doggy world!

So I get home today & what do I see in the back yard:



Yep - they got in the treat cabinet....& I cant figure out how they did it! They got all four of these boxes/bags of treats & had them all cleaned out - & they were all FULL too!!!! And the thing that I actually had to laugh about - the cabinet door was shut when I got home - so I didn't even notice it at first....I'll give credit to them - they are some smart doggies!!!!

Needless to say - they will NOT be getting dinner tonight because they got MORE than enough snacks during the day! I just hope I dont hear that "wretching" noise in the middle of the night....


New Bible

You really have to watch this video first - its only 2 minutes long....



So there is a new Bible coming out called "The Bible Illuminated" - as you can see - its to have something out there that people feel more "comfortable" with......

I guess I dont understand the idea that people aren't comfortable walking around with their "traditional" Bibles. But I can see where some people, not having read the Bible before may be a little intimidated by a book that carries so much life changing news. This Bible is using the Good News Translation & includes provocative & contemporary pictures.

I'm not sure what I think about it - I'd like to see one in person myself before I made a judgement on it - but it would be nice to get the Word of God into more hands where people begin to understand God's love.....even if its a little different than what we're used to.

What do you think?

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Seriously?

Running through some knitting books on sale - there was a cover that stood out to me & I was like "SERIOUSLY? This is a book? That is in popular demand?" - so I have to share my "seriously" knitting moment with you......The book? Knitted Toilet Paper Covers!!!! Because everyone needs a Piggie to cover up your TP!


Or how about a Jester's Hat? Because it's always fun to make your bathroom decorated in a Renaissance sort of era....


Now I will say - this one isn't horrible if you are a fan of TP covers - but it cracked me up to think someone took alot of time to take TP outside in lighting & a nature setting for the perfect picture....


But this one - SERIOUSLY? This dude scared me!!!! If I walked in someones bathroom & saw him sitting there looking at me in all his furry smiles....I'd run out screaming! ........ I may knit him just for the fun of it!!!



Social Media World

Come Follow Me