Time with J

Bumpers Drive In has a Discover Mississippi Scholarship available for all high school juniors and seniors.      All that is required is that students visit 12 locations and get their Bumpers "passport" stamped.     My niece, who is a high school junior (boo hoo!), still needed some stamps on her passport so she and I hopped in the car yesterday morning and went driving around Central Mississippi. 

Bumpers is a funny little restaurant.     There are often two restaurants in one tiny little town (like Canton), but none in a larger town like Flowood.     That means we were in the car from 9:00 until 1:00 trying to get just seven stamps: 2 in Ridgeland, 2 in Canton, Yazoo City, and 2 in Jackson.  

I enjoyed having this time with my niece.    She was the first grandchild in our family and when she was little I used to get to babysit her all the time.    She was literally our first "baby".     At a time when we thought we wouldn't be able to have our own children, we were thrilled to be able to spoil our precious little niece.     If my sister needed a sitter we were happy to be there.      

Having those few hours yesterday in the car we were able to talk, laugh and just spend time together.     We both enjoy photography so we kept seeing things we wished we had our cameras to photograph.    

She is such a special young lady and I am so lucky to be her aunt.    I love you, J!

Our Favorite Easter Books

I just pulled out my Easter box of books. One of my favorite books is no longer in print which is a shame because it is a day by day reader of the Lent, Easter and Passover season. It allows me to read the events and day to day happenings of Jesus' life on the days they were happening including the times coinciding with his crucifixion. It is a very powerful book. If I find anyone or anywhere that it is in print, I will definitely post it.

Benjamin's Box
This wonderful book is perfect to be used with the resurrection eggs
that you see sold at Christian bookstores.

Celebrate Jesus on Easter

A Tale of Three Trees

Easter Bunny, Are You For Real?

Easter A to Z: Every Letter Tells A Story

The First Easter
One of the most beautifully illustrated books you could ever buy on Easter.

Preparing My Heart for Easter: A Woman's Journey to the Cross

Celebrate Jesus at Easter (for Lent through Easter)

Saturday Morning: Tim Hawkins A Homeschool Family

The Pentagon Project

Some of you asked to see Big Guy's pentagon project. This is the model he made. He also had to do a 11 slide Power Point project that include all of the geometric aspects of the building as well as it was a project for his math class.


Fast Facts About The Pentagon (Yes, I Learned Something Too!)
*  200 acres of lawn that parks approximately 8,770 cars in 16 parking lots
*  4,200 clocks
*  691 water fountains
*  284 rest rooms
*  consume 4,500 cups of coffee, 1,700 pints of milk and 6,800 soft drinks
*  takes only seven minutes to walk between any two points in the building
*  completed on Jan. 15, 1943 at an approximate cost of $83 million
*  consolidated 17 buildings of the War Department
*  The Pentagon has no marble because it was built during World War II, and Italy, the source of marble, was an enemy country.

Thankful Thursday: Spring Break

Spring Break!    That went by fast didn't it?     Despite the fact that we didn't take a big trip out of town, we enjoyed our week of family time.

I am thankful for trips to the park.    Watching the boys climb, crawl and ride their scooters....

 

For the first sno cone of the season (lemon for Big Guy, raspberry for Little Guy and lemon meringue pie for me!)...

  

  

Even for the knickname "Gutter Ball Mama" (oh, yea, I am really bad)...

And for family ping pong tournaments in the cool spring air....

 

 

I am also thankful for all the other things that I didn't get photos of too:   meals cooked on the grill, a trip to the movie, family bike rides, and sitting around having long talks about things sometimes important and sometimes silly.

WFW: Be Exalted

There are 20 days until Easter.     Is time passing you by in busyness?        If you are like me and you need moments to fully focus your thoughts on the reason for this season (See?   That quote wasn't just for Christmas.), then I highly recommend His Name Is Jesus by Max Lucado.   

Some beautiful excerpts from this book....

"He stilled a storm with one command.  

He raised the dead with one proclamation.   

He rerouted the history of the world with one life."

"Christ came to earth for one reason:

to give His life as a ransom for you, for me, for all of us.

He sacrificed himself to give us a second chance."

"God remembers the small birds of the world.  We remember the eagles.  We make bronze statues of the hawk.   We name our athletic teams after the falcons.    But God notices the sparrows.  He makes time for the children and takes note of the lepers.   He offers the woman in adultery a second chance and the thief on the cross a personal invitation.   Christ is partial to the beat up and done in."

When I look at the verse above I see many things, but most of all I see answers.     People seem to be caught up in anxiety and fear about what is going on around them and in their lives right now, but if we each could exalt God and allow His glory to reign over our land... just imagine! 

Why I Keep My Camera In My Car

On the way home from school, one of the "bells and whistles" on my van started beeping. I thought it was because our van door wasn't shut very well so I pulled over to the side of the road so I could take care of the problem. We happened to pull over at a spot entering our neighborhood where there is a small fence. The boys decided to hop out and play.

I usually have my camera in the car so while they were letting some after school steam out, I snapped these pics.
If my Big Guy ever grows into those size 10 feet he is going to be one tall kid like his Daddy.

They could not just smile for this picture. They kept tickling each other and making goofy faces and making me laugh. I love that my boys are friends even if it means that I can't get a picture sometimes.

Better Late...

Wow! I sat down this weekend and uploaded pictures from my camera. I didn't realize it had been so long. I still had pics on there from Valentine's Day! That isn't like me at all so I decided that I would post pictures for a couple of days to get caught up.

On Valentine's Day I woke up and went to take a quick shower before we started our day. When I came out of the bathroom the first thing I was was this.... a path of heart shaped balloons.

Every couple of balloons there were hand written notes (like the one below).


The path ended in our kitchen at a pile of sweet cards, chocolates and a beautiful Valentine plate.

The best things for Valentine's Day are my sweet boys!

Quotable

A man can no more diminish 

God's glory by refusing to 

worship Him than a lunatic 

can put out the sun by scribbling 

the word 'darkness' on 

the walls of his cell. 

--C.S. Lewis

Saturday Morning Comic: Tim Hawkins on Marriage

Good Business

It happened again this week. Hubs had a little issue with his car so he took it to the guys that we always use to work on our car. Yesterday we dropped by to pick it up after a family outing. Donald said he had to go back in to talk about the bill. *gulp* The problem? They didn't charge him enough! Donald noticed that the inspection sticker had been replaced and the the oil change that they have done wasn't on the bill. When he went in to mention that it wasn't on the bill, they said, "We know. No problem." We are loyal customers of this business and little acts like this seems like good business. (However, my first immediate thought was that God had once again blessed us.)

Businesses that provide good service like this are rare and hard to find so I wanted to let you know about them. I highly recommend them.

My Computer "Guy"...

A Computer MD - Wade Fowler
123B East Ford St. Ridgeland, MS 39157
601-853-8900
9am to 6pm * Monday - Friday

My Car "Guys"...

Goodyear Robinson Service Centers
282 Highway 51
Ridgeland, MS 39157
601-856-7666

My Hair Girl...

Eastside Salon - Ask for Vicki
500 Highway 51
Ridgeland, MS 39157
(601) 898-3134
(I have naturally curly hair and finding someone who knows
how to cut it is almost impossible. Vicki is amazing!!)


What about you? Do you have a favorite business? Someone you rely on?

What Does Your Initials Say About You?

LDG
(My Married Initials)

When You Are Comfortable:

You are enthusiastic and flexible. You are open-minded. You prefer to learn from others... not judge them. People see you as kind and cooperative. You are very supportive when friends are down on their luck.

When You Are At Your Best:

You are a determined and responsible. You strive for success, and you know what it takes to get things done. People find you to be trustworthy and a good leader. You treat people well, and they benefit from your wisdom.

When You Are in a Social Setting:

You are very perceptive. You can see things from all sides. You don't allow your life or mind to be cluttered. People see you as spiritual and charismatic. You have interesting and unexpected insights. You advice is highly valued.

LDW
(So I got curious and started wondering... What about my "original/maiden initials?)

When You Are Comfortable:

You are enthusiastic and flexible. You are open-minded. You prefer to learn from others... not judge them. People see you as kind and cooperative. You are very supportive when friends are down on their luck.

When You Are At Your Best:

You are a determined and responsible. You strive for success, and you know what it takes to get things done. People find you to be trustworthy and a good leader. You treat people well, and they benefit from your wisdom.

When You Are in a Social Setting:

You are unique and interesting. You are fascinated by the world, and you're always experimenting with new ideas. People see you as mysterious and enchanting. You don't realize how much people are drawn to you.


What about YOU? What do your initials say? Take the quiz!

WFW: Be Strong

(My two guys in Point Clear, Alabama. Showing their muscles.)

About 15 years ago our church choir was practicing for a concert. Our choir director gave me the music to this song and asked if I would sing the solo parts with another person. As I began practicing it, I felt God's Spirit saying, "Hide this. Hide it deep." The words were from Joshua 1:9 and they just seemed to flow over my spirit.

Be strong and take courage
Do not fear or be dismayed
For the Lord will go before you
And His light will show the way
Be strong and take courage
Do not fear or be dismayed
For the One Who lives within you
Will be strong in you today!

This song and my God has kept me company through many times of fear. From the moments giving birth to my boys to sitting beside the phone waiting for test results. From sitting in funeral parlors to literally being scared out of my mind because of a phone call.

I have come to realize that fear is a good thing. It was a gift given to us by God. Fear is what gets us out of a burning building or gives us the instinct to protect our children. When the fear becomes an enemy is when we allow our fear to rule us instead of it being a tool.

A person which I love to study who had a complete handle on fear in his life was Paul. He wrote, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication (asking with humility), with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) And this was after being in prison!!

Things seem to be a mess right now. Prices are rising and our paychecks aren't. People are losing their jobs, houses, and retirements. Everything that we used to think was secure is suddenly falling apart. But GOD SAYS, "Fear not!" “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The Mom Quiz

Ask your child(ren) to answer the questions and type their answers in.
Tag other moms with older kids who might have fun with this. :) & Family so they can get a good laugh!!

I told K Storm I was kind of scared to ask the boys these questions because they are always so brutally honest.

Little Guy is 7
Big Guy is 11

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Little Guy: I love you.
Big Guy: No.

2. What makes mom happy?
Little Guy: Seeing me, Big Guy and Dad doing nice stuff.
Big Guy: Foot massage.

3. What makes mom sad?
Little Guy: When we don’t give you hugs and you have to go through the day without them.
Big Guy: When I am sad.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Little Guy: Say jokes.
Big Guy: We make each other laugh.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Little Guy: Smart, pretty, nice and kind.
Big Guy: A good kid.

6. How old is your mom?
Little Guy: 40
Big Guy: 40

7. How tall is your mom?
Little Guy: If I am four feet, you must be five feet.
Big Guy: taller than me

8. What is her favorite thing to watch on TV?
Little Guy: Doctors
Big Guy: Good Morning America

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Little Guy: drink coffee and go to work
Big Guy: watch tv and get on the computer

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Little Guy: be the nicest person in the world
Big Guy: movie star

11. What is your mom really good at?
Little Guy: cooking
Big Guy: typing

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Little Guy: doing push ups
Big Guy: math

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Little Guy: work at The Play Place
Big Guy: work at The Play Place

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Little Guy: the Penne Rustica at Macaroni Grill
Big Guy: Mexican pizza

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Little Guy: that you have a job
Big Guy: that you have stuck with me while I was having a tough time and you tell me that we can find a solution to any problem

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Little Guy: Tweety Bird
Big Guy: Tweety Bird

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Little Guy: go to the coffee shop and play on the computer
Big Guy: Go to the bookstore

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Little Guy: We have the same color hair.
Big Guy: We are both human.

19. How are you and your mom different?
Little Guy: I am a boy and you are a girl.
Big Guy: I am a boy and you are girl.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Little Guy: You tell it to me every day!
Big Guy: Because you do.

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?
Little Guy: that he is really nice
Big Guy: His sense of humor

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Little Guy: Lifeway
Big Guy: to the bookstore

Girl's Night Out... Fear No Paint!

Friday night was a blast! Suzanne was the brilliant one who came up with the idea for this Girl's Night Out. (LOVE you, Suzanne!) We met at Peppers for supper so that we would have plenty of energy and be armed with glasses of sweet tea for our painting session. After sitting around discussing our blogs, Grey's Anatomy, and Suzanne's addiction to texting, we headed over to the studio.

Easely Amused is a fairly new studio that gives art lessons. You pick the artwork you want to learn to paint, sign up for the class and bring a group of your friends and be prepared for a night of fun! All of that we were prepared for. What I wasn't prepared for was when the instructor said these two things...

* "You are our first class to ever do "Sweet Georgia Brown"." (In other words... guinea pigs!)
* This is the hardest painting we have ever done. (GREAT! And I am a total art doofus!)

It was so fun. The girls we were with were so fun. Even though I managed to somehow fall behind and not be able to fit some of the flowers on my painting, it still turned out.

I can't WAIT to go again. Who wants to go? Who? Who?

A GREAT Easter Basket Treat

In Review: When I received this DVD to review, I immediately decided that I needed some true experts to help me get a true opinion. So I assembled some kids and asked them to watch the DVD. Judging from their reaction, this is a winner. What child can't relate to feeling like that they aren't as good as someone else? This DVD is based on a lesson from Psalm 139:13-14 which teaches that God made us each special and unique. What a GREAT video to put in your child's Easter basket or in a next birthday gift.

Story Summary: Poor Skeeter can't seem to do anything right. His famous older brother can do no wrong. Which one will find the treasure?

Skeeter's "perfect" brother Sir Sinclair M. Skeeto, the world famous adventurer, comes to the garden with a mysterious treasure map left by their father. All the garden gang are in awe of Sinclair, and fawn all over him. But could it really be up to wrong-way Skeeter and his crooked stinger to solve the mystery of the treasure's location?

Deep In Love With You

Saturday Morning Comic: Tim Hawkins - Chick-Fil-A

Thankful Friday

I know it is typically Thankful Thursday, but I just didn't have time to get on the computer yesterday to do a blog post.      So I am breaking the "rules".     My heart has been full of thanksgiving and I didn't want to miss an opportunity to praise my God.

* First, I am so glad that we are doing Lent this year as a family.    It has definitely helped me keep focused.    Some situations in our life that would have possibly overwhelmed me have really not gotten to me and I believe it is because of the fact of our focus on Easter.    

* Last week I had to take my computer in to be repaired.    It froze up and quit working completely.    I have had this laptop for about 6 years which is a LONG life for a laptop.    I was afraid that this was the end.      My computer guy, who I cannot say enough good things about, worked on it for 5 DAYS!    He found a terrible virus that had attacked my anti-virus software.     We still can't figure out how it accessed my computer since this things normally access through Internet Explorer and I don't use IE.     Anyway, when I went to pick up my computer I was completely shocked when he did not charge me one dollar.      I cannot tell you what a financial blessing this was for us.

* A friend of mine posted that she was needing some help with her business.     The times she posted were perfect.    I contacted her and we were both in awe of God's goodness.     We have been trying to pay off some hospital bills and my grocery budget is soooo tight that I had been praying for a way to be able to have a little extra money to supplement our finances.     So from 10:00 - 2:00 on Tuesday - Thursday you can find me at The Play Place in Ridgeland.    A GREAT place to bring your kids to play!

*  Tonight I get to have a Girl's Night Out.     A group of us are going to supper and then to "Easely Amused" to paint.    I can't wait.    Girls, giggles and fun!

*  Today is the last day of school before Spring Break begins.     An entire week of spending time with my sweet boys.   Does it get any better than that?!?   Yahoo!

Have a great weekend!

WFW: Water of Life

When you are truly thirsty, there is nothing that will quench your thirst like water. You can grab and practically flood yourself with all types of liquids, but there is only one type of liquid that will ultimately quench that thirst and it is water.

But what about spiritually? Every person on the face of the earth is thirsty. But not all of us are at the same place spiritually. Amazingly Jesus addresses this when he said, "Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (John 4:13-14)

Some people are thirsty because they haven't asked God to take control of their hearts. You are like me and know people like this. They are grabbing every type of "beverage": food, money, job, entertainment, sports, shopping, etc... It helps the thirst for a little while but they are still thirsty. They don't seem to realize that what they are experiencing is a holy thirst -- from God and for God.

Some people are thirsty because their soul is dusty. They are literally dehydrated because of their lack of time in His presence. They know God but the relationship is not truly there. They are so entraced in drinking the world's sugary sweetness that they are forgetting that the soul quenching LIVING water can only come from God.

However, some people experience thirst of the best kind. They experience the thirst of completely satisfaction. They are so in love with their God that they literally thirst for more of Him. They truly understand Psalm 34:8 when it says, "taste and see that God is good!"

A.W. Tozer understood spiritual thirst: "O God, I have tasted thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still." (The Pursuit of God)

Growing up and going to church camp growing up we would sing this song:

I've got a river of life flowing out of me,
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see
Opens prison doors and sets the captives free
I've got a river of life flowing out of me.

Spring up, O Well, within my soul.
Spring up, O Well, and make me whole.
Spring, O Well, and give to me that life abundantly.

Dear Lord, Please give to me that Life abundantly!
It is my heart's thirst to know you with a river of life flowing out of me!

Welcome To the World!

Welcome, Max Mississippi!

Max Mississippi is the latest blog to burst onto the internet, but this blog which was launched Monday, is unique in that its goal is to feature all things Mississippi. The brainchild of Boyd Campbell, Max Mississippi is intended to be a blog about life, entertainment, and the arts in Central Mississippi.

Not to sound like an informercial, but wait! There's more! Max Mississippi has plans to keep us up to date on the latest restaurants, education news, entertainment, religion, and so much more.

Drop by and give Max Mississippi a "Hi, Ya'll!" welcome to the neighborhood and definitely add it to your blog roll so you can keep up to date on all the great things happening here in the magnolia state!

What Did You Say?

"Courage is fear that has said its prayers."

Isn't that the best little quote? Our pastor used it in his sermon yesterday. He is doing a sermon series on stress.

During a particular point of his sermon, I turned to hubs to whisper something because it really hit home for us. Little Guy was sitting between us and so he looked up and whispered, "What did you just say?"

I just patted his leg and whispered back, "Nothing."

He gave me this "look". I wish I had a picture of it because that tilted head, little smirk, and raised eyebrows raised it definitely said, "I know it is something, but you just aren't telling me."

I got dangerously tickled. I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote this note:

You are my funny little guy
who is way too perceptive.
I love you!

He read it and wrote this note back:

You are my funny Mom
who is going to teach me
what perceptive means.
Love you too!

Oh my word he cracks me up!

**************

Special Note: Betty, I am thinking and praying for you today! I can't wait to hear your exciting news and see pics of your precious baby boy! **hugs and love**

The Law of the Garbage Truck

This was received over email...

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so...

Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Have yourself a blessed, garbage-free day!

"Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD." (Psalm 119:1 NIV)

"...so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."
(Philippians 2:15 NIV)

LATE March Wallpaper

With my computer in the shop I wasn't able to work on my wallpaper for March.  You know how much I like to change out my desktop wallpaper.     I just love the free wallpaper from the blog of The Shabby Shoppe this month because the background has so much yellow.    It just screams spring and it just makes me feel happy when I see it.    Of course it doesn't hurt that I decided to use a picture of one of my favorite aunts and my sweet twin nieces on it as well!

This Is Your Brain On Joy

In Review: I picked this book up at the Christian bookstore several times and thumbed through it. I would read a section and put it down. When this book showed up on the Thomas Nelson book reviewer list, I decided to order it to read it cover to cover to either confirm or eliminate my initial feelings.

Because I deal with illness on a daily basis, I have had to deal with a lot of doctors. One of the character traits that I have learned to despise in a doctor is one who talks "down" to you because you are a patient. This book reminded me of a doctor who thought he was talking down to his patient because he was so much smarter than them. That was one of the first things that frustrated me when I picked it up in the bookstore and that feeling didn't go away as I was reading it in its entirety.

Also, while I can appreciate PMS being jokingly being referred to as the "pre-monster" syndrome, I draw the line and am offended by the author comparing PMS to bipolar disorder. Having several blogger friends who struggle daily with this disorder... I knew how offensive this statement would be to them and their very real issues.

Dr. Henslin and I disagree on the source of joy. He feels that people don't experience joy because of a sick brain. I understand his stance he is a medical doctor and he has been trained to look for a physical cause of all ailments. However, there are lots of physical ailments that can be caused by things that are not physical at all. During the past year I myself have experienced stress which have caused physical ailments. Did that steal my joy? No because that is not seated in my brain... it is seated in my heart.

Why is this book in the Christian bookstore? Well, I guess because the author threw in some Scriptures to supplement his views on joy. As for me, if you looking for encouragement and ways to feel more joyful... pick up your Bible.

Open Door Policy

All of a sudden we have a new rule in our house.   No closed doors allowed.     Who has decided this is a rule?   Our cat!   

When we came home from our weekend in Birmingham she was really mad at us for leaving her.    She followed us around like we were going to leave her again.     She meowed for three hours straight letting us know in no uncertain terms that she was mad.    She all picked her up and loved on her and she purred and took it all in, but she still "meowed" her fury.

That eventually faded, but we have noticed that she has now decided that she does NOT like closed doors.   

***If Big Guy comes home from school and closes his door to do homework... she sits outside and meows.
***If someone goes in the bathroom and closes the door (for obvious reasons)... she sits outside and meows.
***Go in the bedroom to change clothes and close the door... she sits outside and meows.

As soon as you open the door?   She gets up and walks off.     Just don't close that door.    

Anyone who has ever said that pets don't have a personality has never had a pet!     As far as our sweet Kit Kat... she is rotten, but we love her.

Retraction

First and foremost... I was so thrilled to drive Big Guy to school this morning because he carried in his lap one of the many projects which he has been working on for the past few weeks. It was a model of The Pentagon. He also had a zip drive in his backpack with a Power Point presentation about The Pentagon. After reading his Power Point, I know more about The Pentagon than I ever thought possible. Who knew there was so much geometry involved in that building?

Big Guy informed me that several kids turned their projects in earlier this week and some kids touched them and messed them up. The teacher had a "no touch" rule for the projects and she told them she was serious. They didn't believe her, but when they touched she promptly told them that they had a "0" for their own projects. Personally, I am glad to see a teacher punish these 6th graders for acting like 2 year olds!

Now for the retraction part of this post...

Yesterday when hubs came home he promptly informed me that he was "offended" (not really) that I would say he makes me late. He insisted I print a retraction. So here it is, sweet hubs! I will make a full apology later. *giggle*

And...

If you didn't read Doghouse's blog yesterday, I hope you will be praying for Lil' Bit. They are taking her to the doctor and he has asked us to be praying.

WFW: One Thing Never Changes

There is a gentleman in our neighborhood who has lived long enough to actually see our country go from horse and buggies to our current space age.    Talk about change!

When I was a little girl I was taught in Sunday School and listened to my pastor preach from the Bible.    Today some of the very things that were taught as sins are now being condoned in the very same pulpits.   People are wrongly being taught that there is nothing wrong with sin.

For some reason, so much change is going on and so many churches and "Christian" leaders are going with the flow of culture, that people are thinking that God has actually changed his mind about sin.

Malachi was the last prophet of the Old Testament.     During his day, Israel had drifted a LONG way from God.    Because of this, God decided to just be silent.    Not just for a day or two, but for 400 years.     Until John the Baptist showed up on the scene.    God didn't go back on His Word to Israel.   It was Israel who went back on theirs.   

God is a parent and He believes in discipline in the same way that we must discipline our children.    Only a parent who doesn't love their child would never discipline them.    There are many different types of disciplines.    The disciplines of warnings such as "Don't touch... it is hot!" or "Don't run out in the street.".    Discipline of accountability such as "Do your homework." or "Practice your instrument."   But there is also the discipline of correction:  "You do not hit." or "You do not call people names."       Some people feel guilty when they discipline their children.   To not discipline is neglect.    How do we know?   Because our Heavenly Father disciplines us!

In all of the changes that are going on in this world today, we can be assured of one constant.     God loves us.   He died for us.    He NEVER changes.    The proof is in Scripture!    Read it.

My ABC's

A - Age: 40 for just a little while longer

B - Bed size:  Queen


C - Chore you hate:  Bathrooms - I have three boys in my house.

D - Dad's Name:   To me, Daddy.   To other people, Pete.

E - Essential start your day item:    coffee and hugs from my boys

F - Favorite tv show?:  "24"

G - Gold or Silver:   silver

H - Height:  5'2" 

I - Instruments you play(ed):   piano

J - Job title:  Mom (chef, chauffeur, therapist, tutor, coach, maid, etc...)

K - Kid(s):   two boys

L- Living arrangement:    married

M - Mom's name:   To me, Mom.   To others, Dian.

N - Nicknames:   My nieces and nephew call me Dit Dee.   High school friends call me D.  My Mammaw called me Denanna.  

O - Overnight hospital stays other than birth:   appendectomy in 5th grade, week stay in high school after seizures, gall bladder surgery,  births of two boys

P - Pet Peeve:   people who abuse children and get away with it AND the people who know about it and don't do anything about it

Q - Quotes you like:   Whatever you are filled with spills when you are bumped.

R - Right or left handed:  right

S - Siblings:    Krisa and Shera


T - Time you wake up:   Too early... time to get the boys to school on week days.   On Saturdays, the boys let me sleep.   On Sunday, in time to get to church.

U- Ultimate Dessert: chocolate covered strawberries

V - Vegetable you dislike:  boiled okra... that is like eating a slug

W - Ways you run late:   (This is going to sound more awful than it is.)    If it is just the boys and I it is fine, but if hubs it with us we will run late.  He and I have totally different concepts of time.    I tend to want to do everything WAY ahead and he can do things at the last minute.  Those two plans clash which means if we are together... we are late.    Does that make sense?

X - X-rays you've had:   I can't think of anything on my body that hasn't been x-rayed!

Y - Yummy food you make:  I love to cook!    My boys love my poppyseed chicken, potato chowder, and any dessert.

Z - Zoo Animal:  panda

Weekend Wrap Up

Despite the fact that so much of our time was spent urging Big Guy to focus, focus, focus on finishing his science and Pentagon project, we really had a good weekend. I know more about the Pentagon than I ever really thought I wanted to know. Maybe one day I will be on "Jeopardy" and that will be the Final Jeopardy question and win me some big money. Nah....!

The big news of the weekend was snow! We woke the boys up to come and see it. Little Guy was thrilled and ready to go out and play in it. Big Guy was barely coherent and when I said, "You can go back to bed." he looked at me with glazed eyes and said, "Thank you."

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Hubs has always said that there is nothing wrong with my hearing. He thinks my ears are hyper-sensitive to noise. Last night may be an example. I was reading one of my books for publisher review and he was doing some work. I kept hearing a buzzing noise. I really thought it was his Blackberry vibrating so I asked him to turn off the vibration mode. He went and checked and said his Blackberry wasn't even on. I knew my phone wasn't on. He went to check the boys phone and couldn't see it. He and I looked everywhere, but couldn't find the source of the noise which was tough since he couldn't even hear the noise. My problem? Even though I have great hearing, I am HORRIBLE at sense of direction. Things like that drive me crazy so I finally gave up and went to our bedroom where I couldn't hear it. This morning after dropping Big Guy off at carpool, I made my morning call to tell hubs good morning. He immediately said, "I found your noise! This morning I went into the laundry room and heard a weird buzz. It was the boys' phone. It was in the bottom of the laundry basket in a pair of Little Guy's pants!"

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I think my brain must be ready for tonight's episode of "24" because I had the weirdest "24" style dream. Jack Bauer wasn't in my dream (shoot!), but some other characters were. I was working in some sort of office scenario (hopefully not the FBI because those people are just not as good at CTU). Some of my friends from high school were working there too. Something weird popped up on my computer screen and I went to tell Bill (former head CTU guy) what was going on. He told me to find the source. I was trying to find the source of the leak when we saw terrorists entering the building. (Now comes the weird part....) The terrorists rounded up all the people and all the guys from my high school surrounded all the girls to protect us. The terrorists aimed the guns at us to kill all of us and I remember bowing my head and starting to pray. That is where the dream ended. I was praying and praying and praying. When I woke up I had this intensely peaceful feeling. Boy I wish I could interpret dreams.

Have a marvelous Monday!

What A Day That Will Be

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,
And I look upon His face,
The One who saved me by His grace;
When He takes me by the hand
And leads me through the Promised Land,
What a day, glorious day that will be.