Gold, Cow Poop & a Bolt

Weird title? Well, those are all things I used as an example of my lesson with the kids yesterday in church. Not literally the cow poop though... But I totally should have! If it wasn't for my gag reflex, it would have REALLY made a memorable lesson!

So what was the lesson on? It was based on James 1:2-4

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature & complete, not lacking anything."

First though - its important to look at this verse with the word JOY in it different then we may think. We think God wants us to handle horrible things with a smile & a happy heart? No way... God knows the emotions we feel & I don't think He expects that from us at all. "Joy" in this case can be traced back to actually meaning "Confidence"... confidence in God - that He will come through for us... AAHHH - that makes me feel so much better! So I don't have to put on a fake smile in troubles & say, "Because I'm a Christian, I am going to face this like Pollyanna"... nope - no need. I can face trouble & say, I have joy... "I have CONFIDENCE that everything is going to be alright!"... that's a relief!!!

So where do the examples come in? Perseverance = Gold!!!! Have you ever seen how gold is processed? Its melted down to a liquid & all the impurities rise to the top where it can be skimmed off the top. Then its formed into whatever you want it to be & it hardens stronger then before because the impurities are taken out! When you Persevere, you become stronger!!! You get melted down & you get the bad stuff skimmed out of your life & you harden up stronger then before! Oh yeah... good stuff!!!!

Mature = Cow poop! Yes.. again, remember I work with Jr. High kids & any talk of poop is fun for them! But think about it - cow poop is nasty, stinky & who wants to deal with it! But what does it do? It makes plants & flowers & trees GROW! Its the oldest knows fertilizer there is! So we can look at trials in our life as stinky & nasty... but they ultimately make us grow! Right? Oh yeah... lesson out of cow poop! You wont look at it the same!

Complete = Bolt! Now, we wont ever be complete until we reach the other side of Heaven - but we have to keep working to be as complete as God calls us to be while on this earth. How complete is that? Just striving to be more Christ like! So I showed the kids a big bolt! Asked them if they were on a roller coaster - the highest in the world & this bolt was what was holding your seat belt on... what if it popped off? Would you be scared? Would you feel as safe? Probably not! And its such a small thing compared to the big roller coaster! But its the bolt that makes the ride feel "complete" - safe! So troubles in our life can actually COMPLETE us... they can make us grow into a more Christ like person! Someone who gets more complete with every lesson learned!!!

I just asked the kids to remember what Jesus said in John - "In this world, you WILL have troubles - but take heart! For I have overcome the world!".... You WILL have troubles... but find JOY! Have confidence that God will get you through it again... & again... & again...

And if you have too - remember Gold, Cow poop & a big bolt! God's example is in everything!

Six Word Saturday

Totally enjoyed a day off work

Ricky & I took a day off work yesterday & it was wonderful! We ended up sleeping in till 8 - or, at least, I did (you all know Ricky is still up at 5:30!) & then we had some breakfast, took it easy & then headed out for the afternoon. Nothing planned really except a 30% off at Kohl's! I think we spent close to 2 hrs there. I did an experiment of "Stacy & Clinton" style - I went & tried on things I normally wouldnt wear. Let's just say there is a reason why I dont normally wear those things! But I did end up with a beautiful pair of dress pants I wouldnt normally wear. Now - to find a top to go with it... ugh... a woman's job of shopping is never done - is it?

We then ventured for some lunch, & headed to Pet Smart to find some steps that can help Sydney. She's an Australian Shepherd & they are notorious for bad hips, & with her 10 yr old birthday in November, her hips are starting to kick in. She's not able to jump on the bed like she used to or get in the car like a puppy... so we found some incredible sturdy steps... now, just getting her to learn to take steps instead of jumping. 10 years of habit is going to be something to break.

Side news: I finished the cutest "Hermonine Hat" (Pictures to come) - I finally got to watch Mamma Mia (just joined Netflix & am loving the ease of getting movies) - our flying insects seem to be gone - got a birthday party to go to today for a special little boy!!! - & now, I gotta head out to the recycle center.

Let me share a few pics from last Saturday & the fall festival with the twins...

Heading out for the road trip...Sophia has my friend Chico with her - showing him love. Madi is into "Shrek" & nothing can distract her!

Madi waiting for the parade to start....


Sophia waiting patiently for the next float that is throwing out candy! Girlfriend went running after it & came home with a BAG FULL of it!

Me & the girls on the porch of my aunt & uncle.... they've since gone to be with Jesus, so its crazy to see the "next generation" sitting here... my brother & I spent many a Fall Festival on this front porch...

Stopped for Ice cream on the way home... little posers?

Its all about the Sprinkles!!!! It was hilarious! We were sitting there & a kid came up to the window & he was sporting the "style" of wearing the saggy pants - where his underwear - or pretty much his WHOLE BUTT, was showing. Sophia was sitting there eating her ice cream, looked up & saw it & just started laughing & said, "Look at his butt!"... I thought we were all going to die... needless to say - he pulled his pants up!

And yes, that is Madi... DRIVING!!! She's 4 yrs old & a pretty dang good driver! They have a very long drive way & she gets on daddy's lap - afterall, her feet cant reach the pedals - & she can take the curves & turns! By the end of the drive way, she's using only one hand with the other arm leaning on the window.... I was in awe!

Hope everyone has a great Saturday!!!

Nominee for Best Dad

OK - dont know anything about this man, dont know anything about sports - but I do know this man right here is a good dad.

He caught the ball at a game, you can see his excitement - hands it back to his daughter & she just throws it back. What I love is the dad's expression. He never stops smiling!!! The little girl starts getting upset because apparently everyone around gasped & she could tell what she did maybe wasnt the best thing... her dad just laughs & holds her & tells her "its OK".... is that a great dad or what!!!!

Pictures - who do you use?

I'm in need of opinions here...

I love taking pictures & have always used Kodak Gallery online to store them, had pictures mailed to me & have purchased MANY, MANY photo albums. Well, lately, I'm been disappointed with Kodak. The quality of the pictures have dropped to the level of doo-doo... the paper is so thin that the pictures are on, I think that home printed pictures have thicker paper. It DOES still have the Kodak logo on the back... isn't that supposed to count for something? Used to - but to me, not so much anymore....

So what other sites do you all use? I have friends that use Photobucket, Snapfish, flicker, Picasa... I'm SOOO confused... do these sites have good editing tools on them? And is there a cost after so many pictures? That's what I do like about Kodak - I have files out there from 2003 & it doesnt cost a thing... I've been looking & some of these others have a fee after so much space is used...

So share please... do I stay with Kodak - or do I venture into some other world of web pictures? Tell me what you like best about your photo online album....

Disappointed?

You can ask my parents... I didnt need to be spanked or grounded when I did anything wrong. How was the way to get through to me? Tell me that I disappointed them. I brought home a "B" one time on my report card & thought they were going to be so disappointed, I made myself sick! They obviously werent disappointed or troubled at all about that - but the IDEA that they COULD be disappointed bothered the fire out of me!!! I'd almost rather get a spanking that would blister my butt then feel like I disappointed them.

Then, I saw the interview last night with Kayne West & Jay Leno.

Yeah, we all have heard what Kayne West did. And sorry, I dont think his excuse of "I didnt really think it was that big of a deal until she didnt finish her speech" was much of an "excuse"... what did he THINK was going to happen? That Taylor Swift would say, "Thank you so much for your thoughts. Now, let me finish my speech...."... dont think so...

But what struck me was when Jay Leno brought up Kayne's mother. Kayne obviously adored his mother. She passed away about a year ago & you really felt for this man because you know how much he loved her. Jay asked "What do you think your mother would say about this situation if she were still here".... he visually changed. His lip almost quivered & he just kept his head down. It was a different Kayne.

I instantly knew what he was feeling... he didnt want to disappoint his mother.

Then the feeling that hit me right after.... what would this world look like if we thought about disappointing our Heavenly Father? If we thought of our actions & how God looks down on them.... would we act differently?

Parents DO get disappointed, but doesnt mean they dont love any different... & God is the same way, in an even BIGGER capacity that we cant imagine...

But I want to live a life that tries not to disappointment my Father - my Heavenly Father.....

mmm... Salty...

I love salt... you can ask anyone that eats with me... I have to have a salt shaker near me at all times. EVERYTHING has to have salt... I cant even eat fruit without salt! I know, I know... its not the best for you - but my blood pressure stays so low so it doesnt seem to affect my health. Except I do put the blame of water weight on my salt intake... think anyone buys 40 lbs of water weight? Oh well...

Yesterday in our class though, Joe brought up the topic of salt... he asked what we thought of it... the first word out of my mouth was YUMMY!!!

The responses were - flavor, a seasoning, white stuff (gotta love Jr. Highers)

Joe shared the point that the one thing about salt is it makes you thirsty!!!! AAHHH... the Bible calls us to be the salt of the earth:

"You are the salt of the earth...." - Matthew 5:13-14

So are we, as Christians going out into the world, making others thirsty for Jesus? Do they leave us wanting what we have? Feeling dry without it... & Jesus is the Living Water... right? To cure all thirst!

I was looking in my Bible too & it was saying how salt also keeps food from rotting.... WOWZA!!! What another way to look at it... are you putting enough salt out there in your life that you are keeping others from "rotting"? From living a life that will end up in death & not eternal life?

See... I was right... Salt IS good!!!

How Salty are you?

Six Word Saturday

Parade Day with my twin nieces

Ever since I was little, the weekend after Labor Day has been designated for a trip to Dale, Indiana. Its the type of town that if you blink, you'll miss it & drive right through it... but it is close to Santa Claus Indiana... the home of Holiday World... literally like a few miles away from Dale.

My dad grew up in that town & my aunt & uncle still lived up there so we'd load up the vans & the whole family would go up for their annual Fall Festival. I used to look so forward to it when I was little. The parade throws candy out & I'd leave every year with a BAG full! It would make Halloween cry in shame! Then in the little town square, there were booths with all kinds of food that make you gain at least 5 lbs. & hog wrestling, & Cow bingo... (For you city folks, its where you wait & see where the cow poops... if its on your number... you're a winner!!! ... redneck much?)

So today's the day... & times have changed. My grandmother has since passed away - my aunt & uncle that lived up there have left this world too.... but it is still fun to go up & relive it... its like seeing my childhood through the eyes of the twins. They'll never get to experience the whole thing since all the family is gone.... but we can still make it fun for them!

Here is a picture of the first time they went... they rode their first rides... Madi would CRY her head off every time the ride would stop, so the nice ride operator would just let her stay on there & ride again & again... that's the best part of small town festivals... everyone is just friendly!

So here's to a fun filled, greasy food, parade full of candy, twin lovin' kind of day!!!

Friday Fragments

*Anyone else watch Glee? I loved it... that girl that plays Rachel can sing... as in "that girl can SAAANNNGGGG" (Spoken with much attitude). I think I replayed "Take a Bow" like all day Thursday! And Jane Lynch (the cheer coach) - if she doesnt get nominated for some sort of award for comedy, I dont know what's wrong with this world! I watched it a few more times & caught more things she said the second time around.... hope the show keeps up the greatness!

*Every time I get my hair done, the back of my head hurts for a few days afterwards from the sink... that happen to everyone else or do I have a tender head?
*I've heard of Sleep Apnea... I think I have a new condition called "Awake Apnea".... for some reason, I noticed that I hold my breath alot during the day. I was sitting at my desk, not feeling well & thinking, take deep breaths - then I realized I was holding it.... then throughout the day, I'd catch myself holding my breath!!! What's up with that????... now I'm all conscience of it... but I am still doing it...if anyone sees me out walking & I'm blue - remind me to breath please...

*Anyone else watch the mess that is called Jon Gosselin on Good Morning America? Oh Jon, why oh why would you go on TV & try to make yourself look better only to sit on the edge of your seat & come off like an angry man whose having a mid life crisis? I know life with Kate couldnt have been easy.. but dang dude... a reality show with Kevin Federline & Lindsay Lohan's dad is going to make your life seem like it makes sense? Oh Jon...

*its a sad time.... the time is creeping backwards! Its now officially DARK when I drive into work... & the sun is setting earlier & earlier... time for me to go into my shell of depression...

*Anyone else have bad handwriting days? Some days, my handwriting is so neat, & crisp & clear... other days, I dont care how hard I try, it looks sloppy & messy... what's up with that?

*Spat of the week: Big Brother! Hey, its not my fault... Ricky seems to ask EVERY TIME Big Brother is on if I want to watch a movie... I told him he asks just at that exact time so he knows Ill say "Not right now, Big Brother is on"... that way, he can go watch his shoot um' up, action boy movies, instead of a chick flick... I'm onto his game!


*I'm ashamed to even admit this... I totally forgot September 11th was coming until I read it on someone else's blog.... I dont mean I forgot what September 11th is.... I just didnt realize the date was coming up! I was looking through pictures of it all & its still just horrifying... one of those things I can remember everything about the day... from watching it on the news in our office - never leaving the TV - stopping to get gas on the way home cause everyone thought it was going to be like $7.00 a gallon, sitting in line for hours there while listening to the radio - scared what the next day would hold... what a sad day...



Happy Friday everyone!

Heaven is the Face

You all know that me & Steven are tight - right? Do you need a reminder?

Told you so... he loves me as much as I love him... I just know he does!

But anyways, his song is released now from his next album.... totally cant wait... but what kind of stalker - I mean, FAN - would I be if I didnt post it & share it with the world! Because the world would be a better place if everyone loved Steven Curtis Chapman as I do!!!

What do you see?

I've seen this picture a few times attached to different emails lately... have you seen it yet?

At first, I was saddened by it. After all, any reminder of Christ dying such a horrible death of course, brings up all the emotions that goes along with it. Saddness, heart break, & sorrow for what Christ had to go through - the pain...

But I looked again at this picture...

I noticed his hands & feet didnt have the holes in them... now I know in Scripture, Jesus had Thomas put his fingers in the holes... but for this picture - it just reminds me that Jesus is whole - HEALED!!! And I love that he's OFF the cross...

I looked at the picture again & can see a different view of it now... to me, I'm seeing our Savior with His job finished! Its almost as if I can hear His relieved sigh.... that His hands are in prayer fashion & He's saying to His Father... "I've done my job... the hard part is over"...I see hope in this picture now...

When you first saw it, or looking at it now... what did you see?

God knitting...

I love to knit... that's not a shock to you all! Even if you are a new reader, you can tell just from my title that knitting is a part of my life.

I usually have 5-6 projects on needles at any given time. I have a project usually in my car, a few at the house, a couple at my desk, & even try to keep a project tucked in my purse so if ever I have to sit in traffic, its the most productive time killer....

One thing I've noticed - no matter where I am at - whether in the beauty shop, sitting in my office, being out on a bench waiting for a seat at a restaurant, someone will ask me "What are you making?".... their interest is peaked in what the few rows of yarn will turn out to be...

Now, I know what I'm going to make... I can visualize it in my mind - see what its going to look like - & in the end, it may have turned out a little different, taken a unique style of its own, but its what I created & knew what it was going to be...

I thought of Psalm 139:13

"For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb"

Can you imagine God creating us? Did the angels ask him "What are you making?"... & did God have that gleam in his eyes to say "I know exactly how this is going to turn out.. this is My creation that is fearfully & wonderfully made"....

How exciting to start each project I knit... how exciting to see the finished result.....How God must be so proud of His finished products!

How do they know this?

My dad was bringing the twins home from them getting to spend the night with their Papaw & Yaya....

Dad needed to come over for me to show him something so he pulled in the drive way & I saw those two beautiful faces smiling up at me...

I look and see Madi has a Blackberry in her hands. Sophia had another flip sort of phone. I asked them where they got it & they are old phones of mom & dad that arent being used so they get to carry them & play the games that are on the phones...

Dad asked me to see my new phone.... I pull it out & show him...

Sophia instantly looks at it & says.... "Hey - that's one of those kind that slide, isn't it?"

WHAT THE HECK? How do kids knows this stuff!!! Technology at 4 yrs old.... crazy!

Six Word Saturday

Cleaning the day while husband's away!!!

Ricky has gone to the UK Football game in Cincinnati with some guys from his work today... that leaves me at the house all by myself... the PERFECT opportunity to clean! I honestly enjoy cleaning when he's away... I can get so much more done. I can toss things more easily & clean & not have it trashed by the time I turn around... is it a guy thing to go right behind & mess up a clean counter? is it a husband thing to throw socks in a clean, vacuumed floor? Or is it just me?

Here's to happy cleaning!!!!

Friday Fragments

*After the biggest headache & running around to different stores, I ended up with a new phone. Now, you all were swaying me with the I-phones & blackberries, & my heart was on one... but my husband just wasnt buying into it... DANG IT! He said I'm in front of a computer 23 hrs out of a day ANYWAYS, so it wouldnt make sense to need a phone with that sort of technology. But I did get a new one... I proudly call, "Pun-kin"... & I'm loving it... didnt have the keyboard feature before & it does have email & some web access... so we're a happy family - Ricky's happy, I'm happy, my Pun-kin has a new home in my purse.

*So am I the only sap crying over Grandma Lee on America's Got Talent? I dont even think she's all that funny - but every time she stands on that stage to see if she makes it through, I swear, I think she's going to have a heart attack! And then they call her name & she tears up, & I LOOSE it every time too!!! You have to give it to her for going after her dream at 75 years old! Again, I dont think she's that funny at all... but if she wins, I wouldnt be upset... I'll just pray she doesnt hit the ground with some sort of shock ailment!

*Spat Of the Week: Cell Phones... enough said... I'm over it... cant go down that road anymore!

*Did Michael Jackson finally get buried? I gave up keeping up with it all....

*Did you know I have two other blogs? Yep... they are on the right side. One is for quotes or things out of books that I really like... the other one is reviews of all the books I'm reading... mainly for me - I want to see how many books I've read & I need a quick review to remind me what it was about once I look back... I'm anxious to start the new year to see how many books I read in a year span...

*I love Flo from the Progressive commercials... she's so bubbly... I'd want her as my friend...

*I woke up Sunday after taking our dogs to the groomers & I told Ricky as soon as my eyes opened... I want to learn to be a dog groomer!!!! Heck, with four dogs & dishing out $175 every few months for all our dogs - it'd SAVE in the end... so I'm trying to see what I can now about dog grooming! Wish me luck!!!!

*You wanna laugh... I mean REALLY REALLY laugh???? You must go here: http://peopleofwalmart.com/

I am SOOOO taking my camera in Walmart next time!!!!

*I'm all alone in the office today... which makes for a FANTASTIC DAY!!!! Here's to Fantastic Fridays for everyone!

Rescue Dogs!!!!!

Remember these cute little faces?

The girls new "boys"... they have turned into RESCUE DOGS!

My dad sent me an email & I had to call him to find out the story...

Apparently the girls were out with them while they were going potty & my brother noticed some sort of commotion going on...

Turns out, the dogs, had a snake!!!!!!!!! EGADS!!!!!!!!!!!!

My dad said, "didn't you get the picture of the snake?"... ummm - No.. & no thank you, you dont have to resend it! Snakes are my biggest FREAK OUT FEAR!!!!

Dad laughed saying "I always wanted the girls to have a big dog like yours to protect them, but I guess these little guys will do".... yep, because my dogs would probably run away from the snake scared themselves!...

or maybe they would kill it - & bring it into my bed (anyone remember my previous post of the dead bird in my bed?)

So... we can rest safe tonight knowing the twins are protected by their baby boys!

Hold On... I have to finish this row!

Sunday, our youth minister was leading the Sr. High class on just two versese in the Bible.

"Going on from there, he saw two other brokers, James son of Zebedee & his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them & immediately they left the boat & their father & followed him" -Matthew 4:21-22

The message was a great one because it was a possible view from Zebedee, the father... his sons left him behind. Why didnt he go with his sons? Did Jesus not call for him? Did he not want to go because he was stubborn & older & set in his ways? Did he just not care? What left him behind in the boat?

But the word that stuck out to me was IMMEDIATELY... they immediately left everything - no questions asked... I brought that point out to the class - what is it that holds us back? What is it that wont allow us to follow Christ now - from a youth's persective, its sometimes "I can do it later - I'm young - I've got plenty of time" ... "God will ask too much of me, I dont want to give up my partying life now".... "I am in the 'cool click' at school - I cant give that up right now".... nothing stopped these two brothers...


I had a student come up to me after class though & said, "When you were talking about that, all I could envision was you sitting with your knitting saying "Hold on Jesus - I have to finish this row".... Oh snap!

OK - these kids have seen me knit WAY too much I guess... & SNAP again - how many times have I said that? To the youth... to my husband ....to my friends ....but have I have said that to Jesus?... is that possible? I've never thought of it this way....

If you are a knitter - you've said that line "Hold on - I have to finish this row"... they even have bracelets that say that!!! There is nothing worse then being in a middle of a row & loosing your place... or so I thought... that amazing young man who said that to me brought up a great point to me ... sometimes its even more the LITTLE things that hold us back from IMMEDIATELY doing something for Christ - following Him, His ways....

May I have nothing in my life that holds me back from IMMEDIATELY following Christ or His ways!!!!