'Nuf Said



Father, we thank You...

Not only for our food, but for sending your Son to earth 2,000 years ago, to express Your boundless love for us.

.... Arrrmen... Arrrmen! :)

*(Thank you, Emery for your lovely blessing and for being so good at reminding us should we ever forget!)

Believe in the Miracle...

*

... of God's amazing love!

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! ~ I John 3:1

*

At the shop, we have a sale every year at this time. Typically, we start out at about 30% and eventually get down to 40 or even 50% off - all merchandise. We get the word out there, place it right before all the people, have all kinds of signs, try to tell them time and time again. And still, you wouldn't believe the number of people who just decide that it's too good to be true, just don't think they heard right and just walk away. Or those who continue through the shop asking "Even (such and such)? How 'bout (such and such)? Now, I know you don't mean (such and such)."

Why is it so hard for us to believe?

Are we afraid to be disappointed?

Are we content to just simply expect no more?

Why are we so quick to just assume we must have heard wrong or get comfortable with the thought that 'it's just too good to be true' and simply walk away from the Truth?

The other night, MSNBC news had on, as one of the guests, speaking to the new movie "The Golden Compass", the president (?) of the Atheist Association. I've not forgotten it since. I just keep thinking back to that interview. I sat there, both intrigued by someone who can be so very passionate about not feeling or believing in any more than science and saddened both for her (for all she's missing) and our Father, Who I know still loves her very much, regardless of her views.
One thing that specifically stood out to me was her very defensive statement that the Bible 'judges' non-believers calling them "foolish".

I thought "Is that what it all boils down to? The fear of being thought foolish? To believe in something that you simply cannot see - as opposed to science which is all around us and 100 % tangible?"

But then, why must science and God be mutually exclusive? To me, they go hand in hand. The Creator and His creation. And personally, I'd like to admire all the 'science' around me while believing in God and being one of His biggest "fools"!!



And, just for those who are like Joanne and me...

fool'ish (adjective)
1. not 'sensible'
~showing, or resulting from, a lack of 'good sense or judgment'

And, I'd say, going from this definition, you could say the Lord has loved me SENSELESS! :) Halleluiah!

Christmas Cookie Bake-Off 2007!

Well, today was our annual Christmas Cookie Baking Day for my mom, sister and me.

And, even though a few varieties got left off again this year, I think we got quite a lot accomplished!!

Everything from chocolate truffles, clusters, and pretzels to fruitcake cookies, apricot turnovers and raspberry thumbprint cookies! Not to mention haystacks and buckeyes. Pretty good, I'd say!

And now, we all have belly-aches (and I'm sure the kids will either be flying high 'till Midnight or already crashed from the sugar high before bathtime!) Oh, well. We got a lot done to be able to share with our friends all week and had fun doing it!

Hopefully, next year, it won't be 80 degrees!!!

Though I haven't given up hope on the White Christmas this year yet!

Certainly this 'heat-wave' won't last THAT long!!

Hey. A girl can dream, right?

Support for Jennifer!

Well, our ladies' bible study just finished up our intense study on "Daniel" with Beth Moore, and I venture to say that we are all better for it. Totally worth any moments of brain overload that may have happened along the way. :)

But, we had such an amazing group of ladies in this study... the best I've been a part of to date. We weren't quite ready to part company yet. So, we got together for one last hoo-rah and had Jennifer (the girl on the far right) speak to us about her upcoming mission trip to China.

She's already been, several years ago, just for a short time, but this return mission is for a two-year commitment. It certainly takes a special person to do such work and I know Jennifer will be just the girl for the job. She's got such enthusiasm for the Word and such a love for the Chinese people from her last trip. I know she will change many lives in her two years there.

She leaves next summer and is very excited to do so. But, she also knows it will still be hard to leave home. So, if you all could keep her in your prayers, I know she'd be appreciative.

*pictured above are only 5 of the 20-some ladies in our study, but by the time Jennifer thought to take the picture, we were the only ones left to be in it!
{ Me, Robyn (who led the study), Michelle, Laura, and Jennifer }

Paved Paradise

Okay. So, I'll be the first to admit it. It doesn't take much to get any of us Gift Shop Girls excited.

I have been at Blue Willow for over 12 years now and we've been told for probably 10 of those 12 that we were getting the parking lot paved... Well, this fall (of course, the worst week of the year... week of Thanksgiving) it finally got paved!!!

(before...)

(...after)

Amazing what you can do with thousands of dollars, huh? :)

But, as much as we hated to see all those old trees go, and the old buildings out back... all we keep thinking is... YAY! NO MORE SCUFFED SHOES!! NO MORE MUDDY-BOTTOMED PANTS!! And not NEARLY THE DUST ON THE SHELVES!!!

By April or May, we should be looking out across at a new shopping village of sorts and a natural history/creation museum. So, should be interesting. (But, you can certainly understand why this song plays through my mind day in and day out!)

This morning at church, Pastor Gary shared with us a story of his children and how they've begun disciplining them as of late.

He and his wife, Leslie have come up with a "Job Jar", out of which the children are to pull a respective job anytime they've misbehaved. (He said he sure has appreciated this system, as he has had a LOT more help around the house!)

At any rate, they've been using this system for some time now and the other day, as Gary came through the door, little Mitchell was just so excited, repeating "Daddy, Daddy! Guess what job I pulled from the jar! Guess what job I pulled from the jar!..."

Gary stops and thinks: What job could possibly have Mitchell this excited?

Mitchell says "Grace!"

Unbeknownst to Gary, Leslie had tucked a couple of "Grace" slips in the "Job Jar".

It was an opportunity for Gary and Leslie to acknowledge and address the wrong-doing, and yet demonstrate the act of grace and mercy.

How much more excited should we be, that our Heavenly Father knows of all our wrong-doing, and yet shows us unrelenting grace and mercy! The verse that so often gets overshadowed by its predecessor, John 3:17 tells us~

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

No judgment. No punishment. No condemnation. Just unconditional love and unending second chances. "How great the Father's love for us"!!

Father~

In this season of Thanksgiving, I would just like to take the opportunity to give thanks to You for your incomprehensible love for us. A love so deep we could never either earn or even realize the extent of. Please help us to simply receive this blessing of love on us and in turn, continue to strive to show that love and light to all of those on our paths, extending that same grace and mercy to others that You've so graciously shown to us. ~Amen.

Welcome to My World ~ Where the FUN 'never Ends'!


Well, I did it.

I don't know how it happened.

I always swore I'd never be 'one of those people'.

And yet, last night at Target, I finally broke down and got my sweet -albeit- spastic kitten a 'Circle of Fun'. (I think I can still technically refer to her as a kitten as long as she remains unruly and out of control. Although, she has grown quite a bit by now.)

Here, I've always been one to look down at the crazy cat people out there who bought the cheesy cat toys and horrid scratching posts and such.

But, having this wild little feline, (who is running around, bounding off the furniture as I type) I've really been put in a 'corner'... along with my scratching pad (complete with catnip), odd-looking little half-ball cat toys with feathers sticking up, and now my most newly acquired 'Circle of Fun'.

As soon as I got it home and discovered that it required putting together 60-some odd parts, I could already tell that it would prove 'unending fun' for all. (ha-ha) I think by the time it was all said and done, it took me longer to put the darned thing together than it took her to become disinterested in it.

She did find it exciting as she 'assisted' in my putting it together. And did check it out right away, but for some reason, she's still more intrigued by my Christmas tree and its lovely tree skirt! (The whole reason behind my purchase of the 'Circle of Fun'.) I guess running around in a nylon 'wheel' doesn't hold a candle to hanging from the 3rd row of branches on Old Tannenbaum!

Oh, well.

Who knew.

So, can anybody tell me just how much longer before this girl settles down?!? I mean, as much fun as it is to get awoken each and every morning to play 'fetch' and get to clean up kitty litter that's been flung as far as possible (on account of her spinning out in the box (!) just for entertainment purposes), I'd love to just have a 'normal' lazy cat once again!!

And yes, Jodi... her eyes are pretty much dialated like that ALL THE TIME!!! :)

Governor Sonny Perdue Prays For Rain in Georgia


Submitted by WDEF on November 14, 2007 - 2:05 am.

Governor Sonny Perdue lead a public prayer service today for rain in Georgia.
Several hundred people attended the service outside the state Capitol. Although it was announced as an interfaith event, only three protestant ministers joined the governor. And 20 protestors demonstrated outside.

Gov. Perdue: "GOD WE NEED YOU. WE NEED RAIN."

Sonny Purdue, Georgia's Governor, today became the state's chief pastor. He led a prayer for rain, right on the front lawn of the State House. Lake Lanier, North Georgia's main source of drinking water, dropped more than 17 feet below normal. So low, boaters walk way out to get in. This year the lake's had barely HALF its typical rainfall.

In a very public way, Purdue looked to the sky for answers.

GOV. Sonny Purdue - (R) Georgia: "WE DO BELIEVE IN MIRACLES. WE DO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE MIRACLE CREATOR."

Bruckner: "IT'S A PUBLIC DISGRACE."

Ed Bruckner wants rain, too. But like these protestors, mostly atheists and agnostics, Bruckner sees a clear church-state violation. A public prayer on state property led by Georgia's top executive.

Ed Buckner - Protestor: " MY PUBLIC LEADER IS MAKING A FOOL OF HIMSELF AND ACTING AS THOUGH ALL THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA AGREE WITH THIS FOOLISHNESS."

In desperate droughts, praying for rain goes back thousands of years, from this African tribal group to Indian rain dancers.

And Georgia's tried everything else.

In a growing crisis, the state's tried water bans. Water cops. With thousand dollar fines for violators. And now the power of prayer.

Gov. Purdue: "THANK YOU LORD, FOR THE RAIN TO COME."

Mark Strassmann reporting:
"GEORGIANS CAN DEBATE WHETHER POLITICIAL LEADERS SHOULD CHAMPION RELIGIOUS SOLUTIONS. BUT NO ONE ARGUES ABOUT THIS STATE'S NEED FOR SIGNIFICANT RAIN. AND SO FAR, IT'S ONE PRAYER THAT GOES UNANSWERED.
MARK STRASSMANN CBS NEWS, ATLANTA."

If you'd like to contact: Sonny Perdue


"All we can do now is pray" - why is that such a commonly heard statement? We should be ashamed to say such a thing. God is our last resort. How that must crush Him to hear those words from us.
You know, a while back, I had shared with you all one of my all-time favorite songs I had been blessed enough to 'stumble upon' - by Nichole Nordeman. It is called "Gratitude".

It begins with this:

Send some rain, would You send some rain?
‘Cause the earth is dry and needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade

Would You send a cloud, thunder long and loud?
Let the sky grow black and send some mercy down
Surely You can see that we are thirsty and afraid

But, maybe not today
Maybe You’ll provide in other ways
And if that’s the case…

We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If you never send us rain

How hard do these words hit home right now with all of us Georgians? I just keep going back to these great verses and all the controversy that Governor Perdue has stirred about in our whole nation thinking... They just don't get it. The whole point of prayer.

You know, Anderson Cooper had on a couple of 'prayer experts' last night... oddly enough, neither one a self-proclaimed Christian and all they kept trying to determine was whether or not prayer actually 'serves' US. Is it actually worth our precious time and energy? Like God is just some big Genie that we should be able to run to and request endless things from. Then go on our merry way and do as we please. They just don't get it. They just don't see how great a blessing can actually come from not even getting what we ask for sometimes.

How much more have we appreciated such a simple, yet precious thing as water in the last couple of months?

And at LAST, we have a controversy worthy of discussion: "Is it really appropriate for a state official to actually PRAY (gasp!) for RAIN" (something actually out of our control!) (gasp! gasp!!) as opposed to: "I don't know... do you think Paris is in fact 'reformed'?" or "Can you believe Britney lost custody... again!?"... "I wonder if Lindsay will ever get her act together??"

What non-believers do not understand and what we as believers often forget is very well stated by David J. Wolpe ~ "Prayer is less about changing the world than it is about changing ourselves."

God is more interested in changing us than our circumstances! In tendering our hearts and bending our knees! In acknowledging Him and bringing us into His loving arms!

Not so long ago, we were the nation who instituted a day called "Thanksgiving". But now, we have sadly become a society who just feels we deserve and are even owed anything and everything our hearts desire. But, if we desire everything in the world but Him... then what are we here for?

Think back to the last time every church had every pew filled on a 'regular' non-holiday Sunday. I guarantee it was September 16, 2001. The Sunday following the greatest assault this nation has ever experienced.

I feel that we are programmed with a deeply planted seed that desires to know our Maker. Some of us are blessed enough to have that seed nourished and 'fed' throughout our lives. Others never even seem to realize the seed is there.

Until tragedy strikes. Then, suddenly more people seem to recognize God's hand in our lives. Whether thankful or angry with Him, they acknowledge Him.

Perhaps this drought of ours is just that. A plea for us to recognize Him once more in our lives. Thank God for a governor who withstood a lot of 'heat' to recognize Him publicly. Now, whether or not we get the answer to his prayer is still in God's hands.

But, how awesome it is, to be a believer and know that even if the rain never comes, we've got all we need in Him - the never-ending Living Water.

And maybe one day... they'll get it, too.
We can 'only' pray that they do.

A LETTER FROM YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER!

The following words come from the heart of God. After all, God loves you, and He is the Father you have been looking for all your life. This is His Love Letter to you!

My Dear Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. (Ps 139:1)

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Psalm 139:2)

I am familiar with all your ways. (Psalm 139:3)

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-30)

For you were made in my image. (Genesis 1:27)

In me, you live and move and have your being. For you are my offspring. (Acts 17:28)

I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5)

I chose you when I planned creation. (Ephesians 1:11-12)

You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. (Psalm 139:15-16)

I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. (Acts 17:26)

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

I knit you together in your mother's womb. (Psalm 139:13)

And brought you forth on the day you were born. (Psalm 71:6)

I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me.(John 8:41-44)

I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. (I John 4:16)

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. (I John 3:1)

Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. (I John 3:7)

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. (Matthew 7:11)

For I am the perfect Father. (Matthew 5:48)

Every good gift you receive comes from my hand. (James 1:17)

For I am your provider and I meet your needs. (Matthew 6:31-33)

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Because I love you with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)

My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. (Psalm 139:17-18)

And I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

I will never stop doing good to you. (Jeremiah 32:40)

For you are my treasured possession. (Exodus 19:5)

I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. (Jeremiah 32:41)

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jeremiah 33:3)

For if you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

So, delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

For it is I who gave you those desires. (Philippians 2:13)

I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

For I am your greatest Encourager. (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles.(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

When you are brokenhearted, as a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. (Isaiah 40:11)

One day, I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. And I will take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. (Revelation 21:3-4)

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. (John 17:23)

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. (John 17:26)

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. (2 Corinthians 5;18-19)

His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. (I John 4:10)

I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. (Romans 8:31-32)

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. (I John 2:23)

And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. (Romans 8:38-29)

When it's time for you to come home, I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. (Luke 15:7)

I have always been your Father, and will always be your Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15)

My question is....Will you be my child? (John 1:12-13)

I am waiting for you. (Luke 15:11-32)

With Love,

Your Father,

Almighty God

I was Just Thinking... !

Oh, my gosh! I just had the most exciting day at work I've had in some time. And to think it may have even been MORE amazing had my mind actually been functioning at full capacity at the time!!

I don't know how many of you are familiar with our own Atlanta-based apologist Ravi Zacharias , but I listen to him many times a week. Most weekdays at 9:30 and then on Saturday mornings at 8:30. I LOVE to listen to him. I could listen to him for hours. He is just a very interesting, funny, yet serious, knowledgable guy with the coolest Indian voice.

I found him on 93.3 a couple of years ago on Sundays, coming back from church and then just kept finding him on more and more and found myself listening to him more and more.

Well, this morning, while I was getting ready, listening to his program, I thought: "You know, I would just love to have the chance to meet this guy... I'd have a question or two for him that I would love to hear the answers to!"

... Fast forward to about 1:00 this afternoon, in the gift shop. A good-sized group came in and we filled up pretty fast. We had helped one particular international couple with several purchases. They were very sweet. Then, I turned around and looked up and thought 'Huh. That guy over there looks just like Ravi Zacharias.' And went about my business. Didn't think another thing about it.

About 2 hours later, the sweet international couple (I don't know where they were from... they just spoke with a strong accent) came back from lunch to pick up their packages. And then the lady who seemed to be 'hosting' them proceeded to check out. I looked down at her charge slip and the name on it was Margaret Zacharias !!! It WAS him!

I wanted to say "Oh, my gosh! Do you know who you are?!?" But, even in my excitement, I knew that was a silly question. :) And he, being a guy, didn't come back down to the gift shop. :( I would've LOVED to at least said "It is so good to meet you! I love your programs! Please, keep up the great work."

But, turns out, I didn't even know what to say to his kind wife. So, as far as my big questions that had been on my heart earlier that morning... even if given the chance, I guess they would've just turned to "Uhhhhh....................." So, I guess I'm better off just listening to his programs after all!!

"The Silver Lining"

~

You know, I already shared this picture the other day, but I just wanted to make mention of it once again. Not because I just want you all to admire the handiwork behind the camera (ha!) but because of what the image itself represents.

Tonight, in our Daniel bible study, we had some really heartfelt emotions brought to the surface by Beth's powerful study. But, the one that particularly touched me was that of my dear friend Anita.

She is so special to me, as she was the very first person I got to know at Eastridge when I first started attending by myself 2 and 1/2 years ago. We were both new to the church, but both very eager to learn and grow in our faith. She's a precious lady with a big heart and for whatever reason, I believe our paths were meant to cross. We just seem to have been connected... and I strongly believe, not at all by accident.

Tonight's study, oddly enough (and yet, not surprisingly at all) followed along the same lines as our sermon this Sunday. More or less, fighting the good fight of faith and becoming wise to the ways of the enemy. And just when I feel like I must be the only one fighting this fight here, I come to find out, my sweet Anita is having a lot of the same struggles. She's just had a very hard time lately, with unspoken situations at home and work. And she's just been trying like a champ to keep that faith up and keep believing... but it's so hard to do when situations remain the same, or in her case, seem to only get worse. And, boy can I relate!

But, I would just like to offer up this encouragement (to both Anita as well as myself!). Just like you see in the picture, many times, it takes the clouds of life to really begin to see God at work and to see His glory really magnified. To get an image that awesome, you have to not only have the magnificent Light to shine upward, but also the clouds to reflect that beautiful Light.

So, Father, thank You for Your magnificent Light and even though sometimes it's hard to see past them, thank You for the clouds. For, it's in those clouds that Your Light is most gloriously reflected and realized. Thank You for Anita and the friend she's become to me and I ask that You please continue to be with her and strengthen her through this trying time and allow her -if only a glimpse- of Your powerful hand at work in her life. Thank You so much. It's in Christ's name I pray. ~Amen.

"Heart Stress Test"

Yesterday in church, Rob said he had recently had a stress test done to see how his heart measured up and functioned these days. And he related it to our spiritual health. Similarly, many times, our spiritual heart can experience blockages and below average functioning. So, he gave us a test to see where we register on the spiritual stress test.

Where do you fall?

Tired a lot .......................... 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ............ Energetic/In shape

Pessimistic .............. 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ................. Optimistic

Bored ........................ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ................. Challenged

Spiritually Empty .................. 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ................. Spiritually Growing

Distant/Alone ................... 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ................. Near/Connected

Insecure .............................. 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ................. Secure/Confident

Wounded/Hurt ..................... 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ................. Loved/Understood

Bitter/Angry .......................... 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ................. Forgiving/Forgiven

Sad ................... 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ................. Happy

Alienated ........ 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 .................... Close

.

.

He had us throw out all the 5's, because he knew we'd all play the safe 3's - happy medium. This way, we had to really sway one way or the other and 'own' that answer a bit more.
See how you scored:

Scores:

30-40 You are in good shape!

20-30 Be careful

10-20 Dangerous Territory

0-10 You may be in real danger

.

His whole point to this exercise was to bring about a better awareness of our strengths and weaknesses, as it is our very weaknesses that satan will prey on. He won't waste his time on those we scored 3's and 4's on, but rather those that we circled 1's and 2's. He knows our every weakness and prowls "like a lion seeking to devour" and destroy us and our faith. So, we must "set our minds to better understand and to humble ourselves before our God" (Daniel 10:12).

.

Rob closed out our service with a video from GodTube - a skit to Lifehouse's 'Everything'. I had already seen it awhile back on someone else's blog and it just so hits home to me. It presents very specific battles, but I just relate on the basic level - of fighting satan and all of his lies and empty promises and trying desperately to get back in sync with God and all He has for me. I tried to embed the video on my blog, but still haven't worked out whatever glitch there is, so I'm giving y'all the link instead. If you haven't yet seen this video, I highly suggest checking it out. The skit is very powerful, and as I've found, the struggle very real.

.

Lifehouse's 'Everything' skit

.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23

First of all, I know I said I'd quit blogging for an undisclosed amount of time. But, I just had a few things I wanted to share and thought "why not?" :)

First~ Chris Rice just had on his blog how tired he is of receiving countless amounts of sales catalogs and such, many of which he's never even ordered from. And I know mom and dad get several every day. So, if you have the same and would like to get a grip on it and save the environment in a small way, he recommends the website: http://www.catalogchoice.org. He said you can go there, and for no charge tell them which ones you would like to continue to receive and which ones to NIX!

Second~ Mom just started her very own blog (that we set up for her months ago now)! But, I'm sure it'll be an entertaining one, so if you want to check that out, go to: http://www.workinprogress-jb.blogspot.com! (Hopefully, she won't mind my sending you over there!!) :)

Lastly~ I had just taken a few cool pictures I thought I'd share with y'all. I've been having the best time with my little camera for the last couple of months and can only IMAGINE what I'll be able to accomplish when I actually figure out how to use it!! :)

But, until then, here's what I've managed so far...

Cardinal Climber on the lattice at work

.

Lily out on our pond by the gift shop

.

Our cabins up at Pigeon Forge

This one is my favorite one to date~

This lotus bloomed outside the shop

in our pond so gorgeously ~ one amazing

bloom at a time, each one only lasting

about 2 or 3 days before falling off. And as it turned out, I got this little guy just in the knick of time... this bloom was gone a day later and turned out to be the last one of the year!

*And the wonderful picture at the top... I just took Tuesday night on the way to Bible study. That was taken from our church parking lot looking west. Isn't that awesome?? I'm so glad I had my camera with me then!! So fun!

BITTERSWEET HIATUS

The other night, my sister was kind enough to try to help me figure out my apparent complications with YouTube - seeing as they just won't accept my account for some reason? And after she had looked at it, it still just would not work. So, I jokingly (at the time) said "I guess I'm just not meant to blog!"

I hadn't seriously gotten that discouraged and side-lined by a silly computer 'glitch'. If it took so little with me, I'd have given it up a long time ago!! :) (Ask Mom... it only takes my poor computer about 15 minutes to connect and then about 30 more to really get going on something... and then about 30 more before it kicks me off!)

But, the more I've thought about it, the more I've decided that it might be a good thing for me to take a bit of a hiatus from doing my blog. I don't have any idea of how long. And I will most DEFINITELY still check in on the others in the meantime! But, I just really feel like I need to kind of step back and dig into the studies I've been blessed enough to find. And get really re-connected with God and what He's wanting me to learn right now. I've been through so much with Him in recent years and want that close bond back again and have just not been able to attain it. And I think I know what He's wanting of me. Complete surrender and obedience and 100% of my focus on Him. So, that's what I intend (and want) to do.

You know, I had all these ideas for my blog, but just haven't panned out thus far... which is frustrating... but maybe after I get back on track with the Lord, He'll help me with my computing!! :)

In advance, I thank you all for standing by while I figure some things out. And I appreciate any and all prayers in my finding my way through life right now.

Who knows... maybe I'll get it all figured out in record time and I'll be back before the sun goes down! (Ha!) :) Not for this slow study!!

I promise to keep up with all the other blogs though and y'all keep up the good work!

* (In the meantime... you gotta check out "the cutest pledge ever" over at Jodi's blog!) * http://www.jodiyork.com/2007/10/26/cutest-pledge-ever/

"RETURN TO ME, AND I WILL RETURN TO YOU," SAYS THE LORD ALMIGHTY.( MALACHI 3:7 *NIV )

There are times that we may find ourselves walking far from God.

Know that if ever that happens to you it is because we have moved, not because God has left us. FOR THE LORD YOUR GOD GOES WITH YOU; HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU. ( DEUTERONOMY 31:8 )

Therefore if you ever find yourself feeling far from our Heavenly Father, remember that God is there with open arms to receive you back. So, BRING YOUR PETITIONS AND RETURN TO THE LORD, SAY TO HIM,"FORGIVE ALL OUR SINS AND RECEIVE US GRACIOUSLY." For then He will say: "I WILL HEAL YOUR BACKSLIDING, I WILL LOVE YOU FREELY."( HOSEA 14: 2 & 4 )

After all that is His promise always, for JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER. ( HEBREWS 13:8 )

*This was my online devotion for today and it couldn't have come at a better time. I can so relate with backsliding and a spiritual walk filled with wandering. So, it is so refreshing to know that even when I take my eyes off of Him, He's still got his loving eyes on me. And no matter how far I might wander or drift, He promises to remain as solid as a rock. The rock of ALL ages. For any and all to cling to. The same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Thank you, Father!!

We're All Winners!!!

Well, as an update to my post from a couple of weeks ago... (and as I'm sure y'all have just been sittin' on the edge of your seats...) We got the phone call today at work.
WE ACTUALLY WON THE POO~POURRI CONTEST!
Can you believe it?!? Is that not hilarious??
We won for "Most Poo-tiful". So, now we can truly reign over all on our now legendary Golden Throne!
And for winning, as I'd mentioned before... we will receive $200 worth of credit (which made Sally's day trying to end out the year!) and 4 lovely jewel-adorned t-shirts for us to don! :)
(I guess mom knows what to be expecting from Santa this year!)

And, speaking of Mom, I just got a forward from her, that was an update from her good friend, Melisa at the quilt shop... She and Sweet Home Quilt Co. were just selected the favorite Atlanta area quilt shop!! And you may not realize it, but there is a LOT of competition out there! And she's only been in business for a year or two. Great job, Melisa et al...!
(Below is what Melisa had to say to all her friends:)

"THANKS to everyone who took the time to vote for us in the Fox 5 Atlanta Hot List contest. Sweet Home Quilt Co. was selected as the favorite Atlanta area quilt shop based solely on your votes, and we so appreciate your loyalty to us!
Every time I feel a little stressed, all I have to do is go to the Fox 5 website and read your wonderful comments about Sweet Home Quilt Co. and I feel better in no time! It is so gratifying to know that our mission to be your "quilting home away from home" has been realized.
We firmly believe that you are the cornerstone of any success we achieve, and we pledge to continue providing the best value and selection for all your quilting needs. But most of all, we will continue to provide the fun and friendship you've come to expect from Sweet Home Quilt Co.!"

WHEW! What an exciting WEEK!

Mary's Lamb

Mary had a little Lamb

His fleece was white as snow.

And everywhere that Mary went

The Lamb was sure to go.

He followed her to school each day

T'wasn't even in the rule.

It made the children laugh and play

To have a Lamb at school.

And then the rules all changed one day

Illegal it became.

To bring the Lamb of God to school

Or even speak His Name!

Every day got worse and worse

And days turned into years.

Instead of hearing children laugh

We heard gun shots and tears.

What must we do to stop the crime

That's in our schools today?

Let's let the Lamb come back to school

And teach our kids to pray!

Ten Things that make me Smile

:)

1. Just the thought of Fall!

2. Watching Emery sing his ABC's

3. Hearing Savannah tell knock-knock jokes that don't even make sense!

4. Walking out of bible study on Tuesday nights, just having been totally blown-away and truly touched.

5. Seeing sweet faces at the gift shop that I hadn't seen in a while.

(and now for some kinda crazy ones...)

6. Seeing my sweet cranes (as previously mentioned a LONG time ago) out in the 'pond' just down the road from me. I love it! Unfortunately, they're developing all of that into more living space, so they won't be there much longer, but just this morning, I drove by and there were two (!) out there! Bright white skinny little things standing in that murky water, facing each other like mirror images. It was so cute! I wish I'd had my camera for that!!

7. Hearing one of my (many) favorite songs come on!

8. Actually, just hearing music... the other day, I was sequestered in the 'dirt dungeon' at work, unpacking Christmas going stir-crazy because I didn't have any music under there. Then, after lunch, I got back in there when all of a sudden... from a distance... I heard something. "Could it be?" I thought. "No. Not under here. There are no outlets." (Billions of cords to who knows what... but not an outlet to be found.) First I thought I was just hallucinating. But, as I followed the sound and crawled closer to the space beneath the porch, I realized I hadn't made it up! There, hooked up to an extension cord that disappeared up under the porch (I can only assume it went from that wall straight up to Heaven!) was my little radio (I just KNEW the guys had 'stolen it' from me!) playing Reba McEntire!!! I was absolutely beside myself! (Perhaps I had spent too many hours unpacking Christmas in the 'dungeon.') But, it just made my day!

9. The few rare times I've actually been able to solve a word puzzle without cheating!!

10. This may sound completely ridiculous, but it's the one thing that absolutely just makes - my - day. (Doesn't take much with me.) When I'm loading up a box, or sometimes even a drawer of some kind and everything fits in there JUST RIGHT?!?! Oh - my - gosh! I just LOVE that!!! And you'd be amazed at how many times that actually happens!! :)

~ I was tagged to do this by Jodi over at Fruit Inspection. So, I now would like to tag Michelle over at Hendersons Highlights as well as Dianne at Glasses of Grace and see what makes their day! :)

Doesn't everybody like a good Potty?!

About a month ago, Sally met with a sales rep who was pushing Oprah's new promotional product. It's called "Poo~Pourri":

"Spritz the bowl before you go
and no one else will ever know!"

Of course, Sally thought it was a riot and bought a sufficient order of it for us to sell.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, they sent us a letter telling us how they're having a nation-wide contest for those who set the best display to promote the Poo-Pourri. Sally tells her daughter, Sarah (whose husband is a plumber) and together they come up with the whole idea behind our new focal point of the store.

First, she had the guys paint a common commode (donated by said son-in-law) GOLD. Then, she had them paint a pair of crossed plungers GOLD with a feather duster to make it look like a coat of arms of sorts - to go over the commode. Behind that is a lovely GOLD lame encased in a black boa. And though you can't quite tell from the photo... two lovely crystal chandeliers shed light on it all. Oh! And the best part - Charlie Cherub that she happened to find over in the conference room! Although we have NO idea how he wound up in the conference room, I think he's finally found his calling and found a home on our new little 'golden throne'.

*

The prize for first place?

*

$200.00 worth of product credit.

*

So, I guess, wish us luck and you can all be expecting some to fill the ole stockings come Christmas-time!! :)

Menu Plan Monday Mystery

You know, every Monday I read on all the other blogs about what everyone's having to eat for the entire week. And although everyone else gets inspired by the menu ideas, I just find myself sitting back both impressed and intrigued.

First of all, because I am not a planner. For anything. I'd much rather take life as it comes and decide what to do when it gets here. The thought of planning out what I want to eat for the rest of the week... well, is just simply not me. Who knows what I'll be in the mood for by Thursday or Friday?

Secondly, I only buy at the grocery store what I can carry in a basket. It really tends to keep my budget in tact - especially when I need potatoes or Orange Juice - you know, things that already weigh half of what I weigh! So, although some really gifted short order cooks could probably whip up something from nothing... (and I have improved in this area) there's only so much you can do with bread, cheese, pasta and potatoes.

Thirdly, I only visit my lovely Publix up the road about once every two or three weeks. Basically, only when I have to. I avoid it like the plague. I don't mind it too bad once I get there, but it's just not very high on my priority list. So, I try to eat off of the little bit I have for as long as possible. By this point, I pretty much eat like a field mouse. I've trained my body to store what food I do take in. I make a little something from nothing from the little food I've accumulated and stored. And many days, I consume food that most would label "iffy" at best. But, I figure, "what doesn't kill you, only makes you stronger!"

Lastly, is the fact that it's Monday. And although I always have great hopes and intentions for my beautiful day off, by the time it rolls around, I'm generally quite lazy. I might pick some things up. Do a little laundry. Pay a few bills. But, then I watch a little tv. Listen to a little music. Dilly-dally on the computer. Get a little side-tracked. Basically, I am the queen of procrastination.

But, because of all of my inpiring menu planning sisters out there... I did take the initiative today to take a look at what I had in my fridge and actually clean it up! (That's a start, right?) And, as you can tell by the before and after pictures, that was a bit long over-due. And just out of curiosity, I tried to determine what exactly was the most out-dated item lurking in there? It was a tight race between the strawberry gel filling that was out-dated in October of '04 and some honey mustard sauce that had April '04 on it!

I just wish I could say that now that I'm all cleaned up and ready to go that I am now all inspired to actually restock and cook to my little heart's content, but you know what? I just don't see that happenin'. After all, I still have enough in there to at least throw together a quick omelet!

Besides, I did already clean out the fridge and all and now I'm missing "Gilmore Girls"!

Maybe I'll join up with y'all should I ever actually have someone else depending on me to feed them! :)

(In the meantime, I will try to at least get some ketchup should the Yorks ever stop back by again.)

Hallelujah!

I just got out of church and do you know that the ice water I had left in there during service STILL HAD ICE IN IT when I got out?!? And Rob preached today! :) It was a good solid two hours! And you know I was in late service... so it didn't melt, even by NOON!

I never thought I'd see the day again, that I myself wasn't a melted mess by noon! Thank God for fall ~ Ahhhhhhhh ~ how nice to breathe once again.

You know, we're told in Ecclesiastes that "there is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven."

A time for Summer.

A time for Fall.

A time for our endurance to be tested (Jodi wouldn't correlate this with Summer, but this is my blog and I do).

And a time for sweet relief! (of course, this would be Fall for me).

So, why is it, every year I'm always so excitedly surprised when Fall actually comes back around? Like I had convinced myself that the sweltering Summer would somehow just last forever?

It may just be me, but when I'm in a season of any testing, it's so hard for me to imagine that I'll ever see that season of sweet relief. But, I suppose that's the whole point of faith. Believing that which is often contrary to what you can actually see and feel.

"It's believing:

~in the sun even when it doesn't shine
~in love even when you don't feel it
~in God even when He is silent"

~in Fall, even on the 110 degree days!

And maybe one day, I won't be so surprised by my beloved, Fall when it rolls back around and instead knowingly look forward to it in the throes of my dreaded Summer.

"REEL" FUN at ECC!

~

7:00 pm

*

Saturday, September 15th

*

Eastridge Community Church

*

Popcorn Bar, Pretzels, and

Nachos will be served along with soft drinks and water.

*

Movie to be shown in the lower parking lot.

Please bring a lawn chair.

We just got back from "Chick Flick" night at Eastridge and I'm so glad I got to go! The girls put together a good time for us by providing some good movie-style popcorn, nachos with cheese and hot-served pretzels. Then they provided the entertainment via a big blow-up screen in the lower parking lot of the church.

We had AWESOME weather! By today the rain had passed on through and it was a beautiful fall evening.

And the video we watched was Anita Renfroe's latest "Total Momsense". She's the same one I had mentioned having seen and enjoyed at the Women of Faith Conference about a month or so ago.

She - is - HILARIOUS!! I'm so glad more of the women of the church got to experience her.

And I'm so glad to be part of a church that does such cool stuff together!! Thanks ECC girls! Y'all are awesome.