tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28072997007252850502024-03-13T06:30:38.957-04:00Sweet AbundanceUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger583125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-14185419392604242802014-06-24T13:40:00.003-04:002014-06-24T15:27:13.230-04:00Dear Paula,<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
How can ten years ago seem like yesterday and yet seem so far away at the same time?<br />
<br />
My girls never met you, but when they see your picture they know it's "Auntie Paula".<br />
<br />
I haven't seen your face in 10 years, but every once in a while I see someone I think is you and want to chase them down and hug them.<br />
<br />
It's been 10 years since I heard your laugh, but sometimes I see, do or think of something you would think was funny and hear you giggle in my head.<br />
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<br />
You weren't there to laugh at me when we got a minivan, but as that thing seemed to fall apart around us, I used to joke that you must have been trying to tell me something...<br />
<br />
Good news - we have a Durango now.<br />
<br />
You have not been here to give me advice but I still ask myself "what would Paula tell me to do?" - especially in parenting.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
You haven't been here to watch me grow more in love with that man of mine over the last ten years ... but since you all but threw us together - and specifically ASKED him if he wanted to be my boyfriend - I guess you knew I would all along.<br />
<br />
Ten years ago, we sat around your bed and sang worship songs to send you into Heaven. I held your head in my arms as we sang your favorite song - The Wonderful Cross. And when we got to the line that says "the wonderful cross, bids me come and die and find that I might truly live" you took one last breath, blew it out on my cheek and you were gone.<br />
<br />
You were Home.<br />
<br />
And we were here without you.<br />
<br />
And, in that moment, I praised His name because I knew that you would never hurt again.<br />
<br />
And, I still praise Him for that. Even though your leaving meant MY pain, I praise His name because YOU are free. You were so strong through everything and your faith never once let go. You loved Him with everything you had ... and now you love Him face to face. We used to listen to I Can Only Imagine and talk about what it would be like to be in His presence ... and now you know. <br />
<br />
And I praise Him for that.<br />
<br />
I truly do.<br />
<br />
And some day you and I will be up there dancing to praise jams and singing along at the top of our lungs. Just like we did here ... except now we will do it at the feet of the One we praise.<br />
<br />
I. Can. Not. Wait.<br />
<br />
I will see you soon my friend.<br />
<br />
I love you.<br />
<br />
(Here is our song ... YOUR song)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/eLgkt3OCMCc" width="420"></iframe>
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-31928719628888433902014-03-02T12:35:00.000-05:002014-03-02T12:35:12.043-05:00A Little Letter To WinterDear Winter,<br />
<br />
May I call you John?<br />
<br />
Yes?<br />
<br />
good ...<br />
<br />
Dear John,<br />
<br />
Yes ... this IS a Dear John letter.<br />
<br />
Please, don't be offended. It's me. Not you.<br />
<br />
I mean, let's just be honest and say that many of the reasons I'm breaking up with you are the same reasons I loved you in the first place.<br />
<br />
Your crisp white snow? Yes, I admit, it is lovely and bright and stunning.<br />
<br />
Until you have to shovel so. stinking. much. of it and are now lifting shovels full over mounds that are taller than your children. <br />
<br />
Your brisk refreshing temperatures? Yeah, those stopped being fun when you added the crazy freakin winds that blew my hat down the sidewalk and dropped the already low temps to conditions which are not natural or kind to this arizona girl. I mean, I CHOSE to honeymoon in Alaska, I like to be cool ... I just also like to feel the tips of my appendages. And, no, the burning that comes as they are recovering from near frostbite does. not. count. <br />
<br />
Hoodies? You and I both know that I love me a good hoodie. But, when I go through hoodies like I have been and actually contemplate SLEEPING in them? Not OK.<br />
<br />
The sweaters? I' am OVER having to wear layers UNDER them.<br />
<br />
All this to say, you and I are through. Please pack it up and go.<br />
<br />
Yeah ... not only breaking up with you, I am also evicting you. Spring is ready to move in, so you need to go.<br />
<br />
Thank you so much for understanding.<br />
<br />
Love ... well, USED to be love,<br />
Me<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-80493411546135749602014-01-16T22:14:00.001-05:002014-03-02T13:31:30.463-05:00Clay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
Today has been a frustrating day. Not gonna lie.<br />
<br />
My goal was to get up early, have my time with Him and get in my workout. I know Thursdays around here are crazy, so I know it's best to get 'er done as early as possible. So, my buddy Jane and I agreed to a texting date/wake up call at 4:30.<br />
<br />
yes ... in the AM. I know.<br />
<br />
I slept through THREE alarms and Jane slept through one. Neither of us got up early. So, with no time with my Jesus and no workout, I hit the floor running. The morning went OK - got to spend it with my Thursday Morning Bible Study Girls ... MAN, they bless me! And I had made arrangements with the hubbster to get a run in between his work and his duties at church tonight. But it snowed and there was not any time allowed in his break.<br />
<br />
I decided to do a HIIT on the stairs (20 minutes total - 10 rounds of one minute full on/one minute rest), but on the first trip up I felt a major pop in my knee. Literally took my breath away and left me in tears. So much so that Sophie came running and decided she was gonna tuck me into bed. How sweet is she? I knew I needed ice though, so I got THEM in bed and came down to get some.<br />
<br />
Which means I now have to get myself back UP the steps.<br />
<br />
Dern.<br />
<br />
Anyhoo ... I sat down to FINALLY do my daily devotional (Beth Moore's Whispers of Hope ... Y'all. Getcha some. for real.). Today she wrote on Jeremiah 18, when they Lord told Jeremiah that he wanted to rebuild His people (like clay in His hands) and they basically said "yeah ... don't bother".<br />
<br />
Ummmm ... WHAT?!?!?!?! Who does that?<br />
<br />
So easy to judge, but the truth is ... maybe I do that.<br />
<br />
Maybe, by not believing in myself in this process, I am really not trusting HIM to take me through this process.<br />
<br />
OUCH.<br />
<br />
The last paragraph of the devo today:<br />
<br />
"Can you imagine becoming a newly formed vessel in God's hand? A sacred and useful vessel? Have parts of you been marred for so long that you can't imagine how He could ever reshape you? Does the process seem to lengthy? Does it require too much cooperation? Do you sometimes thing, <i>It's no use</i>? Sometimes we can see folly in others that we cannot see in ourselves. Didn't we wonder how Israel could make such a poor choice when they were given another chance? How could they have been such cracked pots? To say "it's no use" is to say the Potter is not qualified to do what He does best. Take your chances on God. Put your life in His hands. Newness doesn't come from faith in yourself, it comes from faith in Him."<br />
<br />
And, if you need me I'm just gonna be over in the corner, face down, hands in the air, giving praise to my Potter and praying for forgiveness for EVER doubting His hands.<br />
<br />
He is SO faithful.<br />
<br />
And, just this morning we were talking about seeing the power of God in our lives. Lord, open our eyes to your hand. Mold us. Shape us. REDEEM us.<br />
<br />
Make me new Lord. I am broken. I am marred. I am imperfect and incomplete ... but God.<br />
<br />
but GOD!<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-31891062827721031142014-01-15T21:48:00.001-05:002014-01-15T21:48:04.775-05:00All In How Ya Look At ItFirst off, let me assure you that I will not just be writing about this journey ... I will also be posting gratuitous cute pictures of my children ...<br />
<br />
Like this one of Hattie ... too bad she is so anti-social<br />
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<br /></div>
Or Miss Sophie ... yeah, if only she was cute.<br />
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<br />
OK ... now ... where was I?<br />
<br />
I started a new Bible study tonight. Well ... OK ... I RE-started a (less than) new Bible study tonight. Yes, one more thing I didn't finish last time around. (ahem ... )<br />
<br />The study is Made To Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. And, y'all, so good. I kinda rushed through it last time and missed a lot. This time around, I want to really pay attention and see what God has for me there. And, oh, He is already meeting me in those pages ... and we are on like page 3 or something. He is so faithful!<br />
<br />
In the first video, she talked about switching your mindset from "deprived" to "empowered" and learning to crave GOD and not food. She also - and this is what I did not get last time - talked about how indulgence is, by definition, taking unrestrained pleasure in something. And when we throw restraint out the window in regards to anything but our worship of HIM, we are allowing that "thing" (in this case, food) to wage a war in ourselves. As a result, we end up feeling defeated, discouraged and disabled.<br /><br />
Y'all! God girls are not meant for defeat! We are made for more. We are made for HIM!!!!<br />
<br />
So, here is what I took away from this:<br />
Does food wage a war against my soul? If I choose to find comfort in it, to turn to it and to use it instead of seeking HIM, yes. If it leaves me feeling angry at myself, yes. If it takes my eyes and heart off of Him, yes. Because, first and foremost, I am a Jesus Girl ... and I am meant for more.<br />
<br />
Yesterday I wrote in my prayer journal "Father, show me how to love YOU enough to love me more". And, see, that is my struggle. I love Him. I do. I love Him more than ANYTHING in my life. But how can I say I love Him and not love myself in return? HE loved me enough to die for me? Should I not love myself enough to take care of me? I want to live my life to His glory and that means giving Him every area of my life, including this journey. I have come too far with Him to let myself not be all He has made me to be - and He has made me for more than this struggle. He has made me for more than the defeat of deprivation ... He has made me for EMPOWERMENT.<br />
<br />
I can look at that cookie (ya knew it would come back to a cookie, didn't ya?) and whine and ask "why do I have to be deprived?" Or I can look at that cookie and know that He has empowered me to make a better choice for myself.<br />
<br />
Now, I will eat a cookie here and there ... cause, y'all, it's a COOKIE! But, I will not let that cookie have more power over me than it deserves. I am meant for more.<br />
<br />
Can I get an AMEN??!!<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-37528374590162036592014-01-14T17:53:00.001-05:002014-01-14T17:53:23.662-05:0090 Days (and the rest of my life) To Go ... (Part Two)Let's see ... where did we leave off yesterday ...?<br />
<br />
Ahhh ... Round Two of the Bikini Body Mommy Challenge.<br />
<br />
I was bound and determined to finish it this time. All 90 days. Just, ya know, get 'er done.<br />
<br />
But that voice. <br />
<br />
The one that kept telling me it was never gonna work.<br />
<br />The one that told me to eat the cookie anyway.<br />
<br />
So I started the challenge, but my commitment level lost steam quick. It was September, things were crazy - the girls were back in school, schedules were all over the place, yada yada yada ...<br />
<br />
By about day 20 I knew this was not gonna fly.<br />
<br />
So I started it AGAIN with a friend from the facebook group.<br />
<br />
And there was a group that started a diet bet thing for the month of October - you pay in $25 and have so much time (one month in this case) to lose a certain percentage (4%) of your weight. And, I KNOW that this was not my best decision, but, well ... there ya go. I determined (based on prior experience) that I would lose weight faster if I help back on the workouts and got stupid strict with my food. So, basically I crash dieted and hardly did any workouts at all through the bet ... and lost my 4%! Oh yay.<br />
<br />
Then, of course, the holidays started ... with the food, the parties, the commitments, the COOKIES!<br />
<br />
And the germs. Dadgum, stupid germs.<br />
<br />
Between it all I ended up pretty much taking the holidays off. I got in a run here and there (oh how I love to run), did a random workout, etc... But I in NO way kept up with my vow to get healthy.<br />
<br />
And, let me tell ya, my waist line and jeans told the tale.<br />
<br />
Oh, I was still wearing the smaller size of pants, but they did NOT fit the same way.<br />
<br />
But, I learned something in those months. I learned that I am an all or nothin kinda girl. I am not a "take a break" kinda girl. I am the kind of girl that has to follow a plan at all times. Cause breaks for me are NOT a good idea.<br />
<br />
Now, I am also not a never ever have another treat in your whole life, til Jesus returns, kinda girl either. THAT is just not gonna happen. Cause, ya know, have I mentioned the cookies? I like me some cookies. I surely do.<br />
<br />
No, I am the kinda girl who needs a plan ... and who needs that plan to include the occasional cookie.<br />
<br />
Just keepin it real y'all...<br />
<br />
Now ... we just gotta figure out what that looks like....<br />
<br />
And, so, the journey begins. Just 81 days (and the rest of my life) to go. Feel free to tag along, won't you!?<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-68778333183311311702014-01-13T13:40:00.002-05:002014-01-13T13:40:36.901-05:0090 Days (and the rest of my life) to go ... (Part One)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
One week ago today I started a new journey.<br />
<br />
Well ... OK, not new. I've STARTED this journey before.<br />
<br />
I've just never crossed the finish line. <br />
<br />
The first time I started this journey, I was sittin pretty and headed for victory. And then I crashed and burned.<br />
<br />
The second time, I barely made it out of the starting gate before I crashed ...<br />
<br />
But not this time. This time I'm takin y'all with me, so I can stay on course.<br />
<br />
And, after all I have learned the last two times, I am beginning to understand that this 90 day journey, is really gonna be a lifetime trek.<br />
<br />
So, here is a little background, just so you won't be lost...<br />
<br />
I have an ongoing battle with myself. I have always struggled with low self esteem and it has allowed me to defeat myself more times than I care to count. My biggest area of continual struggle is my body image ... which, as it turns out, is also my biggest area of self sabotage.<br />
<br />
Late last spring I came upon a workout called the Bikini Body Mommy 90 day challenge, which I found very intriguing. I began talking to some women about it in a facebook group that I am in and started seeing some before/after pics. WOW. I started to wonder if this might work for me.<br />
<br />
About that time I was in the bathroom early one morning feeling pretty down on myself because "this" (whatever "this" was at the time) wasn't working either. After nearly a year of focused efforts, I had lost a few pounds but ZERO inches. The scale had stopped moving and my clothes were still tight. I was in tears when my 5 year old baby girl walked in, found me crying on the scale and said to me "mama, it's ok. I love you even if you're fat".<br />
<br />
And, I realized what I was teaching her was absolutely EVERYTHING I had tried NOT to teach my girls.<br />
<br />
And I started thinking that I needed to find a way to get healthy, not skinny.<br />
<br />
Healthy.<br />
<br />
So, on June 1st I started the BBM challenge with two of my friends. Within a week I started feeling better physically - more energy, not so sluggish, etc. Two weeks in, on a cardio day, I was running down the road and felt my pants falling off. I LITERALLY had to run with one hand holding my pants up.<br />
<br />
It. Was. Awesome.<br />
<br />
By day 30 I had lost 18.5 inches! Only 3 pounds, but EIGHTEEN stinkin inches! People were starting to notice and say sweet things to me and I was feeling SO empowered. SO strong. SO good. But then that voice of doom and self defeat kicked in, while we were on vacation, and kept telling me "ya KNOW you're just going to gain it all back - you always do - so why not just eat and enjoy yourself?"<br />
<br />
I fought that voice back ... kinda.<br />
<br />
But there was another voice this time. The one that said "Look how good you're doing! You can afford to splurge now! And, you KNOW if you don't splurge a little, you are gonna fall on your face, so just have a cookie!" And THAT voice was harder to deny. And that ONE cookie was hard to resist. And so were the ONE MORE cookies after it.<br />
<br />
So, when the loss started to stall - cause of all the dadgum cookies - the first voice got louder and I fell completely off the wagon at about day 70. And I felt like SUCH a failure ... again.<br />
<br />
Round two was ...........<br />
<br />
***to be continued***<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-32741684502521509182014-01-13T10:17:00.000-05:002014-01-13T10:17:06.299-05:002014 ... Pictures ... Week 2This was the week of the great freeze. And the great dig out of all. the. snow!!!!<br />
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Monday ... our neighbor? Yeah, he is quite a guy. He's probably in his late 70's or so, rides a Harley and takes care of his snow packed drive and walks with this bad boy ...<br />
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Yeah ... also, please note that he is NOT wearing a jacket. Y'all, the tems were in the single digits with some crazy windchill factors happening.<br />
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I have no idea how he does it!!!<br />
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Tuesday ... THIS is how cold it was<br />
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The girls are playing with ice on the INSIDE of our windows - our double paned, well insulated windows that are above a heat register and next to a fireplace.<br />
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Yeah ... cold.<br />
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Wednesday ... Another snow day. They had not been to school in almost 3 weeks at this point. They were a little stir crazy at this point...<br />
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... which may or may not explain the yoga on top of the coffee table. Not really sure.<br />
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Thursday ... FINALLY the girls are back to school and Joccee has the house to herself again. So, ya know, she did the only natural thing to do...<br />
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... she set herself up a makeshift drive in theater and watched Sesame Street from the comfort of her car.</div>
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Ya know, since Soph wasn't around to push her in circles around the kitchen (battery is deader than a door nail!). </div>
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So ... how was YOUR week???</div>
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-42726124465238426402014-01-05T22:23:00.001-05:002014-01-05T22:23:46.873-05:00Pictures ... 365 ... Week 1<div>
So ... remember that thing with the pictures from each day of the year? </div>
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Yeah ... gonna try that again. </div>
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And, ya know, maybe make it past June this time.</div>
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Yeah ... OK</div>
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January 1</div>
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A fresh new year. A fresh new journal. Fresh new pens ... love new beginnings.</div>
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January 2<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzq27OOmv9We3r5lyrInV2Sdi0GpS8n-OKj8SVr95EHucgZ_VC6KuL1QVIdDx7AlFZGRFazfGRKEmgHm5DVqtAxqv_9PfgPNutabzVm5CShBriuPZrLIW7e7_D1DBP3c9o6pQ1J8ayHRE/s1600/1.2.14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzq27OOmv9We3r5lyrInV2Sdi0GpS8n-OKj8SVr95EHucgZ_VC6KuL1QVIdDx7AlFZGRFazfGRKEmgHm5DVqtAxqv_9PfgPNutabzVm5CShBriuPZrLIW7e7_D1DBP3c9o6pQ1J8ayHRE/s1600/1.2.14.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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My sweet faced girl in her sweet new glasses. LOVE!</div>
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January 3 (got a few here)</div>
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Soooooo cold out there, but if the big door is opened at the right time of day and the sun is allowed to shine through the glass door ... FREE HEAT!!!</div>
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YouTube ... a mama's bff sometimes!</div>
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Indoor campout ... complete with hot dogs and s'mores cooked over an open fire!</div>
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Last camper standing ... and watching The Polar Express!!</div>
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***Note that the fireplace is working for the first time since we moved in!!!***</div>
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January 4</div>
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Well ... if I ever get lost int he snow, just look for the shoes! LOL! Had to get one last run in before the bitter cold hits. Also, people need to shovel their walks. This trek resulted in a shoe full of snow! FUN!!!</div>
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January 5</div>
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The snow was just beginning and the temps had not fallen too far yet, so we had ourselves a little fun. I will post more of these later, but I love this one. The way that the snow is in focus, but Soph is not ...I have no idea how it happened, but it is kinda cool!</div>
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So ... how was YOUR week?</div>
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<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-22455160228167407092014-01-01T15:30:00.002-05:002014-01-01T15:30:39.372-05:00Begin ... Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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New Years Day<br />
<br />
A time for resolutions, promises and commitments.<br />
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All of which, usually, get broken.<br />
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But it doesn't HAVE to be that way. Does it?<br />
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Today I started a new devotional, a new prayer journal and a new Bible reading plan.<br />
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The devotional is Whispers of Hope by Beth Moore. A 10 week devotional on prayer.<br />
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In the intro to the book, Beth gives a 5 point formula for prayer - P.R.A.I.S.E. (Praise, Repentance, Acknowledgment, Intercession, Supplication (for self), Equipping). Let me tell you ... I adore it. I REALLY feel like, in my FOCUSED prayer time (which, sadly, has been seriously lackluster as of late), this will be of great benefit to me. So, in a fresh new prayer journal, with a fresh new set of pens, I began using this formula on this, the first day of the fresh new year.<br />
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In my prayer time this morning, when I was working on the Supplication for Self and again on the Equipping parts, I felt God whispering to me to "Begin Again". And, in my prayers for the last week or so, in praying and seeking a One Word for 2014, the words I kept hearing were "Beginning" and "Sacrifice". I felt led to choose Sacrifice for my One Word and Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God" - this is your true and proper worship - for my verse of the year. But I still kept hearing "Begin Again".<br />
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As I started my new Bible plan, I did not feel ease in it and still heard "Begin Again". So, I put everything aside and just sat and listened, because I felt like I needed to hear His Voice. As I listened, I realized that there is so much in my life that I gave up on last year. Things that I had gotten further in than ever before, but still gave up on anyway.<br />
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I began a physical fitness plan and saw more success with it than anything I have every tried before. I FELT good, I had lost weight, and I felt stronger than I had in years. I was succeeding ... and then, suddenly, I wasn't. I had just sort of stopped.<br />
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I began a Read Through The Bible plan and got further than I ever have before. I made it past the laws and sacrifices and all the stuff I get "bored" with so easily. I made it all the way into September before I kids sort of stopped.<br />
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I began an organization plan for the house and for my chores and jobs and keeping house in a sane way ... ya know, instead of stuffing everything into a corner when someone is coming over. I had the kitchen clean and organized, as well as the closets and dresser drawers and toy boxes. And then, you guessed it, I just sort of stopped.<br /><br />
So, I as I listened to His voice, it suddenly became very clear what He was saying to me. Begin ... again. All the things you gave up on. Begin again. Don't make NEW promises ... follow through on the old ones. Don't find NEW things to try. Finish the old ones. And, don't just pick up where you started off, begin again.<br />
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Back to square one.<br />
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So, for starters, I threw out the new Bible plan and dug out the old one. To begin again.<br />
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I walked into my closet ... well, in as far as I could. And I started pulling everything out. To begin again.<br />
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And I pulled out all the written on pages of my Physical fitness notebook. To begin again.<br />
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It's a brand new year and a brand new journey. Sure, some of the steps will be familiar. After all, I have taken many steps on this journey before. But this is a new beginning. And, this time, I will offer every single step as a sacrifice to the One who leads the way.<br />
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This is, after all, my true and proper worship<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-79442224814302978762013-11-27T16:52:00.002-05:002013-11-27T16:52:53.928-05:00I knew You Would UnderstandDear <a href="http://imstillclay.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">SuperModel</a>,<br />
<br />
I am addressing this blog post to you because I knew that, out of all the people in the blogosphere, YOU would understand the epic proportions and possible dire circumstances of what I am about to say.<br />
<br />
Are you ready?<br />
<br />
This morning, there was an approximately 45 minute period of time during which I was unable to locate my oatmeal raisin cookie recipe.<br />
<br />
I KNOW, RIGHT?!?!?!?!?!<br />
<br />
I am sure you can appreciate the severity of my panic. I know you get it.<br />
<br />
And, ya know, one cannot just google "best dadgum oatmeal raisin cookies EVER" and be guaranteed to get the desired results. Just ask my friend <a href="http://notthatgirlthisgirl.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sooz</a>!!!!<br />
<br />
Therefore, I am about to break all the rules of good baker-dom.<br />
<br />
I realize that when one is asked to bring THOSE cookies to any event where a good cookie might be appreciated, one just does not share the recipe for THOSE cookies all willy-nilly. I understand that this sort of this is frowned upon by all the important and skilled bakers of this world. However, since you and I may be the only ones who ever see this blog post (and, just in case this ever happens again), I am prepared to take that risk.<br />
<br />
So, here ya go:<br />
<br />
1/2 Pound Butter (2 sticks) softened<br />
1 Cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar<br />
1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar<br />
2 Eggs<br />
1tsp Vanilla<br />
1-1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour<br />
1tsp Baking Soda<br />
1tsp Cinnamon<br />
3 Cups Oats (quick OR old fashioned, uncooked ... duh)<br />
1 Cup Raisins<br />
<br />
(I add a smidge more of both brown and granulated sugar ... cause I can)<br />
<br />
*Heat oven to 350<br />
*Beat together butter and sugars until creamy<br />
*Add eggs and vanilla, beat well<br />
*Add combined flour, baking soda & cinnamon, mix well.<br />
***I do the above with a hand mixer and, at this point in the process, switch to spoon mixing. If you continue on with mixer, you end up with crispier cookies. I like mine soft & squishy, so I switch***<br />
*Stir in oats<br />
*Stir in raisins<br />
*Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet (I use parchment paper though)<br />
*Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown<br />
<br />
<br />
OK, there ya go. Now, we have it for all time ... or, until the internet dies. Ya know, kinda like all the mixed tapes we made back in the day so we would have that particular mix of songs for all time ... and now, not so much. LOL!<br />
<br />
Thank you for understanding!<br />
<br />
Oh, and, ya know, probably best not to share the recipe.<br />
<br />
Just sayin!!!<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
RockStar<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-515394014042457702013-11-25T21:54:00.000-05:002013-11-25T22:50:14.484-05:00This Happened Yesterday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object id="BLOG_video-UPLOADING-1" class="BLOG_video_class" contentid="UPLOADING" width="320" height="266" ></object></div>
And this mama could not be more Blessed!<br />
<br />
*** Still trying to get the video to load, but <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/suu3g4gj8u5et81/dwNdtOCfTL/20131124121226.wmv" target="_blank">HERE</a> is a link to it in the mean time!***<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-86153128534438532152013-11-22T09:20:00.000-05:002013-11-22T09:23:26.308-05:00Ask Not...On January 20, 1961 John F Kennedy was inaugurated as President of the United States of America. <br />
<br />
**Now, before I go on, let me state for the record that I am not endorsing his politics. I honestly am not even sure that I KNOW what his politics were. So, I beg of you, please do not take this as any sort of POLITICAL statement. Instead, read this as an AMERICAN view point.**<br />
<br />
In his inaugural address JFK spoke the following words"<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;">"<span style="line-height: 16px;">And so, my fellow Americans: </span><span style="line-height: 16px;">ask not </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">what </span></span><span style="background-color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 16px;">your country can</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 16px;"> do for you</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 16px;">—ask what you </span><span style="background-color: #999999; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 16px;">can do for your country."</span></div>
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This quote soon became an anthem for our nation. An idea that, I believe, we could all benefit by turning back to. This notion of working together for the greater good of all involved. This belief that rolling up our sleeves and getting our hands dirty for each other - and, thus, ourselves. What a concept.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I see a growing complacency in this country that is very disturbing. It has become acceptable to rely on anyone but ourselves for our own survival. Too many people are sitting at home instead of taking jobs that they deem "beneath" themselves. Too many people have decided that it is easier to collect government assistance than it would be to take a low paying job, thus establishing a work history which would, eventually, qualify them for a higher paying job. Too many people have forgotten that THAT is how it is supposed to work - you get a foot in the door, you qualify yourself, you gain experience and you work your way up. Sadly, the "WORK" part of that equation is becoming a lost art.</div>
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<br /></div>
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When did working to make something of yourself become so foreign? It is almost a detestable notion, and that frightens me. This country was made great by the idea that, in America, anyone can become anything they dream of with a little hard work and ingenuity. How many great companies were founded by a few dollars, a good idea and a little hard work? It's what made this the "Land of Opportunity", after all.</div>
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<br /></div>
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My biggest concern over this trend is that the more complacent we, as citizens, are becoming, the more overbearing the administration is becoming as well. A nation founded on the idea of a government FOR the people and BY the people is rapidly becoming a people UNDER the government's rule. It stands to reason, does it not, that any entity upon which a person or persons becomes dependent, also becomes an entity which said person or persons becomes subservient to. Anyone that we depend upon for food, housing, general welfare and standard of living also becomes an entity that we are forced to answer to. If you are dependent upon a parent for these things, you follow their rules - we all learned this as children. If you are dependent upon an employer for these things, you follow their guidelines for your paycheck - we learn this in our first jobs. However, this is not a notion that was ever intended to apply to our government! We were not intended to answer to THEM in how we live our lives (aside from obeying the laws, etc...), they were intended to listen to WE THE PEOPLE in the choices they make. Not the other way around!!!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am not, in any way, opposed to government aid. I have used it. I have many loved ones who have used it. Many that I love use it today. But, for all intents and purposes, it was never meant to be more than a hand UP, not the hand OUT that so many are using it for today. And, clearly, when used for the wrong purposes, it becomes harder to supply, therefore harder to receive and then, eventually, non existence.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The thing that frightens me the most is that the general rule of supply and demand dictates that we cannot go in this way. To use the "classes" as a general idea, for purposes of demonstrating my point only, let's look at it this way: If the "lower class" decides that it's easier to just stay home and wait for someone else to take care of them rather than take a job that they deem "beneath" them, there is a whole portion of the economic system out of place. When no one is taking the entry level (or "lower class") jobs, it becomes more expensive to produce goods and services. When that becomes more expensive the "middle class" are the first to get downsized. Therefore, the "middle class" becomes the new "lower class" and now NO ONE is doing the work. And, when no one is doing the work, the "upper class"are no longer selling their goods and services so they stop producing and, therefore, stop earning and now they are "middle class" on the fast track to "lower class" themselves. And, now, the only ones who ARE working are those in government and administration. And now they hold ALL the cards and can rule over the general public any way they see fit. Because they are providing for our needs .. until, because no one is working and therefore no one is getting payed or paying taxes, there is no money left for ANYONE'S provisions!!!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
See how that works? The first step to becoming a dependent society is by throwing away the liberties that we take for granted. And a dependent society is nothing more than a dictatorship in which we will all be found standing in line for bread while we tell our children what it was like when America was free.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We need our work ethic back America. We need our resolve back.We need our pride back. We need our NATION back. And we need to remember that this Freedom that we take for granted was never really free at all. It was fought for with the lives and the lifeblood of our forefathers and it needs to be protected as the sacred treasure that it is. We owe them ... and each other ... at least that much.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, let's teach our children - again - that hard work and ingenuity are the keys to success. Tell them that they can become what they want to be if they work hard for it and don't hurt anyone else along the way. Tell them that the only job that is "beneath" them is to have no job at all. And remind them that we are all in this together. Because we are ya know.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So, ask not what your country (or government) can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country ... and your neighbor and your family and your friends and for this world in general.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And, I gotta say it - you know me!!! - GOD Bless America ... and America, can we please Bless God?!</div>
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-20562196614288857782013-11-21T21:49:00.004-05:002013-11-21T21:49:43.065-05:00This Song...So good.<br /><br />The first time I heard it, I had to pull over. Cause I couldn't see the road through the tears.<br />
<br />
So, so, so good.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me</div>
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Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior"</div>
<br />
All about letting Him lead you to a place where only your faith in Him can keep you above the waters.<br />
<br />
It's one of the best ... and hardest ... my favorite places in the world to be.<br />
<br />
AMEN!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xoZE2RsthRg" width="560"></iframe>
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-24994527764293314882013-11-19T20:47:00.001-05:002013-11-19T20:47:31.239-05:00Twoggin ... It's All The Rage ... In My Own Little HeadTwoggin ... it's like Bloggin, Twitter style.<br /><br />
Ya know, in 140 Characters or less. And, it's fun!!!<br />
<br />
Try it.<br />
<br />
I declare it Twoggy Tuesday! Here we go...............<br />
<br />
*Coffee ... Stat ... What? It's how I start EVERY day. COFFEE ... STAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
*Amazing how quiet the house gets as that big loud bus rolls away.<br />
<br />
*Jocelyn - her super power is messy. Miss Mess. I imagine her with a big, messy, red M on her chest.<br />
<br />
*I am fairly certain I just saw a mouse run across my back patio and under the stairs. Call the trucks. Time to move.<br />
<br />
*My husband knows just when to text or email me through the day at just the right time.<br />
<br />
*His super power is Romance. We will not discuss his outfit. ... ahem ... **blush**<br />
<br />
*I've discovered yet another fine British television drama. Their super power is TV. And it is good.<br />
<br />
*I need pizza. And chocolate. And Mexican food.<br />
<br />
*Hallmark Channel. Their super power is Christmas movies.<br />
<br />
*I watch TV while I edit pictures. Could you tell? Little bit of an addict. Not ashamed. Much.<br />
<br />
*Is it bad that I had music playing - and I was singing along - so loudly that I woke the baby up? Oopsies. Praise music does that to me. Gotta love Hillsong!<br />
<br />
*All of my life, in every season, You are still God, I have a reason to praise. I have a reason to worship!<br />
<br />
*Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, where You would call me. Take me deeper than my feet would ever wander...<br />
<br />
* ... and my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my Savior!!!<br />
<br />
*Hattie just brought home a note that there is lice at school. SWEAR WORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
*I checked both heads. So far, so good. Bring on the hair spray and braids.<br />
<br />
*Sophie brought home very little homework today. I said how happy I was that there was no math. "I did it at school mommy. Cause I know you're allergic to math". Well played child!!!<br />
<br />
*This dark by 5pm thing is getting old. Benjamin Franklin is NOT my favorite right now.<br />
<br />
*It's a "yank it from the cabinet, throw it in a pan, mix it up and say a prayer" kinda dinner tonight. In other words, tomorrow is pay day. Yep. Super swell!<br />
<br />
*Hubby may or may not have just walked in to find me in the throws of my own private dance party. But hey, when you're on God's Great Dance Floor, ya gotta dance!<br />
<br />
*Hubby reading to two little girls while I finish dinner ... I find myself wondering why God chose to give these people to ME ... so unworthy. So very thankful. Grace is my favorite.<br />
<br />
*My salsa bowl lickin, ketchup pack milkin, tomato soup drinkin child just declared tomatoes "YUCKY!" I am so tempted to tell her, but then she may never eat veggies again!<br />
<br />
*Teaching Hattie to wash her own hair is proving to be like ... like ... like ... well, like teach an autistic kid to wash her own hair. MAN it's a good thing she's cute.<br />
<br />
*I still find it CRAZY that Sophie can read to me ... I mean, was she not just born last week???? Who told her it was ok to grow up? Sure wasn't me!!!<br />
<br />
*My favorite sound in the world - listening to daddy tuck his girls in. They pray together and then they giggle together and then they I love you each other. My dreams come true.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-83992893500009021112013-11-18T20:54:00.001-05:002013-11-18T20:54:26.467-05:00I Miss Him<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BXzwuFl-gZMLtU_asBkff-19OCRdKiY_kw8W6roJByMsD9AMgC_-x5LlvJWuz5slh6sBmaUrfiiV9VF1lfZoLhQ5haj5cH7W7EgAHzMeWGJpVSUJhXK0I1roKpXqQGR6JTPkeZV0fIk/s1600/Iggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7BXzwuFl-gZMLtU_asBkff-19OCRdKiY_kw8W6roJByMsD9AMgC_-x5LlvJWuz5slh6sBmaUrfiiV9VF1lfZoLhQ5haj5cH7W7EgAHzMeWGJpVSUJhXK0I1roKpXqQGR6JTPkeZV0fIk/s320/Iggy.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And I will miss him everyday, for the rest of my life.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I cannot wait for Heaven.</div>
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-10964310667822722142013-11-16T21:58:00.001-05:002013-11-16T21:58:10.740-05:00Today**I stayed in my pajamas til I absolutely HAD to change so I could go to a photo shoot.<br />
<br />
**I took pictures of an AMAZING family ... but even they can get a little silly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-IEqHeMPCJjhpBOqYhXUciizNCRda1IucdPQW94cnJ-JMYErnpdCczL7Ou-D3frrwFBaFlbTEovQIBwqEAkXI2trrThVDJ4vJk8qGl5AKAX-mbk7QPuxHU9aSLrxd7lscUhA-rnyV0o/s1600/Gordon+Edit+G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-IEqHeMPCJjhpBOqYhXUciizNCRda1IucdPQW94cnJ-JMYErnpdCczL7Ou-D3frrwFBaFlbTEovQIBwqEAkXI2trrThVDJ4vJk8qGl5AKAX-mbk7QPuxHU9aSLrxd7lscUhA-rnyV0o/s320/Gordon+Edit+G.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
**I came home and IMMEDIATELY put the pajamas right back on.<br />
<br />**We had a family date night.<br />
<br />
**We went to Sonic and yes, I wore my pajamas.<br />
<br />
**I am just kinda chill like that!<br />
<br />
**I cried. Because it has been SO long since I've worked out.<br />
<br />
**I wondered "who is this person that I have become???"<br />
<br />
**(secretly, I am kinda proud of her!)<br />
<br />
**I determined that, since my ear only semi hurts today, I am working out on Monday, even if it explodes!<br />
<br />
**BAM!<br />
<br />
**I squealed when I worked on some of the pictures for OUR Christmas card.<br /><br />**SOOOOOOOOO excited about this one!<br />
<br />
**I fell even more in love with the man I married when he vacuumed the stairs for me.<br />
<br />
**He is my rock.<br />
<br />
Today ... was a very good day.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-57331554795409889562013-11-15T21:46:00.002-05:002013-11-15T21:46:50.473-05:00Remember When...Friday nights used to be so ... fun. I used to go dancing, bar hopping, maybe a concert. I used to have fun.<br />
<br />
But, then again, fun used to have a different definition....<br />
<br />
Cause, "fun" used to mean something a LOT different than what it means now.<br />
<br />
I used to think that dancing with friends - or even strangers - but not really connecting with anyone was a good time. We used to go looking for guys, like I thought romance was really going to be found there. I mean, I guess some people do... my brother met his wife in a bar and they are happily married with three beautiful girls and all worked out well, but, ya know, that is not exactly the norm. But we were SURE we were going to find love on those dance floors.<br />
<br />
The problem is, I was so AFRAID of meeting people that I used to have to drink to actually GET on the dance floors. So, yeah, that was fun ... but not.<br />
<br />
Looking back now, I wonder what WAS fun?<br />
<br />
I did enjoy the dancing ... but not as much as I enjoy dancing now. <br />
<br />
I enjoyed the concerts ... but not as much as I enjoy the sing alongs I get to do now.<br />
<br />
I did NOT enjoy the drinking ... not as much as I do now anyway.<br />
<br />
Cause, you see, now, on Friday nights I dance around the house with two little girls and sing along with Barbie or Princess movies or VBS DVD's or Veggie Tales and then we sit around drinking hot cocoa with marshmallows or cold milk with cookies to dunk. And, now, if I'm really lucky, when those two little girls are in bed, I might get to dance around the kitchen in bare feet with the love of my life. Or, maybe we will just collapse onto the couch, exhausted, and drink each other in.<br />
<br />
Or, maybe, one kid will fall asleep on the couch watching Christmas movies with mom. The other, in her own little world, will be sitting on the other end of the couch playing with toys and making up her own stories and conversations. And, their daddy - my love - might be stretched out on the love seat with his feet hanging off one end, wrapped in a blanket, snoring like a chainsaw. And I might sit on the la-z-boy, editing pictures, checking emails, writing a blog post and counting my Blessings.<br />
<br />
And, knowing with all of my heart, that THIS is where true happiness lies.<br />
<br />
THIS is what real fun is.<br />
<br />
So, if you need me on a Friday night, you can usually find me having a whole new kind of good time. Making memories that will last forever. And thanking the Lord that THIS is the life I lead.<br />
<br />So Blessed.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-44302525356001744202013-11-14T20:49:00.002-05:002013-11-14T20:49:47.724-05:00That Time I Wrote A Post That Was All Over The PlaceUmmmmm ... I missed yesterday. Oops.<br />
<br />
30 Days of Blogging FAIL!<br />
<br />
So, I guess, in order to make it up to the 2 of you that read this, I should write a lovely, poetic little something that ... ummm ... yeah.<br />
<br />
I do not have a single thing.<br />
<br />
Oy.<br />
<br />
Hubby has been sick for six days. SIX DAYS. That means he has been home. For SIX DAYS.<br />
<br />
The poor man is climbing the walls.<br />
<br />
I, on the other hand, have languished in the luxury of taking mid day showers, enjoying actual adult conversations, running childless to the grocery store, and all manner of decadent behavior. Ya know, when I wasn't having my eardrum punctured and tubes inserted in a doctor's office, Followed by rushing home to get Hubby to a doctor and then medicating the snot out of him for the rest of the week. <br />
<br />
Yeah ... so fun.<br />
<br />
And the girls are flat out stir crazy from all of the NOT LEAVING THE HOUSE.<br />
<br />
But, ya know, they did get to go school and junk. <br />
<br />
Except when the bus went flying past the house ten minutes early without even slowing down to CHECK if kids might need a ride. I mean, ya know, it was 32 degrees out there and the bus wasn't due for TEN MORE MINUTES, so why would the kids actually be outside?!?! So, we went running out the door - just as the kids across the street were running out their door. I looked at the dad over there and we were all like "was that our bus?" "Naaaahhh, that couldn't have been OUR bus! It didn't even slow down!!" "No WAY that was our bus. It was ten minutes early!" "Nope ... not our bus. Let's play kickball with the kids!!"<br />
<br />
We then watched as car after car after car drove past, filled with kids, backpacks and moms dressed in pajamas, sporting bed heads and mouths stuffed full of food and, in one case, a toothbrush. After a few minutes, we were all like "THAT WAS OUR BUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" So, ya know, we crammed our kids into our respective cars and sped off to school ourselves.<br />
<br />
So fun.<br />
<br />
And, just a side note to the mom who was wearing the very inappropriate nighty in the drop of line at the school (cause, I am SURE she reads my blog!!!): Sweet Girl, it is 32 degrees outside. THROW ON A HOODIE!!!! Please and thank you!<br />
<br />And that is the end of my crazy rant.<br />
<br />
Your welcome.<br />
<br />
Oh ... and, ya know ... SQUIRREL!<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-61946956451690861672013-11-11T20:51:00.001-05:002013-11-11T20:51:08.798-05:00Short And SweetI can barely form a coherent sentence. And, I really have no clue what my fingers are doing. So, this is just gonna be short and sweet.<br />
<br />
(that means bullet points and a list ... see Sooz, I do it too!)<br />
<br />
**I got tubes in my ear today.<br />
<br />
**Apparently, I am a toddler.<br />
<br />
**I CAN HEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
**And, y'all, that junk hurt. I found myself in envy of the babies who get to get sedated for it.<br />
<br />
**I may have cried for my mommy somewhere in the midst of it all.<br />
<br />
**The mean nurse may have giggled.<br />
<br />
**Hubbs went to the doctor today too.<br />
<br />
**I won't go into details, but I was right. (OK, he was maybe, possibly, partially right. But I was VERY and for sure-ly right. BAM!)<br />
<br />
**Hopefully the medication he is now on will fix the issue.<br />
<br />
**Knowing he is not gonna die means I might actually sleep tonight.<br />
<br />
**Amen.<br />
<br />
**And, good night.<br />
<br />
XOXOXOXOXOXO<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-69195513643665680532013-11-10T22:43:00.000-05:002013-11-10T22:43:03.683-05:00Nothin...I got nothin.<br />
<br />
Been in my pajamas all day ... again. Although, I did take a shower this evening.<br /><br />At which point, I put on new pajamas.<br />
<br />
Klassy.<br />
<br />
Hubby is still sick, so Sophie girl did not get to have her baptism today. It was pretty much her choice, she didn't want to do it without her daddy. He feels absolutely horrible that it didn't happen. She just looked at him and said "It's OK Daddy! I can get baptized another Sunday! Just get better."<br />
<br />
Oh ... her heart ... she melts me.<br />
<br />
I did get a LOT of editing done today. Almost all caught up, which is good since I have a bunch MORE photo shoots coming up. YAY!<br />
<br />
So, pray for the hubby. If he is not better in the morning, I am takin his handsome self into the doc. Whether he likes it or not.<br />
<br />
He will sooooooo not like it.<br />
<br />
But, ya know, I been working out and he is weak.<br />
<br />
I can totally take him.<br />
<br />
See ya tomorrow!<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-42658075039505196812013-11-09T15:44:00.001-05:002013-11-09T15:46:00.868-05:00Right NowIt is 3:28 in the afternoon. And I am in my pajamas. Still.<br />
<br />
I should be at a photo shoot in 2 minutes, but...<br />
<br />
...Hubby is upstairs in misery. Maybe the flu. Maybe stones. Maybe blockage.<br />
<br />
Maybe forcing a reschedule of Sophie's baptism tomorrow.<br />
<br />
DEFINITELY not doing that without the daddy there to see it.<br />
<br />
Someone has to tell the mama to pull it together when her sobbing gets out of control.<br />
<br />
Oh ... it is sooooooo gonna get out of control.<br />
<br />
The girls have been fighting like cats and dogs all. day. long.<br />
<br />
I pulled the Santa card ... in November.<br />
<br />
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and all that.<br />
<br />
They are now sitting at the kitchen table writing letters to Santa, using the Toys-R-Them book as inspiration.<br />
<br />
I told Sophie that Santa would need to be able to READ her letter or he might think "b-i-k-e" spells "c-l-e-a-n-i-n-g p-r-o-d-u-c-t-s".<br />
<br />
She is now re-writing her list. Very carefully.<br />
<br />
I am in the process of editing pictures from a Senior Pictures photo shoot I did recently.<br />
<br />
Working with "boy" effects is turning out to be kinda fun!!!<br />
<br />
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<br />
Kinda wondering when/if I should reschedule said baptism.<br />
<br />
And when/if I should force the man into the car and take him in to see someone.<br />
<br />
I feel helpless.<br />
<br />
I'm watching Christmas movies on Hallmark channel like it's my job.<br />
<br />
If I really could get paid for this, I would be a rich woman.<br />
<br />
Hattie just asked how to spell "no-no for ladies" ...<br />
<br />
I think I'm gonna have to edit these lists ... searching for a wac vac for her last year has taught me well.<br />
<br />
Sophie just added "power wheels go cart" to her list.<br />
<br />
We may have to chat.<br />
<br />
Please pray for my hubby. Please.<br />
<br />
It is now 3:39 ... I'm out.<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-30726252436473675652013-11-08T13:27:00.003-05:002013-11-08T13:27:53.437-05:00MineBecause my baby girl making HER decision just happened to coincide with Billy Graham's birthday...<br />
<br />
And because Billy Graham was the tool that the Lord used to bring me to MY decision...<br />
<br />
And, ya know, because my cousin Shirley asked ...<br />
<br />
(HI SHIRLEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)<br />
<br />
(Shirley's mama, my Aunt Buddy, was, FYI, THE most beautiful woman - inside AND out - that I have ever, ever, ever, ever known. For real. Loved her so very much!!!)<br />
<br />
I want to tell you a little story.<br />
<br />
My story. <br />
<br />
My story about MY cross.<br />
<br />
Mine.<br />
<br />
The year was 1987 and I had just turned 19 years old. I grew up in a Christian home. And, honestly, I have the most amazing heritage of faith that I can imagine. I grew up surrounded by people who loved the Lord with great abandon. And, right around the time I was turning 19 years of age, I was beginning to figure out that THEIR faith could not save me. I remember I had asked for a Bible for my birthday that year and my Aunt Laurea and Uncle Marvin had spared no expense in getting me a GOOD one. A study Bible that I ended up using until it was rag tailed, marked up, dog eared and literally falling apart in my hand. Best birthday gift ever.<br />
<br />
Our story, however, takes place about a month after I had received that Bible. I was searching and confused. Searching because I still felt that hole and confused because, hello, I grew up in that faith, shouldn't I know how to get me some?!<br />
<br />
I was living in Denver Colorado at the time, going to the church my mommy had grown up in. God had worked hard to set the stage for what was about to happen next. Ya see, it seemed that the Reverend Billy Graham was coming to town. I had heard of him but only REALLY knew his name at the time. But, let me tell you, that little church was all kinds of fired up about that crusade. In fact, they were putting together a little croup to go see him.<br /><br />Well, I was social, so I signed up to go too.<br />
<br />
I can remember that we were in the nose bleed section of the old Mile High Stadium. I'm talking so high up that I could look behind me and see the parking lot down below. And, ya know, being so VERY high up there, it was all but impossible to understand a THING of what was being said way down there on that platform. I remember the choir singing. And, what do ya know, I just learned TODAY that my cousin Shirley was IN that choir.<br />
<br />
(HI SHIRLEY!!!!!!!!)<br />
<br />
I remember a guy coming out and singing a solo "People Need The Lord" ... I understood a few of those words because I remember thinking "yeah, I KNOW I need the Lord ... but how do I GET the Lord????" And, to this day, that song sticks in my head like nobody's business. My head and my heart. Little did I know then, but I was about to find out how to get me some.<br />
<br />
They introduced Mr Graham and the place irrupted. I don't really remember there being a jumbotron, but there must have been cause I can remember thinking "ummmm ... this guy? He's, ya know, OLD!" <br />
<br />
***oh 19 year old self ... you were such a moron!***<br />
<br />
Everyone settled back into their seats and he began to speak. Let me tell you that I could not understand a THING. We're talkin Charlie Brown's teacher here... "whah whah whaaaah, whah whah whah..." I looked around and people were on the edge of their seats, hanging on his every word. Every word that I could not hear or understand. A couple people stood to their feet and raised their hands. I started looking for the popcorn guy! I had no clue. Zero. Nada. NONE.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I was a little bored. I got a little distracted with people watching, but I was really not at all into the whole thing. Not like everyone around me was. I tried again, really hard, to listen to the words. And I still just could not understand a thing. I was getting a little tired and hungry and anxious, sadly, for the whole thing to be over. And then it happened.<br />
<br />
I felt a presence near me. Felt was seemed like hands on my shoulders and heard an almost audible voice say to me "Listen to this part. This is for you". Suddenly Mr Graham's voice was crystal clear in my ears. I heard and understood every last word as he said "God looked down through all of time. The past, the present and the future, and saw every sin. Every single sin that ever had been and every would be committed and as grievous as that sin was, He loved us still. God loved us still. So, the Lord sent His Son - His ONLY Son - to this earth. He KNEW we could not save ourselves. And He loved us too much to leave us here alone, so He sent His Son. And Jesus came. He came to earth and He lived on earth and He taught on earth and He LOVED on earth. But Jesus did not SIN on earth. He was the only one that never sinned on earth. But He KNEW. He knew that our sin was just too much for us to bear. So Jesus Christ TOOK our sin. He BECAME our sin. And He paid the price for our sin. MY sin. Your sin. EVERYONE'S sin. He took it all. And he let them beat Him and torture Him and spit upon Him. And He let them crucify Him. He LET them kill him because He knew the penalty of sin is death and He would rather die Himself than let US perish. So HE perished instead. He DIED for our sin. He died for us - for you and for me. But what you need to know today, what you need to understand today, is that If God had looked down through all of time and seen Only one sin. And if He had looked through all of time and seen only ONE sinner. And, my friend, if that one sin was yours. If that one sinner was YOU. If you were the only one who ever, in all of time and creation, who needed redemption, Jesus STILL would have come. Jesus STILL would have died. He would have let them hang his body on that cross. He would have died that horrible death. He would have let them put His body in that grave. And, my friend, hear me, He would have risen again on that third day. And He would have done it all just for YOU. Just for you. Because THAT is how much the God of this universe loves YOU. He loves you with an unending, unrelenting and unequivocal love. He loves YOU. And He died for YOU. And He wants to save YOU. You just need to believe. He offers salvation to YOU if you just believe on the Lord Jesus Christ ..."**<br />
<br />
And, just like that, his words faded away - back to Charlie Brown's teacher - but what I heard and understood that day, changed my life completely. They pierced my soul and changed my heart and lit a fire that has never been quenched. I was officially head over heels in love with the Lord. I had found my very own faith.<br />
<br />
The next Sunday I sat in that pew and looked up at that big wooden cross hanging against that long red curtain. I looked at it like I had never seen it before. It was brand new to me. Because it was not longer just a cross. Now, it was MY cross. The symbol of MY salvation.<br />
<br />
Up until that day, I would have told you that I was saved and I would have believed it. But I knew that morning that I had not had a single clue what "saved" meant until that cross became personal. And, now it was personal. It was MY cross. It was my faith. I had, indeed, got me some!!!<br />
<br />
And, I owe it all to Billy Graham. I am so thankful that he allowed the Lord to use him the way he has for all of these years. DECADES. He is such a sweet, humble, amazing man of God. He can take the power of the cross and make it real and simple and personal and TRUE. Yesterday was Mr Graham's 95th birthday. And, he is STILL letting the Lord use him in mighty ways. He has such a burden on his heart for the lost and the hurting of this world - this nation - that he has spent the last year putting together a message. Last night I watched My Hope America and within the first minutes I was in tears. I watched this now frail man impart a message so passionately and so clearly and so personally that it took me right back to those moments in that stadium. And I just wish I could let every single person see what I see when I look at that cross. I wish I could help everyone see it as personally as I have seen it since those minutes.<br />
<br />
If you are still searching. If you still need answers. If there is still that hole inside you that cannot be filled with things of this world, please watch My Hope America. <a href="http://watchbillygraham.com/#tv-listings" target="_blank">HERE</a> is a link where you can find a local listing. And <a href="http://myhopewithbillygraham.org/programs/the-cross/" target="_blank">HERE</a> is a link where you can watch it online. I know you will not be sorry. It is THE most powerful presentation of the Gospel that I have ever seen. I pray that it Blesses you!!! If you let it, it will change your entire life.<br />
<br />
Thank You Billy Graham. I look forward to the day that I can walk across the floors of Heaven and hug you and thank you personally for leading me to the Lord and to my salvation. May the Lord Bless you and keep you sir, I honestly do LOVE you so very much!<br />
<br />
<br />
**I cannot promise you that these are the EXACT words that Mr Graham used that day, but it is how I remember it. I hear it in my head in that soft southern drawl and with his distinctive inflections. <br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-73612451629610769822013-11-07T21:58:00.001-05:002013-11-07T21:58:16.345-05:00What? I Can't Hear You...Last year, on the day after Thanksgiving, I started feeling a little "off". If you do the math, you will notice that that was, roughly, 49 weeks ago. I would tell you how many DAYS, but that would involve more math than I want to do.<br />
<br />
**SIDE NOTE:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Math Homework</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sophie Lee B</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u>+ Waited WAY Too Long In The Afternoon to Start</u></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pure Unadulterated TORTURE</div>
<br />
OK, where was I? Oh yeah. I started feeling a little off. By Saturday night, I was flat out sick. I had some kind of sinus issue goin on and my ears plugged up and I felt all manner of ICK. And, while MOST of the ick went away, the ear thing decided to move in and set up camp.<br />
<br />
I called the doc, went for a little visit and was told I had an "angry" ear. My response was "you would be angry too if you felt like this! Now, stop analyzing the mood of my ear and medicate me, thank-ya-very-much!" Except, ya know, not out loud. The doc then assured me that adults don't GET ear infections (tell that to my EVERY SINGLE FALL medical history), but since something was clearly going on (what with the anger issues and all), he would indeed medicate me.<br />
<br />
Thank you. So much.<br />
<br />
However, the whole angry ear thing didn't really go away.<br />
<br />
And, by mid December it was accompanied by a ticked off throat.<br /><br />And, seein as how I was scheduled to sing a solo on Christmas Eve, I went back to the doc. Only, ya know, it was Saturday night, so I went to an Urgent Care type doc. He looked at me for all of 17 seconds, called it a sinus infection and medicated me further. But, this time, he brought out the big guns.<br />
<br />
The big guns, AKA the "that doesn't fall under that free antibiotic thing so get ready to pay out the wazookie" guns. YAY!<br />
<br />
The Big Guns kinda helped. My throat felt better and I no longer wanted to stick an ice pick into my face to relieve the pressure. Which, ya know, was beneficial.<br />
<br />
But the ears? Still somewhat angry.<br />
<br />
After one more round of antibiotics in the early Spring, I declared my ears to be, perhaps, not really "angry" so much as in a kind of "seasonal depression". Maybe, I thought, they just need to wait for better weather to get back their happy go lucky selves.<br />
<br />
So, I waited.<br />
<br />
The summer was a little better. They were more moody than angry over the summer. Pretty happy for a while with some anger issues here and there. I could handle that. In fact, I hardly noticed, except in the moody periods when I couldn't hear a thang.<br />
<br />
By the way, being unable to hear makes it SO much fun to sing. <br />
<br />
NOT!<br />
<br />
And then in October I flew to Arizona.<br />
<br />
And, then I flew back.<br /><br />And, if you have ever flown with ear issues, I know that you just cringed for me.<br />
<br />
On the landing of the last flight I heard a loud pop, accompanied by a searing pain.<br />
<br />
And that loud pop was the last thing I heard out of that ear - unless you count my heart beat, the blood flowing through my veins, the popping of my knees (yes, I can hear that INSIDE my head now - joy!) and the VERY loud chewing of my food. But I can hear NOTHING outside of my head with my right ear.<br />
<br />
And, also, it hurts.<br />
<br />
So ... yay ... to the doctor. More meds - but not antibiotics this time to see if it would help.<br />
<br />
Nope.<br />
<br />
And now I wait for an appointment with the nice (Oh, please be nice ... and smart ... and clever enough to find the problem before medicating me further) Ear Nose & Throat specialist. I finally got a call back and instead of waiting till late December, the are squeezing me in on Monday.<br />
<br />
THANK YOU LORD!<br />
<br />
So, suffice it to say (in a very long and drawn out way), I am asking you to please pray for answers. And healing. And grace.<br />
<br />
Thanks so very much! Y'all are awesome!!!!!<br />
<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-77740656478553622982013-11-06T22:09:00.001-05:002013-11-06T22:09:17.765-05:00And The Angels RejoiceI wondered all day what I would write about today. Even came here and stared at the blank screen wondering what to say. But the events of this amazing evening are to good NOT to write about.<br />
<br />
Tonight my baby girl gave her life to Jesus.<br />
<br />
Sophie, as I said yesterday, has always had a special kind of faith. She just knows that God is real and she loves Him. She has been asking for a while about baptism, but something has always held her back. And, honestly, I was OK with that because she is only SIX. I want her to make a life decision and KNOW what she is doing. So, I was OK with her taking a little extra time.<br />
<br />
About a year ago she witnessed a baptism at church and asked me later why that lady took a bath in her CLOTHES at CHURCH!? I explained to her what baptism was and what it meant and her response was "well, I love Jesus too, when do I get to do that?" We have some literature on baptism for little ones and we have read through it over and over and over and over ... for a year. And every time we've read it, when we get to the part about choosing baptism, she would say not yet. I just wasn't sure why.<br />
<br />
This summer I wondered if maybe she was afraid of going under the water. So we practiced in the pool. And in the lake. And in the bath tub. We practiced all over the place. But she still said not yet. And I still was not sure why.<br />
<br />
This morning she brought it up and we talked it all over again. And I asked her again if she thought she was ready yet. And she, again, said no. So, this time I asked her why. And what she said both made me giggle and broke my heart. She said "I don't want to go to Heaven" and she started to cry.<br />
<br />
I was a little worried at this point...<br />
<br />
I asked her WHY she didn't want to go to Heaven and she said "I don't want to die, I would miss my house and my friends and I would miss YOU mommy!!!"<br />
<br />
That sweet girl thought that she would head on up to Heaven as soon as she got baptized.<br />
<br />
I tried to hold in the giggles as I told her that she would not die soon. That she would probably be a very old lady before she died - that it would hopefully be a VERY long time before she went to Heaven.<br />
<br />
And then the bus came.<br />
<br />
So, fast forward to after school. I am running around cleaning the kitchen and getting ready to head out the door to Bible study. I'm explaining to the girls that as soon as daddy got home I would be leaving but would be home before bed time, etc... And suddenly Sophie looks at me and says "mommy, if I get baptized, who will put me in the water?" I told her that she could choose. It could be daddy, or pastor Andy or Mommy or ...<br /><br />"I want Mr Jerry to baptize me ... or Mrs Polly" (Mr Jerry & Mrs Polly are Sunday school teachers that she just LOVES and has loved forever!).<br />
<br />
"Well, I said, how about Mr Jerry AND Mrs Polly?" She was thrilled at the thought of BOTH of them baptizing her and declared herself ready to be a Christian. So I stopped what I was doing and we talked about it. And I gave her the phone and she texted Mrs Holly (our children's director) and told her that she wanted to be baptized.<br /><br />Daddy came home, we discussed it a little more with him, read her book over again and then we prayed with her. And our baby girl told Jesus that she loved Him, that she was soooo sorry for her sin and that she wanted to follow Him, to do the right things and that she wanted to go to Heaven. We walked her through a prayer where she declared her belief in God and the cross and Resurrection. And, just like that, my girl is a Christian.<br />
<br />
She called and told her grandparents and we took pictures and texted a bunch of people and celebrated with ice cream.<br />
<br />
And she called and asked the two sweetest people you have EVER met, Mr Jerry and Mrs Polly, to please baptize her. I think they were a little shocked, but they were thrilled and agreed. Now we just need to talk to Mrs Holly and figure out when.<br />
<br />
And, oh my WORD, will I flood you all with pictures when it happens.<br />
<br />
Praise His Holy Name! I am just beside myself with the greatest joy I have ever known. To know that I will be with my baby in Heaven ... Oh, PRAISE HIM!!!!!<br />
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<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2807299700725285050.post-76636259933945127482013-11-05T20:48:00.000-05:002013-11-05T21:13:30.362-05:00Like Sophie Prays<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg103RBY_RYF8c5bgIj2LtN1ULoG3p7K4zQ3jh7ze6EgmwMxvAVyOXhGS9hF1v4nn7cBVSqng8G18HvkaxUDMew8zBaYGZBtyr6O1xpMI4e4wrNw7HIKK4wKObTpoKtRV0OZ3tUCEiFuco/s1600/Sophie+Six+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg103RBY_RYF8c5bgIj2LtN1ULoG3p7K4zQ3jh7ze6EgmwMxvAVyOXhGS9hF1v4nn7cBVSqng8G18HvkaxUDMew8zBaYGZBtyr6O1xpMI4e4wrNw7HIKK4wKObTpoKtRV0OZ3tUCEiFuco/s320/Sophie+Six+(5).JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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My Sophie girl turned six in September, but in some ways she is so much older than her years. <br />
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With the attitude of a teenager, this girl can stomp her foot, roll her eyes, cross her arms and "HUMPH!" with the best of them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHa6OHAMMUkM_gp7OX8BiuKQ5niFcY_hxc9n57pXF4QbnC7rdMSqn1ubz3smBUU1eYmBRXkGTH1VHV-l4zUlBhyphenhyphenJe-uWEjED_xT3L75logD6elkEkfESwAnaBLkn4PkDHWN4XBM-3AYW8/s1600/Sophie+Six+(6).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHa6OHAMMUkM_gp7OX8BiuKQ5niFcY_hxc9n57pXF4QbnC7rdMSqn1ubz3smBUU1eYmBRXkGTH1VHV-l4zUlBhyphenhyphenJe-uWEjED_xT3L75logD6elkEkfESwAnaBLkn4PkDHWN4XBM-3AYW8/s320/Sophie+Six+(6).JPG" width="212" /></a></div>
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And then, she can turn on the charm, smile that pretty smile and talk you into just about anything. She has about half the people she knows wrapped around her little finger. Including her parents. What can we say ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJslhrhIHFJPsCXHbKRHdJWsLdt9pN8WvQEz5XfBMuQbbWbTPpheUj7v65NQm0D2pgLjm7OJohyzgyd6RnQXQPKX7GinXzazt0KIFstlqqcIcAAnhITbVoHwxuiU1U43P7PFfecyNktk/s1600/Sophie+Six+(9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJslhrhIHFJPsCXHbKRHdJWsLdt9pN8WvQEz5XfBMuQbbWbTPpheUj7v65NQm0D2pgLjm7OJohyzgyd6RnQXQPKX7GinXzazt0KIFstlqqcIcAAnhITbVoHwxuiU1U43P7PFfecyNktk/s320/Sophie+Six+(9).jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
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... we are smitten. <br />
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Can ya blame us?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTo1dDhbVDzOMDY7IYEJ_rHLpUO8ri6niS18Gr44FT_Ao_lIM9bLOR62B7W2m9vvSo8NZ5Oxb96n5i9gqbG_7_CtUSsa9WsPqBuz1g0g-jYhqjkGFPNaueYI3FEcTFXgL4MY0k4M16XZA/s1600/Sophie+Six+(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTo1dDhbVDzOMDY7IYEJ_rHLpUO8ri6niS18Gr44FT_Ao_lIM9bLOR62B7W2m9vvSo8NZ5Oxb96n5i9gqbG_7_CtUSsa9WsPqBuz1g0g-jYhqjkGFPNaueYI3FEcTFXgL4MY0k4M16XZA/s320/Sophie+Six+(10).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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But, there is another way in which she just seems wise beyond her years. And that is in the way she understands God. She's always just had a very simple but intense faith. She lifts up a prayer like it takes no effort at all.<br />
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If we meet an ambulance on the road, she prays for whoever it is going to help. I don't even have to suggest it, I know she just will.<br />
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If she sees a pretty sky - a colorful sunset or sunrise - she will immediately stop and thank God for His artwork.<br />
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If she knows someone is hurting, she will pray for them every day without fail.<br />
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Her heart hurts for the homeless, the sick and the needy. And she has the heart of a warrior - a PRAYER warrior. A warrior that sees a need and takes it to the Lord. A heart that will not stop praying until the need is resolved ... and sometimes she continues anyway. Because "I think he still needs Jesus".<br />
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A year or so ago she was praying for Bob. Now, I do not know anyone that SHE knows named Bob - at least not anyone that I knew of in need of prayer. But she prayed on for him. At meals, at bed time, anytime she prayed, she asked God to be with Bob. So, one day I asked her "Honey, who is Bob?" She looked at me, thought about for a minute and said "I don't know!" But she kept on praying for him. For months. And then one day she stopped. After a few days with no prayers for Bob I asked if she had forgotten to pray for him. She looked at me with a big ol smile and said "oh, Bob is OK now!!!" But, she still doesn't know who he is. And neither do we.<br />
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But God knows.<br />
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But, by far, the best thing about the way my little prayer warrior prays is that she does it KNOWING that He will answer. She sometimes prays "God, please ...", but more often than not, she prays more like this: "God, thank You that You will ...." She doesn't ask, she thanks Him in advance. Because she just knows He will.<br />
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I think that is AMAZING. She has no doubts, she just trusts. And, we have prayed for people that have gone to Heaven - Uncle Ginger. Uncle Gary. Baby Sawyer. And, every time she has wept and just fallen apart in tears because "I didn't want him to die!" And it has broken my heart to tell her that our prayers were not answered the way we wanted, but she just says "It's OK mom. Heaven is nice. God loves him!!!" Because she just KNOWS.<br />
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So, I have decided. When I grow up ...<br />
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... I wanna pray like Sophie prays.<br />
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Amen.<br />
<img src="http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm69/sbbeverly/BnRedSig.jpg" style="background: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;" /><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1