Friday, August 30, 2013

WOF Angie Smith... with extra bonuses

Before I start - can y'all say a little prayer for Buffy & decisions we know we're going to have to make this weekend?  She's not eating anything now.  Its been over 36 hours... Ricky keeps taking PB & shoving it in her mouth & she's forced to swallow it because it sticks, or she'd spit it out.  I even fried up hamburger in my house last night (the first time hamburger has been in my house in over a year)... & she literally sniffed it, then laid her head next to the plate.

The bad thing that kills me - she still seems happy - still wants to play.  Say the word "Ball" or "Outside" & she's johny on the spot - ready to go go go...  plays plays plays... that tail wags, she catches every throw you give her - she doesn't want to stop - would stay outside all day long. If she were laying around & acting sick, then it would make the decision easier....

We're just sick over this... so please pray for us all....

________________

OK to finish up the WOF week... I'll be back to Friday Fragments next week - promise. I know y'all are all wondering what my Miley/VMA thoughts are... I'll just stick with talks on worshiping God instead today...

So - we left off at Lisa Harper... we headed out to lunch & first of all, it was almost comical.  I'm a vegetarian & we headed to this mall down the road that has a great food court - lots of options.  The funny part?  There were so many people giving out samples of food so you would go to their area.  Every piece of it was meat.  I was laughing because it was like these 'meat-servers' were surrounding me with their tooth picks in my face at every turn.  I told Chasity the next person that offered me another piece of chicken on a tooth pick, I was going to slap down their tray & scream & run.... subtle...

We got back to the arena as Third Day did their concert... awesome... I think the lead singer, Mac Powell, looks like Jesus with his long hair.  Its gonna be cool if I get to heaven & Jesus is walking around with a Southern twang & a guitar around his neck ....


Then my favorite red head of the event came out... Angie Smith...

& let me start off by admitting - I ADORE Angie Smith... I stalk her like I do Steven Curtis Chapman.  Read her blog, follow her on Instagram, Twitter, read all her books... you know - the normal stalking of today.

She's just the cutest little thing to me... with the most adorable family... & red hair to top off the cute package.



Angie spoke on DOUBT ...

Here's the notes from this final session:

* Are you trying to look more like God's people or more like God?
...ouch...

* Are you chasing God or following God?

* 2 kinds of Doubters
1. Ones who only want to hear their own voice (a cynic)
2. Ones who want to hear HIS voice over their own

* You're not alone in doubt
She asked for everyone to raise their hands if they've ever doubted that everything God said is true.... when over half of the arena raised their hand, we knew we weren't alone... & we had a lesson to learn from Doubting Thomas.

*If/Then
We're so good at the 'if/then' relationship with God. 
IF you help me with then, THEN I'll follow you. 
IF you do this for me, THEN I'll listen to you.

* Disciples together.... except...
In John 20:19-21 it says "When the disciples were together" Jesus appeared to them.  But one wasn't there.  Thomas.  Think Jesus knew he wasn't going to be there?  Think Jesus had a bigger lesson in store for him?  (I love that point - never thought about that before)

* Requirements...
Thomas comes in & the disciples tell him what happened.  Jesus was RIGHT HERE.  Thomas didn't believe it.  Even had requirements before he would accept it. 
"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands & put my finger where the nails were, & put my hand into his side, I WILL NOT BELIEVE IT" - John 20:25
Do we have requirements before we'll believe?

* Thomas wasn't always a doubter...
Looking back at other scripture (John 11:14-16) (John 14:5) we see Thomas was a person who spoke up for Jesus, wanted to follow Him... no trace of doubting when Jesus was beside him.

*Jesus let Thomas HAVE the requirements...
We see in John 20:27 that Jesus let Thomas HAVE his requirements... he knew the heart of Thomas.  Knew he needed the assurance, not because he didn't believe - but because he had doubt. 

* Jesus KNEW the requirements!
Thomas told these requirements to his friends, the disciples.  But Jesus in Vs. 20 says to Thomas to do exactly what he said he needed...
"Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here;  see my hands.  Reach out your hand & put it into my side.  Stop doubting & believe"

* Thomas knew...
It doesn't say that Thomas moved - that he did the things he said he needed.  It simply says that next,
"Thomas said to him, "My Lord & my God" John 20:28
All was needed...doubt was no longer an issue

*DOUBT IS AN EMOTION... FAITH IS A CHOICE!!!!

BE ASSURED!!!!!!!

Angie finished with a precious story of her daughter & a chocolate chip cookie ... just to prove that her kiddos are as adorable as she is...

What a perfect ending to all the messages...

& we actually had the last session as nothing but a WORSHIP session - with clips from "The Bible" & singing in between... I loved that ending.  Everyone all together lifting up their hearts...

Such an amazing weekend.

Two other final thoughts.  When Mark Lowry had his time on Friday, he spoke, did his comedy, sang some songs... but it is funny that this guy who is so well known for his comedy wrote one of the most amazing songs of our time.  Mary did you Know.... he was talking about all the questions that we will have for Mary when we're in Heaven.  My favorite thing he said though that made me laugh - "You knew you had God on earth... couldn't you have kept some sort of journal!!!" haha!  We really don't know much about Jesus as a child...

But he said, "My momma always said that the biggest proof that Jesus is who he said he was is because of the silence of Mary at the cross"
wow...
powerful...
He said, "My momma said, "if that was you, I would be up there crying, yelling at someone saying, We know he's crazy for everything he's said, but don't kill him"... but Mary let him die because she knew he had to, to show who he was"
WOW...
POWERFUL!!!!

& finally...

I wanted to share one of the songs that CeCe Winans sang that just was amazing.. chills..





& yes, if you ever get a chance, check out a Women of Faith event.
I'm not getting any compensation or this isn't affiliated with them at all - this is just my latest experience & what I learned from it...
... the way it blessed me...

Thursday, August 29, 2013

WOF - Lisa Harper

Onto the 4th speaker...

Wait - I've only talked about Sheila & Liz - so isn't the next one 3? 

No...

But yes - technically there was another speaker - Angela Thomas...



 - but I honestly didn't know she was speaking.  She came immediately right after Liz Curtis Higgs & I thought she was going to do one of those promo things talking about the books & studies & Bibles for sale... & I was so busy talking with Chasity about her hair....so I didn't take any notes... I probably couldn't have anyways.  Her story started so scattered & I wasn't sure where it was going.  In the end, she wrapped it up beautifully with a country bow on top... her accent is precious (I love a good southern accent) & I just enjoyed sitting back listening to her story telling.

In summary - her lesson was about a beautiful trade... taking ashes & changing them for beauty....being a light on the hill - shining for God - BE THE SUNSHINE... I think I've used that 3 word phrase at least a dozen times since I've been back...

We took a break & then Lisa Harper came to the stage...



Now I remember when Lisa first started speaking with Women of Faith... I loved her immediately.  She's got a way of inserting humor with some deep teaching of the Bible...

You gotta love a gal who starts off a session by saying, "Make a muscle... now reach over & pinch the hanging part of the lady next to you... & if they are over 40 & they don't have any hanging parts, then pinch them EXTRA HARD" ... YEAH!!! Preach sister! :)

& it was fun because on this day, it was her 50th birthday!!! How cool!  & girlfriend was pulling off leather skinny pants on her 50th birthday... that should be noted because I have never been able to pull off leather skinny pants..... ever....

Her momma (that's what she called her too) was in the audience & my goodness.  Talk about amazing genes?  Her momma is 76 (I believe she said) & her skin was beautiful... so smooth... I have more wrinkles...
But it was so cute because sitting up on the side, I could look down & see her momma watching Lisa as she spoke... talk about an attentive heart full shining some proud momma smiles!

Lisa spoke on JUMPING OUR BOUNDARIES... taking the lesson out of Exodus...
the good ole Charlton Heston - I mean Moses - story...

Let's look at the notes from this session

* Exodus 14:13-14
Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid, STAND FIRM & you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.  the Egyptians you see today you will never see again.  The Lord will fight for you;  you need only to be still"

... so much in this scripture!! Do not be afraid - stand firm - never see again - be still....
How much encouragement right there for those who are journeying out onto a new path & afraid of what lies ahead

* Cloud by day - Fire by night
God's presence was always visible to the Israelites... another reminder that we had in the first session that God is always with us...

* Red Sea - Jordan River
Not only did the Israelites get to see the Red Sea parting & walking through on dry ground - they got to do it again with the Jordan River (Joshua 3:14-17)

Would it have been easier to do it this time since they saw God's faithfulness the first time?  Was the fear gone?  Did they come up to a body of water this time & think, "Oh yeah, God's got this!" with pure confidence?

When we see God working in our lives before, does it make it easier to see Him work again?

* Participation
The Jordan was at flood stage... imagine how high it was & the roaring of it.  & in Joshua 3:15 it says, "...& their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing."
It took participation this time... faith...
to go up & put feet into this flowing river

* The righteous are never forsaken... may have suffering... but NEVER FORSAKEN
I had to look up what forsaken meant...abandoned - disowned - cast off - rejected...
Tough times come but we're never cast off to handle them on our own

* ALL addictions are a disorder of worship

* Gonna get wet
The promise wasn't that the Israelites weren't going to get wet - they weren't going to get dirty ... the promise is they would not drown!!!

Lisa told the story of the process she is in right now with adopting.  She was going to adopt locally & at the last minute, it fell through.  And then, in the middle of hanging out with friends, they got a phone call of a little girl in a foreign country (I can't think of the name now... I just remember she said it was the hottest place on the face of the earth :) ) & they needed to find this child a home or she would die. Her mom died of AIDS & she was HIV positive & also has other health issues. 

Lisa said she didn't even have to think about it because she knew God has been preparing her for this the whole time....

So Lisa is waiting to adopt Missy & was expecting to have her home just this month... but paper work has stalled the process.  So the last visit down - the one where she thought she would be bringing Missy home, she discovered it wouldn't be until Christmas.

So Lisa had to take Missy back to the orphanage & leave her.  Missy knew immediately where Lisa was taking her as they walked the stairs down to this area that held the children.  Lisa described it to us & she said, "To the American mind, it would seem cruel to have children in this environment" but with few workers, cages are for their safety so the children won't harm themselves.

Missy paniced... was saying she was sorry... like it was a punishment to go back into this orphanage...
at this point - I think every woman in the arena was crying at the thought of taking a child back to this place.  I'm thinking, I woulda tucked her under my shirt & ran...

But Lisa said she refused to cry in front of Missy... & she kept repeating over & over to her

Jesus Loves you ... Jesus will never leave you... be brave...

over & over...

She wanted Missy to know that even though she had to leave her, there was someone who never would...

& as her heart broke, Lisa walked out ... & broke down.... & she said as she was gathering her things, going back to the US, devastated... in her heart she could feel God speak down to her those same words

Jesus Loves you... Jesus will never leave you... be brave...

times are tough... it takes faith... you are not alone... you will get wet
you won't drown

BE ALL IN!!!!

A video showing how awesome Lisa is....




Wednesday, August 28, 2013

WOF - Liz Curtis Higgs

Saturday started right away - early....

Liz Curtis Higgs...


I love this woman.  Have heard her speak many times at different conferences & it never gets old to me.  Her facial expressions are awesome!  I love a dramatic gal...
& her voice is just soothing to listen to. 
& the coolest thing about her?  She's living right in my own town!  Yep - Ms. Higgs is a Louisville gal... so big props for that!

Liz focused on the story of Mary, Elizabeth & Sarah... the mother of Jesus & what it must have felt like to have this call on your life... & also the lives of Elizabeth & Sarah who were older women & barren & how impossible it would be for them to have children at their age...

Impossible...

that was the point of her message -

GOD LOVES WORKING IN THE IMPOSSIBLE

Let's take a look at my notes from this lesson

* God's House...
We go to God's house all the time (wherever that may be - where you go to worship) ... so why are we surprised when He shows up?

*Prayer is heard...
Luke 1:13 " But when the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid Zechariah; your prayer has been heard....."
So awesome to be reminded that God hears all our prayers...
but answers in HIS time...

* Angels warning...
Notice every time an Angel appears, they say, "Do not be afraid".... but the follow up is usually good news...
Liz said, "Be worried if you see an angel & they don't tell you to not be afraid" :)

* Questioning...
Luke 1:18 - "Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man & my wife is well along in years"
Man is so good at looking at facts - not having faith

* Sarah's story...
Sarah definitely didn't believe it was possible for her to have a child at her age...
Genesis 18:14 - "Is ANYTHING too hard for the Lord?"

* Fun is NOT Joy

* Lord is with you..
The Angel told Mary that she was highly favored & then told her in Luke 1:28 - "The Lord is with you" ... The Lord had always been with her... was going to be a part of her life always... but do we remember that the Lord is with us... everywhere?  in everything we do?  Hard to think about sometimes - the places we go to in life... & we forget that we're taking the Lord with us there as well.  We don't get a break - we aren't able to tell the Lord, "Stay home - let me go out on my own"... nope - he's with you... always...

* We can't measure God's love according to how men love

* When we have barrenness in our lives - be ready - God is preparing a miracle
No matter what it is - emptiness somewhere in your life - God is with you - working on that area ...

*Luke 1:37
"For NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE with God"

Liz had told the personal story of her past, & the ironic part was how much of her dark past took place in Indianapolis - the place the conference was being held. 

What a story of grace & mercy & redemption... because she said if she could look back & see the person that was on the streets on Indy in those days, no one would believe that would be the same person standing on a stage in a women's conference talking about God... how her life had changed & where her life in ministry is at now...

A standing, living example of how God loves working in the impossible...

____

Side note - I wrote a comment on Liz's Facebook page... she responded back personally.. how cool is that?  I noticed she did that on every comment someone sent her... I love that lady... someone who takes the time to reach back out...


I saw on her blog she's doing a Fall study off of her book "Bad Girls of the Bible" - I read it a few years ago - I may do that one again... I forgot how much I learn from her wisdom....




I also saw where she has a new book out for Christmas...

Photo: Jumping up and down with joy at the Higgs house today. UPS just delivered my new baby! She will arrive in stores on September 17, but I couldn't wait another minute to let you take a peek. Don't forget the fabulous buy-one-get-one-free offer, good only until September 16: http://www.WaterBrookMultnomah.com/WomenofChristmas


Looks like a must to me....



Tuesday, August 27, 2013

WOF - Sheila Walsh

OK - if you're going to Women of Faith soon - just skip my posts over the next few days so you can experience the messages yourself, in person...

I just wanted to share some of the things that these ladies spoke... notes I wrote down... some points that hit me...

They may be scattered - but hey, that's my note taking skills at work...
but they also may be simple thoughts that someone needs to hear

& I got a few messages & emails saying how badly some women wanted to go to Women of Faith, but its not near them, or they missed it... so this is a good way to share some of the messages that you hear, a good example of what you would take in if you were there...

So for those of you going to a WOF conference soon, I can't wait for you to go!  Everyone else - let's press on! :)

Like I said, I'm going back to my notes that I took writing literally in the dark (Indy conference - y'all need to do something about that... have some dim lights for us nerds who like to write notes & like to have actual Bibles in hand, not just a Bible app on a phone)

Sheila was the first speak on Friday evening... she centered it around the disciples getting in the boat with Jesus, but more so around a topic... Brokenness ...


Here are some highlights of my notes:

* What you think about God is the most important thing about you ....
That's a powerful statement, isn't it?  I mean, we think our jobs, our children, our lives - THAT'S what is important about us... but if you think about it, how we think about God sort of is the center of every part of our lives.  It helps define all our decisions we make... that sentence starts to make sense when you look deeper into it.

*A Solid Foundation on a Windy Day....
Sheila talked about being Scottish, they were heavier people coming into America where the focus is on thin, thin, thin... but her mom told her that they lived in a windier place & they needed that Solid Foundation to keep them in place & not get blown over.  (I've got a VERY Solid Foundation then) ;)
What a vision of what God is for us.  A foundation that will keep us safe, in place, not knocked over in the storms of life...

*Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek & to save what was lost"
Lost in the Greek means "ruined" - "Devastated" - "Broken beyond repair" ...
ever felt that way? ... broken beyond repair?  Jesus is like, "No - think again - I don't think so"

*You don't have to clean yourself up to go to God....
Sheila talked about how she was wearing a cream suit one time before coming out to speak at Women of Faith.  Her son, who was young at the time, had discovered the food table & was going to town on the chocolate cake on the end.  All over his hands - all over his face... just how little kids enjoy a piece of cake.  As she was going on stage, he whispered "I love you mommy" ... Sheila turned & kneeled down & had him come hug her... she said she knew he was a mess but she wanted her child to know that he never had to clean himself up to come to her.  She never wanted him to have to fit to standards before he believed it was safe to come to her...Isn't God the same way?  Doesn't care how much dirt we have on us... he just wants us to COME

* Hebrews 13:5-6
... God has said, "Never will I leave you... never will I forsake you"
So we say with confidence "The Lord is my helper; I will NOT BE AFRAID"

*Guilt & Shame
You feel GUILT when you've done something wrong... you feel SHAME when you feel YOU are something wrong

* Mark 4:35- "Let us go over to the other side"
The disciples were scared when they hit the storm in the middle of the trip, freaking out, afraid they were going to drown... but Jesus didn't say let's sit out in the middle of this storm - he had a plan.  Get to the other side.  When Jesus says he's going to take you somewhere - he's going to GET YOU THERE!

*Whatever brings Him glory!!!
Sheila talked about a cancer scare she had.  Before she went into surgery she got on her knees & said, "God if it brings you glory that this isn't cancer, then Lord, your will... & Lord, if it brings you glory that I have cancer & will travel that road, then let it be"... something she fully believed because she knew God was with her & would get her to where she needed to be, regardless of what storm it took her through...
oh... the faith....

* Which one are you?
There are 3 people when Jesus come with his boat.
1.  The ones who hold onto their broken pieces & won't get in the boat because they are ashamed.
2.  The ones who get in the boat, but hide their broken pieces & act like its all OK
3.  The ones who knows Jesus is in that boat & runs to jump in with their broken pieces held out for Him to take

It was just so powerful... maybe its just a cool Scottish accent (which is really cool) - but I honestly think it was one of the best messages I've heard from Sheila... & I've heard a lot of messages from Ms. Walsh...

She spoke of the horrible tragedy that happened to her father as he suffered with mental illness & the break down she had on air with the 700 Club & the time following where she herself had to deal with depression & had to be institutionalized... what a testimony on how God heals the past, heals the shame, heals the guilt...

She finished it up with a beautiful song that I've spent a half hour trying to find.

I would think the song was "I will rise" - but I can't find it anywhere... it was just beautiful... one of those that builds up & gives you chills...

... & this was the first message of the night...

Amazing women still ahead...


Monday, August 26, 2013

Wheew... what a weekend...

I don't even know where to begin with this weekend wrap up...

Talk about busy - talk about emotional - talk about inspiring - talk about everything... it was thrown in...

I'll do a BRIEF recap.. (yeah, sure... ever known me to be brief)

But I could literally post for days about the messages given at the Women of Faith conference I went to this weekend in Indianapolis... just amazing... probably one of the best WOF's I've ever been too...

Friday - I took off work & some of the ladies from our church all rode up together to Edinburg & their outlet mall.

Here are some highlights of the weekend:

* I was a little giddy when I found a Saucony shoe outlet!  Yes - I walked out with not one - but TWO new pairs of running shoes... & both pairs both cost me less then what my last pair cost me...

* its always fun to shop with ladies who are up for having a good time - even while shopping...
Because every lady needs neon glasses with sticky rubber all over them... duh...


* A 2 hour ride will FLY by when you have laughter, tears, great conversation going in a car

* I really don't like Women of Faith got rid of their stage in the center of the arena... my neck hurt by the end of the event looking one direction the whole time

* CeCe Winans doesn't age... she's part vampire or something... & her voice? I could worship with her ALL-DAY-LONG!!!!

See her back up singer behind her?  He was AWESOME!!!
You GOTTA be awesome to hang with CeCe

* CeCe's back up singers?  So fun to watch.. 4 of them & they sounded like a 100 person choir

* Probably one of Sheila Walsh's best message ever...(I'll probably talk more about messages in a post tomorrow)

* I'm getting too old to eat at 12:30 am ... (burp... stomach rumble)

* Cheeseburgers in Paradise rocked!  They had veggie burgers AND Sparkling Seltzer water. SCORE!

* Is this a youth event?  Because I only got 4 hours sleep... yawn...

* I love my friends who walk me like a blind person into the hotel breakfast area to help me avoid all contact with the C-word... (if you don't know what that means - message me or leave a comment - I'll explain.. I can't talk about it lest I throw up this morning) :)

* Love my friends didn't mind that I had to do a Starbucks stop before we left for the conference... 4 hours sleep?  Yeah - I would be living on coffee drinks this day

* Liz Curtis Higgs... Her message hit me straight to the heart... there's always ONE person's message that hits you - this was it for me.

* My friend never saw Liz before & said, "if I had to picture Mother Goose, she would be it"... kinda true... she is an amazing story teller

* BE THE SUNSHINE!!!

* I didn't know Sand art could make me instantly cry...

Here's a video of part of it someone took




* It was a beautiful day in Indy to walk at lunch... get fresh air... stretch the legs...



*Third Day.. .fantastic... I forgot how much I loved them... I took this video




* Angie Smith... I adore her... I mean A-DORE her.  I was on a mission to hug my red headed sister... so after she spoke (awesome) - they said she would be out meeting people... I BOLTED - I mean, knocked old women out of the way... (not really, but kinda)... there wasn't even anyone in the hall ways yet... got to the door & they already had it shut. They said they only let the first 30 people in & wanted to see if she got through them first & then they'd let more in... they then said she had to be back on stage for the finale... I wouldn't make it in... I was like "NOOOOO!!!!!!"... I could see her through the glass.  She was right there.  I could have BANGED on the glass & gave puppy dog eyes to her... but no... I was so bummed... I actually teared up... so I made the lady take my picture at the door to prove I was this close... DANG IT!

SOOO close...
 
* I drank the worst tasting Mocha Latte from Dunkin Donuts to keep my eyes open... that's how bad I needed the energy

* Previews of NOAH was shown to us in the conference.  Oh. My. Word!!! Russell Crowe as Noah?  Its going to be amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

* The finale was just a series of worship... I loved it... most perfect WOF ever... well, almost perfect. It woulda been perfect if Steven Curtis Chapman was there! :) (BTW, you can see, I wore my SCC shirt - I said if he's not going to be there in person, he's there in spirit through me)

* The ride home?  I'll just say I had the most amazing women in my car... & God was totally in the car as well... The perfect ending to the perfect conference...

* I was driving down the road & saw Ricky coming the opposite way... he wanted to meet me in the church parking lot with Buffy... bless her heart...

* EXHAUSTED... I knocked out like someone hit me with a brick

* IRONMAN SUNDAY!!!!!

* we had so much to do but Ricky still took me down to cheer on the athletes... its so inspiring.  I told Ricky, I'm doing an Ironman by the time I'm 50... new bucket list item... he just gave me a look...

I love that bottom picture on the left - the lady ran out to hug her husband who was celebrating his 60th birthday... he told her, "My legs are gone".. she just kept saying, "you can do it - you're going to be fine"... so encouraging... cue my tears...


* Had to do some chores & headed home to spend time with Buffy... she's still playing, still not eating well.  We're doing what we can.  We stop at every restaurant to get her chicken strips, hamburgers, even a cheese quesadilla...  we got her a new toy though & that perked her up.  She's gonna play till the end...

 



So this was 'quick' - right? ... yeah, I warned you...

It was just amazing - the messages God had in store... the inspiring people I got to see at the Ironman... the time we got to cherish with Buffy..

a lot going on...


Thursday, August 22, 2013

Exchange...

It was Easter of 1980...

the good ole 80's...80's

The 80's ... where the word AWESOME originated...

It was like Christmas ...waking up excited to see what was in our Easter Basket.

Yes, I was raised in a Christian home & we knew what Easter was about - not the bunny & the chocolates - though that was a fun bonus... we knew it was about Jesus's resurrection

I still don't go through Easter & not remember the old song "We are celebrating resurrection day... Jesus Christ has risen... he's no longer in the grave!  Death gave way to victory as the stone was rolled away... we are celebrating resurrection day!' by The Rambos ...

Yes, I remember every word of this song...

Hey people... this is the stuff that was playing on the record player when I was growing up... be jealous

(Because my mom will really DIG listening to this again..... skip ahead to 0.43 for the song to start)




Sorry - I lost track traveling back in time...

In my basket this year was a baby blue Mickey Mouse T-Shirt, with my name on the back.  Y'all from the 80's will remember the kind I'm talking about.  The letters were the iron on letters that were felt like...

I was so cool... Mickey Mouse AND my name...

Not my shirt.. but the same Mickey Mouse on it...

Do you know, in this year of 2013, I STILL have this shirt... no joke...

& yes, it still fits... a little snug, but it fits. 

It has holes in it & it's worn down... Mickey Mouse looks like someone has picked at him & he's missing parts of his body & the blue is shining through parts of his face.  My name is still intact on the back but the felt has fuzzed-out...

Its one of those comfy t-shirts that just fits me now... feels like home...

When I go through all my clothes every year to either toss or donate clothes, I come across this t-shirt & I'm like, "no way... this baby is staying"... after all, its VINTAGE now, right?

 Animated Gif on Giphy
I think even the Queen of Vintage Style - Ms. Hepburn - would want to wear my Mickey mouse shirt

Why all the talk about an old t-shirt that no one would want if I gave it away... unless their name was Rebecca...

Because when reading Chapter 4 of our Bible Study book this week, there was something I highlighted...

"When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord of our life, we exchange our worthless sin for the immeasurable worth of His righteousness"


Don't ask me why - but when I read that sentence I thought of my old t-shirt?


Don't give me that look... 
it makes sense to me...
Hang in there...


But I think because I think of the old things I hang onto... the things that are sort of 'worthless' ...

but they're comfortable & we don't want to give them up.  They feel like home.  They have memories.  They make us feel like "us" & we don't like change...

But I also love to shop... & I love the feeling of putting on a new shirt.  Its crisp.  Its bright.  It doesn't have holes in it.  It's presentable.  I can wear it in public :)

 Animated Gif on Giphy
This is what I do in every new outfit I put on....
 

There's the difference in worthless & immeasurable worth...

Are you holding onto some sort of sin because it just feels like you should because you always have?  It feels like 'you' & you can't change?  It just feels like an old glove that is comfortable & its scary to take it off?

Well - know today, there is something better out there...

so worth the exchange...


Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Dog's get cancer too....

I know today is Hodgepodge day...

I just don't feel like doing it... today, I'm just sad...

We knew our yellow lab, or our "Yellow Dog" as we call her, Buffy, has been not herself lately.  She's slowed down, which is expected for an 11 yr old big dog... she's been picky in her eating... been snippy with Bruno.

We decided to take her to the vet last night to see what was going on.

Yes, Ricky sits on the vet's floor with Buffy to let her know she's not alone

First of all, we see her weight is down 25 lbs.  We knew she was down but didn't realize she was down that much.  On the good side, they said she's still considered overweight for a lab. WHAT?  She's 72 lbs now... that's over weight?  Wow... so they said they thought she looked healthy, but for her to loose that much weight that quickly, something was wrong.

So we were off with blood tests... which brought back some crazy high numbers that immediately showed something was wrong.

Next step - a urine test.  Thank goodness they have assistants that are pro at catching dog pee... I woulda had it splashing in my face & in my eyes & not catch a drop... this young lady took her outside & snap - one jar of pee fresh to order...

That test came back looking like something was wrong too..

This was looking bad quick...

As we waiting on more blood tests, the vet was telling us that she thought it was the liver or the gallbladder or the pancreas.  Buffy was sent back for ANOTHER test to check for pancreatitis, which is the best thing we were hoping for.  It would require a hospital stay of an IV for a few days - let her pancreas rest, & then introduce her to food again.  Please, let this be it...

.... pancreas came back fine...

The vet as we were waiting explained to us if it was the gall bladder, it would require a surgery or her gall bladder would rupture causing immediate death, but that the surgery, most dogs don't survive either.  Are you kidding me?  These are the options?

one last test to do... an ultrasound...

The vet came in with Buffy with a look on her face... I knew it wasn't good...

Her liver is covered with cancer... in her words, "Its covered in black spots that look like huge holes all over it"...

It was like a knock in the chest... Ricky even said, "When she said Buffy had cancer, it was like she just told me I had it"

She went on to explain that we can do chemo - but she's 11 years old & its really far advanced... but we had to do what we felt like we needed to do.

Ricky said if I was 77 years old & knew my cancer was that far gone, I wouldn't choose chemo for myself.  Why make her life miserable when its so progressed?

So I asked the inevitable question... how long does she have?

Weeks... that was the answer... weeks...

I think my mind checked out for a few minutes... weeks?  Really?  That's just a small collection of days...

This is our yellow dog... she can't have WEEKS with us...

We asked the vet what she would do if this was her dog.
She said she wouldn't put her down right now either because Buffy still seems very happy... not in pain...

She is still happy... she still wants to play every day without fail...

this was just the other day... see?  Always ready to play

So they gave us some steroids & some medicine that helps protect the liver while taking steroids...
& she told us, we would know when its time to help Buffy ease her out of pain...

Just typing that makes instant tears come to my eyes & feels like someone is kicking me in the stomach...

We ended up leaving the vet's office & taking Buffy down to Dairy Queen - getting her a hamburger & some chicken strips... & she ate every bit of it...
we'll make every day of these last weeks with her happy - if there's anything we can do, that's it...

& now we wait...

We're not sure when to start this medicine.  I think we're going to wait until Monday.  I'm the same with Ricky in our thought process - is this really going to help her?  Could it make it worse?  Steroids aren't great for the liver anyways - hence the other medicine we had to buy... If she's happy & eating what she can right now, should we hold off on the medicine as long as we can?

Decisions... decisions we don't want to make...

& then we get home & her sisters & brother are waiting at the door, wondering where we took Buffy too... & I got all choked up thinking we're going to have to go through this 3 more times with our other dogs...


This is the tough side of being a pet owner...

But its like I told Ricky, there are sweet fur babies in this world that need good homes to take care of them... that's what we do...

even though it hurts...

So yeah... today, Ricky & I are just sad...


Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Lessons from a 5 yr old...

Last Thursday, I went for a run.

It wasn't really a run - it was a 'whatever'...

It was just beautiful outside & I had ran the day before so I wasn't sure how I would feel running 2 days back to back... but I knew I wanted to be outside.  So I would walk, run, skip, hop... whatever I wanted to do... hence the workout term 'whatever'

On a 'whatever' day, I even take pictures along the way to show how beautiful my running days can be

I am coming up to a house & see a little girl sitting on her bike & she's just watching me, keeping her eye on me like I'm an ice cream truck.  A level of excitement building as I get closer.

When I get to an area where she knows I can hear her, she immediately starts....

"I see you EV-ER-Y-DAY"... very dramatic effect on the word "everyday"

I had to laugh & said, "You do?"

& she was off on the questions

Do you walk every day?
Why?
Where do you go?
Where do you live?
Is it fun?

I hit the time on my watch & just stopped & talked with her.

She told me, "You know, I like to walk too"... I could tell she was working me to let her come with me.  But I don't think her parents would like a stranger saying, "Sure, walk off with me"... yeah... not going to happen

I told her that I'm sure her mommy would walk with her if she asked... & she just sort of shrugged her shoulders...

There was an atmosphere of this girl that just craved some attention for a little bit...

I wasn't out for a PR this day - I was out to enjoy the day... so what a way to enjoy it... but sitting on the edge of this drive way & letting this little girl just talk away.  She wanted to show me all her tricks on her bike & how she could 'jump it'... & by jump it, she would jerk her arms like she was picking the whole bike up & sailing across the sky like Evil Kinevil.  I would applaud & clap & tell her how amazing she was doing on her bike.... she just smiled from ear to ear...

I think I was too...

I told her I needed to go finish my walk & I would see her soon, since I go by her house EV-ER-Y-DAY :)

I thought about her & the few things she taught me in just those few minutes I took out of my day....

1.  Be proud of what you can do.... she was so excited to show off what she could do on her bike.  If you're impressed with yourself, who cares what others think.  Yeah, there are people out there that do things better, but its what YOU can do that counts

2. Don't be afraid to make a new friend... this little girl had no issues with approaching me & wanting to make a friend.  She probably felt a little comfortable saying something with me since she sees my face so often passing in front of her home... why not stop that person you see all the time & strike up a conversation?  Or just say hello?  What is it going to hurt to be friendly to someone?

3.  Everyone wants praise... I would clap & cheer & even jump up & down for the 'bike tricks' & this little girl would smile bigger with every big cheer I would do.  We all need that sometimes, don't we?  Someone clapping & cheering us on whatever we are doing in life.  Gives encouragement... gives us bravery... keeps pushing us on...

 Animated Gif on Giphy
I want one of these signs over my head

4.  Ask questions ... I love how a child wants to know everything.  I know it gets aggravating when a small one gets in that "why?" phase... but its curiosity - the wanting to know more.  I loved this little girl wanted to know more about me.  It makes me want to ask more questions of the people in my life... that's how you learn more about them.

5. Pink Pig Bike Helmets are awesome... enough said on that one...

I went running last night & was hoping to see my little friend standing in her driveway so I could say hello & give her a high five as I ran by...

she wasn't there...

I'm hoping she was out walking somewhere with her mommy :)

Monday, August 19, 2013

What a fair weekend...



*Let me start by saying I'm starting the morning ready to scream, cry & throw my hands in the air... like I just don't care...

Why?  I worked out 5 days last week.. watched every bit I ate...  kept moving all weekend with the grandbabies being here... & got on the scale this morning to see I GAINED ANOTHER 1.5 lbs... Are you kidding me? Really?  I guess the next step - give up food all together...

...enough whining...

The g-babes came up Saturday early in the afternoon... & it was like I wasn't even there.  Seriously.  They were all about Pappy.  I even picked Isaac up & tilted him back & he kept looking through me, & didn't stop talking to Pappy... cute, but come on kids!  Nanny loves you too.

Everything was excitement in telling Pappy.
LOOK PAPPY... I have on socks
LOOK PAPPY... I can scratch my head
LOOK PAPPY... I have legs

It was random stuff like that... think someone loves their Pappy? .. (& not their Nanny?)

Julie was doing well with her morning - or all day - sickness & we headed to the State Fair.

It really was a perfect day for it...

The boys were just in awe of the chickens & rabbits more then anything.  Isaac - in a rare moment of Nanny time- had my hand & was looking at the rabbits & told me, "They all like me & want to come home with me"...

We took the boys outside so they could see Freddy Farm Bureau


Kinda creepy?  Yeah... I always thought so too
This thing has been around for decades... no joke..

Ricky was telling him that Freddy always talked to Pappy when he was Isaac's age... so Isaac reluctantly went up to talk to Freddy. 
OK - I'll blow the cover for all of you that don't live in the area.  There is a guy in the window above & can see everyone & apparently can hear whatever anyone is saying - so he talks back.

Freddy said, "Hello little boy in the blue - what's your name?" ... Isaac was like - WHOOO!!!  He said his name, which surprised me.  He gets anxious at scary things and a 15 foot puppet is scary even to me... but Freddy was saying "Hi Isaac" ... then the funniest thing.  He couldn't see Ricky's face because he was keeping it down - all he saw was hair - so he said, "Is that your big sister next to you?" ... Isaac was so funny... he just looked confused & kept looking around like, "WHAT?  There's not a girl around me"...

to Isaac - Pappy & his long hair is just normal.. he doesn't see anything different about it... so Isaac was like, this Freddy is dumb.  He thinks I have a sister... peace out puppet man.  He didn't actually say that, but he checked out after Freddy claimed he was standing there with a sister...

It was cute when earlier, I had asked the boys about their hair cuts (had to have it for school)... I said, "Do you think Pappy needs a hair cut?" ... Isaac just looked at Ricky & said, "Umm.... Pappy's hair is long"... that's all he would say.  He would never say he should get it cut.  I loved that... it made me think of when I never wanted my dad to cut his beard.  It just wouldn't be my dad... I think Isaac is like that with Ricky... he just wouldn't be Pappy without the hair...

Anyways... we got to venture around... I got to check out the photography exhibit.  I would love to know who judges & HOW ... some of the pictures that won - I was like, "Seriously?  Really?"... not that I'm a huge judge, but now that I do photography, I see pictures & really LOOK at them... & some of the ones that won ribbons, I was shocked.  & then would see GORGEOUS pieces that didn't even get Honorable Mention.  This is why I'd never submit any of my pictures...

The boys had a great time... Lots to see, lots to touch, lots to watch...
Look at how long Isaac's legs are!  We measure Isaac every time they make the trip to our house.  He had grown about an inch & a half in the past few months...



Look how serious Isaac is.... Luke?  That would be me as an FBI agent too :)
 
There is a little area that has animals for kids to see close up... I personally love this area & for the record, its the area I was at a few years ago when I first started my trek into vegetarianism.  They always have a momma pig with babies... I saw that one year & never ate pork after that.  The cows & chickens would soon follow :)

But there is an area where little ducks have to climb a hill & the feed is at the top of it.  In order to get the food, the ducks have to extend their neck, but it makes them take a step - & sends them sailing down the slide into water... where they swim around & do it all over again... & over again... & over again...

The laughter from kids in this area was just contagious... it never gets old for them...

I thought we would have to drag them away...
Actually Pappy lured them away with promises of buying toys...whatever works...

need a babysitter?  Buy one of these.. it'll keep the kids glued to one spot for HOURS!

Mine & Julie's favorite part of the fair?  They had a Michael's truck in the parking lot where you could go in & choose a craft to do.  Either a tile coaster or a pencil with a clay thing on the top of it.  We chose the tile.  It took just a few minutes but it was so fun to sit in the AC & make things... the smell of glue all around us... ahhh...

Their momma went to UK... their Pappy bleeds BLUE... so these boys have to be raised right knowing the UK WIldcat :)
Everyone will be proud to know - I ate not one bit of fair food either.  I WOULDA, but the line was too long.  A local restaurant has onion rings that must be made by God or angels or something - their amazing.  But everyone else must have thought so too because the line to get food was like 30 minutes long... no thank you... we have 2 boys that were hungry NOW!!!

Everything else is meat, meat, grease, meat, more grease... & of course, everything fried.  Fried girl scout cookies - fried Kool-Aid (how is that possible) - fried Twinkies... Ricky even said, "Why would they fry those things?"...my answer?  "Why not?" ... though none of it sounds good to me. 

& the new food of the fair this year?  Sloppy Joes on Krispy Kreme Donuts... I wanted to throw up just looking at them.  Poor Julie & her pregnancy hormones... I woulda hurled with her.

I just didn't get how people could walk in, see these beautiful cows eyes & then head right over to the steak exhibit & munch right in...  I may be a country girl in mind, but I guess not in heart...

A man saw Ricky taking his picture & he said, "What?   You don't like vitamins?" ... yeah, that's it...

It was a good day... though we were all ready to go... my foot had a blister, the boys were beat down, we were hungry (we stopped afterwards & picked up food), & it was getting late & the Party People were headed out to the fair.  Our cue to leave. 


We got to the car & Luke said, "I'll stay awake mommy"... & literally 2 minutes later, was out like a light in the back seat.  I think we all felt the same way :)

The thing that always amazes me.  I guarantee we didn't even see half of the fair.  Its so large...so much to do...but it was fun having the boys with us this time around...
Crazy to think, next fair?  There's gonna be THREE grandbabies... & Julie not ready to hurl at the smells of the fair...
or maybe she will.. the smells aren't that great :)

The rest of the weekend?  Sunday we came home from church to find Julie sitting in the middle of the floor with a sleeve of saltines in her hands... Isaac said, "The baby is making mommy sick again"... bless her heart... its so bad on her right now...

We all took it easy on Sunday & hung around the house in the afternoon...

Then I was off for a photo session with a beautiful family with their new baby... good stuff...

So I got home late last night... & was exhausted...

Another fun weekend...another busy weekend...

Now, pressing on through another week!  Hope its a great one for us all!









Saturday, August 17, 2013

Six Word Sunday

 
 
The Notebook still makes me cry
 
I'm waiting for the grandbabies to get here & was straightening up
 
What do I hear?  Ryan Gosling's voice calling from the other room...
 
No - I wasn't dreaming...
 
 
It really was him
 
"The Notebook" was on..
 
 
& dang it if I had to stop everything & watch it for the 3,283rd time
 
& DANG it if the end still doesn't make me tear up
 
...sniffle... sniffle...
 
"Read this & I'll return back to you"
 
 
 
I need to read the book again
(Different ending if you haven't read the book before)

Do you love this movie too?
Isn't Ryan Gosling adorable?
I love Rachel McAdams too...
But James Garner? ... perfect in this movie...
 
Happy Saturday everyone!
 

Friday, August 16, 2013

Friday Fragments

Half-Past Kissin' Time
 
Friday... I think?
 
I woke up on Tuesday & thought, "Its Friday!"... only to remember a few minutes later, its Tuesday... someone at work said, that's horrible!  I told them, "Nah, by the time Friday comes around, I'll forget its Friday.. which is true.  All day yesterday, I thought Thursday was Wednesday...
 
What the heck is wrong with my brain?
I can't keep my days straight Monday - Friday
Guess they're all just alike so what does it matter
 
******
 
Its August & we've slept with the windows open for the past 3 days
Amazing weather...
 
& congested heads
YEAHHH!!!
 
 Animated Gif on Giphy
This is how we feel with the cool weather....
&  yes, I have hung my head out of my bedroom window in the same style
Even let the wind catch my hair :)
 
******
 
Kentucky State Fair time!
Julie, Steve & the G-Babes (can't call them grandbabies anymore) are coming up this weekend... perfect time to let them experience a big fair.
 
I'll just be on the hunt for something healthy to eat
...at the fair...
yeah... I laughed at that too...
 
******
 
I work with someone who just said to me
"I HATE weddings"
 
That just doesn't seem normal to me
 
*******
 
Did you see where that lady named her baby Messiah?
Messiah? Really?
What are you doing to your kid?
High standards to live up to?
 
I'm not sure I agree that a judge can MAKE her change the name.
Believe me, I don't agree with the name....
but I think the hassle he's going to get in life?
Worse then a judge making a mother change her son's name...
 
 
 
******
 
I'm still in GLASS HADES
 
The bifocals are OK.. except my eyes get all blurred after a few hours in them
I've been wearing the other pair that I had made into readers
... they're OK - except they HURT...
& yes, I've had them adjusted already
 
 Animated Gif on Giphy
They either DIG into the back of my ears... or do this... ALL.DAY.LONG!
 
But I found a place online that I get my reading glasses
Saw they had bifocals there as well
I just ordered a pair of those & a pair of bifocal sunglasses so I can read outside
I like these glasses more then the ones I just spent $400 on
mmmpph
 
At least, now I know
 
*******
 
So sad about Gia from The Bachlorette...
 
I always liked her & she seemed like such a sweet person
always looked so happy on her Instagram account
 
This was last week when she was going to the Bachelorette Finale party...
 
Its like Wally on the radio said, "don't think that beautiful people have it all together & don't have any problems in their lives"
 
is it me or does it seem like you hear more & more of people committing suicide?
just sad
 
*******
 
TV Talk Time
 
Big Brother:  Is this the worst season EVER or what?  These people can't make a decision on their own... I really was rooting on Helen at first... now?  I can't stand her.  Don't like anyone really - except for McCrae
 
America's Got Talent:  I'm totally rooting on the beautiful girl that works in her church & sang the remix of Cher's "Believe"... it was amazing
 
Extreme Weight Loss Edition:  They took off 6 square feet of SKIN from the guy this week... 6 feet!! That's taller then me... of SKIN... I'm woozy...
 
******
 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!
 
Totally gonna be me at 4:00pm
 
 

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