Our girl is on a mission...

I look out the window & wonder where Zoe's head is at....

....see she's on a mission....

...can you see how deep this hole is?....

...who needs to stay clean when there is a mole in our yard?...

...doesnt this look just scream, "Arent you proud of me mom?"

And I had to take a video of it... while Ricky was freaking out about the yard.  But the past few days, she hasnt been digging so she must have run that little mole away...

or she ate him....

Look at her in action... she shows you the action of pulling grass, kicking dirt, all while Sydney is trying to clean her... but if anything, fast forward to the end just to see that face...

Remember your chains....

We had the youth girls small group last night & FINALLY finished the study on the book of Colossians.  Yes, Colossians only has 4 chapters & it pretty much took us almost a year because we do tend to get side tracked, as teenage girls happen to do, with stories & giggles.... & yes, since I'm in this group, I do officially consider myself a "teenage girl"....

But the key is, we DID IT!  We got through a book of the Bible - line by line - trying to make sense of some of the confusing stuff, & really putting some of the words of advise into "today's" language & situations.

Coming up to the closing, we were reminded over & over that Paul was in prison writing this.  And in verse 18, I was reading it & 3 words just about stopped me cold in my tracks...

I, Paul write this greeting in my own hand.  REMEMBER MY CHAINS.  Grace be with you.

Colossians 4:18

Remember my chains....

I dont know why it took my breath away like it did... but it did...

I guess because we know Paul was in prison & had real, solid chains on him & he wanted people to remember what he was going through, but still praising, worshipping, telling others of Jesus.... all still with joy in his heart.

But I instantly thought of MY chains... I'm not in a prison cell, with actual chains around my wrist - but chains have a way of holding us still, right?  ....Sin....

And it was funny because I stopped & said, "There's a song like this...." & the girls started naming off songs.. nope, nope nope... but on the drive home - it hit me.. & how could I even DOUBTED who sang the song?  Steven Curtis Chapman!!!! 

So, if you have a few minutes, listen to this song today - especially listen to the few words he says at the beginning... they are pretty powerful.... & take in that hair style while you're at it... ahh, memories!  I have loved my Steven through all the mullets of the years he sported...

....Remember your chains are gone...

Project 365-20

Sunday - Heading down Memory Lane.... when I was at my parents for Father's Day - I found this old basket FULL of diaries, pictures, notes from friends through the years... I cant believe I have diaries back from 1984 - 1989... that's a lot of my middle school years through most of my high school years... so funny to look back & see what was important in my world.  It really gives me even more insight in the youth I get to talk to at church... the drama of teenage years...

Monday - I got a HUG in the mail.... My awesome blog buddy, Heather, from "This is the Day" is
a-MAZ-ing at making homemade cards... & I got one in the mail.  It just made my day with the kind words she wrote inside that gave me the best encouragement!  Thank you Heather!  Cant wait to meet you face to face & give you a big ole REAL hug one day! :)

Tuesday - Ruth brings women together... I was waiting so anxiously for this study to start!  Dawn - ANOTHER blog buddy (How lucky am I with all these wonderful people I've met here?) - she had it on her heart to do this "virtually"... to have it where we could do the study & come together every other Thursday & discuss it via blog.  And it was really neat.  There are 5 of us, & we had some really good "talks" going via the blog... I cant wait to learn more about Ruth & to get to know these women better as well... Bible Studies can happen anywhere, cant they! (& yes, that's a Diet Coke next to the computer - it brings me closer to God)

Wednesday - Dont you have time for me? .... I got home & ran on the treadmill for a bit, came up just in time to grab something to eat & then had to run out to church for youth... & I look around the corner & see my poor Buffy... yes, her head is LAYING on the ball... & she kept it like that for awhile.  Long enough for me to trek around & find my camera & even kneel down & take the picture.  Yes, I had to take a few minutes to toss the ball for her after that pitiful display....

Thursday - Geez... that took forever!!! ..... this was my first 1,000 piece puzzle.  see all that green?  And all the colored flowers?  Whew... this took me quite a few weeks... but I was determined that I wasnt leaving it after I got down to about 100 pieces... whew... I think the next one I do will be a no brainer, no more then 500 pieces - get a puzzle break.

Friday - Of course! .... there were two different covers for the Entertainment Weekly.  One with Kristen Stewart & one with Rob Pattinson AND Taylor Lautner... & which one did I get in the mail?  UGH... of course!  I was going to save this "Eclipse" cover, but now, I'll just put it in the pile to send to Goodwill.

Saturday - Love the smell of clean... pretty much self explanatory.  Saturday is my cleaning day & that's pretty much all I did for the day....mainly because there was AC in the house & it was like hotter then hades outside...

Hope you all have wonderful things to view through the lens of your world...

Six Word Saturday

Health Insurance seriously makes me sick....

My work, a few years ago, cut out health insurance for their employees...

So I've had to purchase health insurance on my own.  Every year, when it gets close to August, I cringe because I know what's coming... And yesterday I got my letter to inform me that once again, my insurance is being increased.

I was anxious to see what would happen too because, Thank you Jesus, this past year, I have not gone to the doctor one time & did not have one prescription that needed to be filled.  My health insurance card was not pulled out one time... & STILL, my rates just went up a good $50 a month...

...sigh...

Friday Fragments

*Crazy Frag ... I was driving to work yesterday, going 52 in a 50 mph zone, everything going just fine, when I see this red truck zooming up behind me, riding my rear & then he's flashing his lights at me & honking his horn.  I'm thinking I got a flat tire or something... so he goes to drive around me & he literally is leaning out of the window & screaming & flipping me off & cursing me.  I just started laughing... that guy must not have had his morning coffee... or Prozac... whatever works for him.

*Even CRAZIER Frag... I told Ricky about the morning flip off... & he said "Was the guy in a red truck?" ... then he went on to describe the guy!  This SAME man did the SAME thing to Ricky.  Ricky was probably a few miles ahead of me!  Isnt that nuts?  We need to start a Facebook Fan page of the "Crazy Driver in the Red Truck"

*Depressing Frag ... I thought I noticed something yesterday when I put my mascara on, but thought, "Nah, that's just my imagination".  But alas, I saw it again this morning - driving me to sulk a bit.  What am I talking about?  A GREY EYELASH!!!!!  ... Oh, I just sulked a bit more saying that... Me & my 10 yr old dog now match with our grey eyelashes... you're eyelashes grey too?  I'm going to buy more stock in VERY BLACK mascara...

*Doll Memories Frag ... I want to go see Toy Story 3 so badly!  I keep hearing though that its very sad at the end... oh no... I already have a hard time anytime I see Toy Story 2 when Jessie sings "When She Loved Me"... & she gets lost under her girls bed & then when she's found & sent to the a charity drop off... That scene & that song made me want to go home to my parents house & pull out all my doll babies that have been tucked away for years....  Anyone seen Toy Story 3 yet?  Do you need Kleenex?  Did it make you want to go get your toys out & love on them?

*Where were you Frag.... I cant believe its been one year since Michael Jackson died.  Do you remember where you were when you heard?  I'll never forget that I was making supper & Ricky came running up with his xbox headset on & said, "They are saying on here Michael Jackson died".... I told him his xbox friends were nerds & to tell them to stop spreading rumors"... when 5 minutes later, they broke in on the TV... Look at xbox being the hot place for news!

*Wilson Phillips Reference Frag .... Ricky is so bummed cause he has to work on Saturday - & working in this heat has about drove him to exhaustion - literally!  Its really wearing on him.  This morning, he was saying how he was looking so forward to next weekend (A holiday weekend) but he didnt know how he was going to make it through the next few days to get to there.... I grabbed his shoulders & with all seriousness said, "Let me share some wise wisdom I once heard from 3 ladies.  You've got to Hold on for one more day... things will go your way" ... he just shook his head & mumbled something about wondering how he lives with me... Who doesnt want wise advise from Wilson Phillips?

*Are you KIDDING me Frag ... anyone else see Vienna on Entertainment Tonight yesterday?  With the fake crying?  & how she has never been in this for anything but love?  & how she's such a victim?  & how I was sitting in my kitchen watching, gagging, screaming "Are you kididng me?" ..when she talks in that soft, whiney voice, I want to throw something into the TV.... will someone please make this girl go away?  And did I hear that this "poor thing" who isnt in the relationship except for love, & not fame, is now headed to the new show "The Bachelor Pad"?  .... geez.... 

*Fashion Frag .... I saw this hat & just stared for quite a long time wondering how you walk in it... does it balance?  Who thought to put tons of rhinestones around it?  How do you walk in a room with it?  Do you have to turn sideways?  And can you roll it out for a nice blanket to have a picnic on if you so choose to do so?

Hope everyone has a fantastically fragulous Friday!

Beastly

OH.... MY.... GOSH....

Ricky yelled for me to come look at this movie he found that is coming out.... Can I say I FREAKED OUT!  If you all know me, you know I'm a Beauty & The Beast nut... love everything about the story - always love the story of people seeing the beauty on the inside....

But LOOK AT THIS MOVIE coming out in July.... I think I'm more excited to see this then Eclipse... now, that's saying something...

...plus, Neil Patrick Harris?  Oh yeah, I'm going to be at the theater July 30th!

**crackle**... Thanks Dad...

My dad just went for knee surgery a few weeks ago.  It wasnt his first... & unfortunately, it probably wont be his last. 

When I was sitting there talking with the doctor after the surgery, I asked him if this was hereditary.  He shook his head yes & said that it does tend to run in families....great....

I've not had good knees my whole life anyways.  I was on crutches at a young age with knee injuries & have always had pain, swelling, just bummed out ole knees.

Every day when I leave work, I walk out with a coworker & she makes a point to listen to my knees pop with every step I take.  Its actually in a long hallway so I even get a good echo with my popping... but at the bottom of the steps, after that final pop, I'll say "Thanks for the knees dad"....

Then I think about my teeth - they break easily!  I seriously have cracked my teeth on roller coasters - or even grinding them in the middle of the night!  My mom doesnt have the best teeth & has had issues with hers breaking easily as well... Thanks mom...

And my stomach has issues that we dont EVEN want to get into... that can actually go to both parents... Thanks mom AND dad!

But then, I look at my eyes & I have always loved the brown color they are & everyone always says how my eyes are just like my dads... so Thank you dad for that...

And I have a love of laughter & a sense of humor where I can sit & laugh at the simpliest things... I get my sense of humor from my mom who always makes me laugh... so Thank you Mom...

And I have a love for Jesus that was taught to me growing up from my parents... so thank you mom and dad..

So much is passed down from our parents... good & bad... you probably even see some things of yourself in your children.  I see Ricky's eyes in his daughter & even his heart burn has been passed down.  Little things and big things, all passed down.

Yet, I was reminded in our youth lesson a few weeks ago - we were created in God's image...

We were passed down some qualities from Him that we all share... love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness

So for all the things that are passed down from my Heavenly Father - Thank you!

May we all look for those qualities God has given us in our lives & pass them down ourselves....

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness..." Genesis 1:26

God was watching....

I am a mover... & a clapper... a fist pumper at appropriate times...& will even get some hip action in there, swaying side to side sometimes.  I am a WORSHIPPER!

I love music period.  I sit at my desk during the day & have been caught many times moving my shoulder WHILE typing to a song on a radio ... & yes, that is talent to do both at the same time!  I will sing dramatically in my car to music, while doing the Roxbury brothers head bop.  I am one of those people whose body refuses to sit still when there are notes playing through the air.

Worship Music is a whole other level.  I love songs with words that praise our Heavenly Father - that talk of the gift of Jesus - it always pumps me up,  or brings a tear to my eye... just moves me, sometimes physically, sometimes emotionally....

Recently, I witnessed something though that broke my heart.  I saw a young man who WORSHIPS... & I mean WORSHIPS.... every time I see this young man, I want to go stand right next to him because he is infectious!  His face says it all.... there's just a peace across it... it almost glows because love is just shining...

Sometimes, he will jump to the beat of the music (which I personally love to do myself - that's what years of working with youth & youth events will do to you!)... sometimes he will just lift his hands up with his eyes closed & his mouth not even moving... I've seen him drop to his knees with tears just streaming down his face... its a blessing to witness his worship....

The part that breaks my heart.... I witnessed people making fun of this young man.  It wasnt subtle.  It was literally a mocking.. an elbow hitting the neighbors, with pointing & a mocking movement of what he was doing, followed with laughter & more elbow pokes...

Believe me... I KNOW people worship differently & there is nothing wrong with any of it.  I know there is not one specific way to worship.  If someone wants to stand still & just experience a moment alone with God, no one should have a problem with that... if someone wants to worship the way this young man does, no one should have a problem with that either...

I guess what bothered me more then anything is that God was watching these people too... & they were more focused on what this young man was doing instead of focusing on the one who deserves that worship.

I guarantee you though, if that young man knew someone was making fun of him, I have no doubts that it wouldnt have bothered him though... it wouldnt have stopped him... & that makes me smile.  Know its gotta make God smile!  And that makes me want to be even bolder in MY worship.  Who cares what anyone thinks?  God is worthy of all the praise we can give him... & if people want to point, then maybe the worshipper can point them directly to God!

Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.

Look to the Lord & his strength; seek his face always!

-Psalm 105:2-4

Happy Father's day... or Aunt's Day... whichever works

First of all, Happy Father's Day to my wonderfully fantastic Daddy! 

We got to spend the day rummaging through some old stuff down in the basement.  I bought home all my old diaries & folders full of notes from my friends in high school... this is going to be some blog-worthy stuff, I'm sure!

But then my brother & his family came over & we headed out to eat....

Here is my brother.  He obviously doesnt get the love of the camera like I have... Believe me, its not the only opposite thing we have from each other! haha!!!

And here is my daddy with his beautiful grandbabies...

And because they seemed to be doing some "forced" smiles, my dad gave them something to smile about...

We had some full bellies after a wonderful, tasty, Italian dinner... & then headed home to get some serious game action going on... Candy Land?  Oh yeah baby!  We decided I look just like the lollipop lady on there - she had orange hair ... I think I know what I'm going to be for Halloween...

I had so much fun with the twins... I kept telling them not only is it Father's Day - but it was Aunt's Day too... & because they love me so much, they know EVERY DAY is Aunt's Day...

But before they left to go back home, they wanted to show me their impressive biking skills again.  I love that Madi calls her big wheel a 4-wheeler... hey, I'd rather her be on this thing then a big ole 4-wheeler...

And yes, I know its Father's Day & I dont have many pictures of my dad, but of my nieces instead... so maybe after everything, it was actually NIECES DAY!!!

I guess it all comes down to that every day I get to spend with my family is a special day - no matter the occassion.

Love you dad.. & mom... & the twins... & Juli... & yes, even my brother! ;)

Project 365-19

My world was sad last week when I didnt snatch moments of my week... so I was all on top of things this week... here's another week in my life...

Sunday - Organic Cotton... ahhh.... I finished up a baby blanket for some friends.  They live in Colorado & have unique tastes, plus, they dont know what the baby is going to be - so I got some organic cotton that feels like Heaven, & went with all the natural colors.  I'm sure not everyone would care for it as a baby blanket... but I totally love it... & pray it wraps that new baby up in tons of precious moments!

Monday - ERICA IS BACK!!!... it was our girls small group night & we've missed our friend Erica.  She's been busy being one of the best mommy's ever - but Joe, her husband sent her a message & told her she was going to group tonight & he would take care of Emily.  So we got to laugh with our friend & hear her insight on God things & life things.... it was just like she's never been gone... (BTW, those are Oreos in their mouths)

Tuesday - GET IN THE HOUSE!!!.... I was watching TV when the President was on talking about BP & they kept putting weather reports at the bottom.  I looked out, saw the wind kicking up & had to head outside.  These clouds were all "funnel-y" & I just stood out staring - even when it started raining.  The neighbors pulled in while I was taking pictures & rolled down their window & screamed "GET IN THE HOUSE!"... I wanted to yell, "come out in the rain with me"! 

Wednesday - Pray to live in Peace... we got the update of our World Vision child... she's growing up so fast (dont they all?) & her progress report about killed me with the last statement.  Her prayer request:  to live in peace... what 6th grader wants that?  Most want prayers to get the latest iPod or some cool clothes... peace... what a different world this little girl lives in...

Thursday - Surprise from my daddy.... My dad & mom used to clean the office building where I work & every time I'd come in after they would clean, I would find little notes that said "Love ya, Dad" - somewhere!  There is even a note that is STILL on the ceiling... dont ask how he got that there!... but I opened up a CD to listen to Thursday & there was another note - & they havent cleaned for years... so it was fun to get a surprise to make me smile.

Friday - The Best of Both Worlds!!!... isnt it funny, I just put how I cant find the GLEE Deluxe CD & lo & behold, lookie what I found. The last one too!!!  Snatched it up, along with the little novella (is that what they call it?) from Twilight... if I had only had some sort yarn with this purchase, then this would have been like the Perfect Storm - the best of 3 things coming together!

Saturday - Walking for Emily!!!  It was the Epilepsy Walk & there was a great turn out for TEAM EMILY!  We expected horrible heat but God was once again so faithful!  A storm came in that kept the sun away for the beginning & then it brought in a breeze that just made the day so much better.  Towards the end, the sun came out & we had blue skies, but it still wasnt miserable... Thank you God!... And Team Emily raised over $1,000 ... We want to gear up NOW for next year's event ...

(Emily had the hook up with the fans on her!... nice!)

(These girls made me laugh the whole walk... Good times ARE always better with friends!)

Hope you've all had click-worthy moments in your life this week!