Made friends with a new kind of tater. That's all I need is more carbs in my life.
Finished off a bottle of Windex that I probably began using 5 years ago....and I'm being generous. If you want to see what's going on outside, open the door and walk out there and see. I now have 42 (small pane) clean windows. Only 30,000 more to go.
Took more pictures of Japanese Magnolia trees. How many pictures is enough? I suspect somewhere in the billions I guess.
Had a 5 minute discussion with Addy (the dog). She really is quite knowledgeable about world affairs.
I may have forgotten some things. I need to carry a notebook around with me cause I'm brilliant away from the computer!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The week I just lived
Not much happening this week, but I think I've made some progress about worrying. I've been thinking logically about what good worry does me. I've heard much preaching about not worrying. I've read many times about what Jesus said about worrying. In a nutshell? He said don't do it. But I have. I've spent a lot of time working out my problems in my head but to no avail. And then this week things began to change. This week God planted a seed in my head. He asked me to try to remember something, anything I've made better by worrying. Did it make a paycheck bigger or make a sick person well or make one single outcome better? The answer to all of these questions of course was no. Couldn't think of a thing. Nothing. So NEWSFLASH, worrying hasn't changed one thing in my life for the better.
As the week unfolded, every time I found myself trying to work out a problem in my head, I shut the door on worry and I turned my focus to something else. I'm happy to report so far, it's been a success. I know there's more work to do but I'm determined to continue to turn my problems over to God and never take them back, because I can't change any of it anyway, only God can. I'm also determined to stop saying I'm working on ANYTHING about myself because it's not accurate, at least it's not for me. Think about it for one minute. What of myself can I fix on my own? The answer is absolutely nothing. Only God can make things better in me. I just have to be willing to let Him. And I've chosen to do that. I've chosen to say, I'll turn everything over to you and just go along for the ride, be it bumpy or smooth. So because of these developments, I'm pleased to say I'm happy with my progress as a human being this week.
Which brings me to this, last night I talked to someone I hadn't seen in years. I didn't recognize her. She recognized me. She was cute and petite and I thought she looked adorable. We talked for about 15 minutes and just as I was about to leave she told me her 22 year old son had died 2 months ago. Then she said, "I hope it gets better." As she spoke about him it was clear her heart was broken. But if she hadn't told me about her son, I'd have left thinking she had it all. She "looked" like someone that did. She didn't. And it was one more reminder to me to never believe what you see with your eyes. People are hurting and hiding it everywhere. It doesn't make me glad to know it. It just makes me feel much less lonely knowing I'm not the only one struggling at life.
And that's the week I lived. Here's hoping for great days ahead, even if I have no idea what's about to happen.
As the week unfolded, every time I found myself trying to work out a problem in my head, I shut the door on worry and I turned my focus to something else. I'm happy to report so far, it's been a success. I know there's more work to do but I'm determined to continue to turn my problems over to God and never take them back, because I can't change any of it anyway, only God can. I'm also determined to stop saying I'm working on ANYTHING about myself because it's not accurate, at least it's not for me. Think about it for one minute. What of myself can I fix on my own? The answer is absolutely nothing. Only God can make things better in me. I just have to be willing to let Him. And I've chosen to do that. I've chosen to say, I'll turn everything over to you and just go along for the ride, be it bumpy or smooth. So because of these developments, I'm pleased to say I'm happy with my progress as a human being this week.
Which brings me to this, last night I talked to someone I hadn't seen in years. I didn't recognize her. She recognized me. She was cute and petite and I thought she looked adorable. We talked for about 15 minutes and just as I was about to leave she told me her 22 year old son had died 2 months ago. Then she said, "I hope it gets better." As she spoke about him it was clear her heart was broken. But if she hadn't told me about her son, I'd have left thinking she had it all. She "looked" like someone that did. She didn't. And it was one more reminder to me to never believe what you see with your eyes. People are hurting and hiding it everywhere. It doesn't make me glad to know it. It just makes me feel much less lonely knowing I'm not the only one struggling at life.
And that's the week I lived. Here's hoping for great days ahead, even if I have no idea what's about to happen.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Big Frank's Flowering Quince
Went by Mom's the other day for a visit and saw Dad's lovely flowering quince blooming, along with some of his daffodils. What a lovely sight to behold. I'm sure he'd be pleased that spring is springing and outside will soon be the place to be. He loved being outdoors. Would be grand to see him puttering around his backyard as I passed and honked and he waved without looking as I went by. There's gotta be a fantastic outdoors in heaven. Don't ya think?
Monday, February 21, 2011
Pretty little flowers
You might never know these little flowers were weeds in my backyard if I didn't tell you, but lovely little flowers they are nonetheless.
Spring is almost here and I can't wait! The best place to be during Spring is Corsicana, not sure I'll be able to make it there, but here's hoping.
Cold weather stay away!
If I'm very still, I can almost hear the sound of flowers beginning to bust open everywhere. It's very exciting!
Spring is almost here and I can't wait! The best place to be during Spring is Corsicana, not sure I'll be able to make it there, but here's hoping.
Cold weather stay away!
If I'm very still, I can almost hear the sound of flowers beginning to bust open everywhere. It's very exciting!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Love notes from God
I want to feel more true love from the father than I ever have before. I do now, but not enough. One of the ways I'm working on feeling the love of God is in every day life. I practice this for a while and then I get focused on "what's next" in the day and before I know it, I've forgotten to look for what our family calls little love notes from God. They really are EVERYWHERE if you start paying attention. Here are just a few from this week.
I was walking into a building the other day feeling a bit nervous and as I was going in, I heard a morning dove call. Every time I hear that, I know God's sending me a little kiss on the cheek. I hear it a lot. That day He was reminding me I wasn't alone.
One afternoon this week I was driving to the college to get one of my girls and as I was passing a field I looked over to see two white cranes taking off in flight gracefully flying away as their big wings floated gently in the breeze. It was a lovely sight to behold and the beauty of it made me sigh a little.
I took these cloud pictures in July and put them away and haven't looked at them again. Well, the other night I was looking for some pictures to post and in the little closed folder of cloud pictures, I saw this peeking back at me. I opened the folder and was taken by surprise because I don't remember seeing this when I took the pictures last summer.
Have a look at the love note in the sky.
God does magnificent work if only I'd take the time to notice more often. It's just one more thing I'm working on changing.
I was walking into a building the other day feeling a bit nervous and as I was going in, I heard a morning dove call. Every time I hear that, I know God's sending me a little kiss on the cheek. I hear it a lot. That day He was reminding me I wasn't alone.
One afternoon this week I was driving to the college to get one of my girls and as I was passing a field I looked over to see two white cranes taking off in flight gracefully flying away as their big wings floated gently in the breeze. It was a lovely sight to behold and the beauty of it made me sigh a little.
I took these cloud pictures in July and put them away and haven't looked at them again. Well, the other night I was looking for some pictures to post and in the little closed folder of cloud pictures, I saw this peeking back at me. I opened the folder and was taken by surprise because I don't remember seeing this when I took the pictures last summer.
Have a look at the love note in the sky.
God does magnificent work if only I'd take the time to notice more often. It's just one more thing I'm working on changing.
OH MY GOODNESS
We've been doing first game day in the same yard with the same boy for a lot of years now.
I could squeeze this little boy if only I could find him.
But sadly he's gone forever.
I'm really liking the young man who's taken his place.
Ummm hmmm, yes I do.
I could squeeze this little boy if only I could find him.
But sadly he's gone forever.
I'm really liking the young man who's taken his place.
Ummm hmmm, yes I do.
Correcting some things and love notes
I need to clarify something from the post I did last week about feeling like a failure. My mother was somewhat disturbed by it, and after a conversation with her I now know I did a really poor job of expressing what I meant when I said I felt like a failure every day. No one likes to fail, at least I don't know anyone that does, so I think I'm in the majority when I say I hate to fail at anything. But, when I seriously screw up, instead of brushing it off and moving forward, I repeatedly beat myself up about all the things I did wrong or could have done better. And this doesn't just apply to things that happened recently, oh no. I even rethink things that I did wrong way back in the day. I'm talking waaaaayyyyyy back. I won't even say how far I reach back, but it's a fer piece. I've had to pack multi bags to travel back so far.
Now what I really should have said is I don't sit around all day telling myself, "Oh you're such a failure." What I should have said is it's how I deal with my failures that I need to get better at handling. I give myself very little grace. The grace God gives me so freely, I withhold from myself constantly. So the place I'm trying to get to is where I realize that even when I tried my best with what I had at the time....and I still stink it up....it won't be the end of the world and God won't be shaking his head at all I did wrong. So far, in my life, forgiving myself for multiple stupidities is one of the hardest things I've ever done.
Right now, I'm amazed at the things God's using to teach me about myself. Things between him and me. Lately, I've pictured myself somewhere or will remember something that happened and I actually say to God, "Do you remember that day?" "Did you see what happened there?" He's slowly and patiently trying to get me to let it go. I'm working on it, but my hurts and failures are on a Rolodex file in my head in chronological order. I whip em out when I have time on my hands.
I know I've written about this before and I'm disappointed that I'm not over it yet, but I'm believing it'll work itself out. In the past, things I've fought so hard to overcome have eventually just melted away without me even realizing it was finished. That part always amazes me. I hear myself telling God, "Fix it, fix it, fix it!!" Then one day.....and I didn't even notice....it's just gone.
One of these days it'll be different.
One of these days failures will brush off of me like I didn't even notice them.
I'll take the lessons learned and never look back.
I look forward to that day.
Now what I really should have said is I don't sit around all day telling myself, "Oh you're such a failure." What I should have said is it's how I deal with my failures that I need to get better at handling. I give myself very little grace. The grace God gives me so freely, I withhold from myself constantly. So the place I'm trying to get to is where I realize that even when I tried my best with what I had at the time....and I still stink it up....it won't be the end of the world and God won't be shaking his head at all I did wrong. So far, in my life, forgiving myself for multiple stupidities is one of the hardest things I've ever done.
Right now, I'm amazed at the things God's using to teach me about myself. Things between him and me. Lately, I've pictured myself somewhere or will remember something that happened and I actually say to God, "Do you remember that day?" "Did you see what happened there?" He's slowly and patiently trying to get me to let it go. I'm working on it, but my hurts and failures are on a Rolodex file in my head in chronological order. I whip em out when I have time on my hands.
I know I've written about this before and I'm disappointed that I'm not over it yet, but I'm believing it'll work itself out. In the past, things I've fought so hard to overcome have eventually just melted away without me even realizing it was finished. That part always amazes me. I hear myself telling God, "Fix it, fix it, fix it!!" Then one day.....and I didn't even notice....it's just gone.
One of these days it'll be different.
One of these days failures will brush off of me like I didn't even notice them.
I'll take the lessons learned and never look back.
I look forward to that day.
Monday, February 14, 2011
The happenings of this week
This week is just about the busiest week of the year at my house with Valentine's day, John's and my 26th anniversary, Owen's baseball season beginning and Emma's 20th birthday. All will be celebrated in some form be it small or smaller. (If Emma ever read my blog, she'd give me an earful.)
So far Valentines' day has been very quiet around here. I managed my online bakery (LOVE IT) washed towels and dried towels. In the next few minutes I'll break up my V day excitement by folding the clean clothes and rejoicing in the fact that since I've washed and dried everything for another week, I'll no longer have to listen to my dryer squeaking. The squeaking of the dryer began over 2 weeks ago. It's the loveliest sound you've ever heard. Just imagine a very loud squeak....any squeak....and imagine it for hours and hours and hours. It makes my day so grand. I'd bet quite a lot of money if John were home all day listening to the squeaking, the fixing of the dryer would race to the top of the priority charts to number one with a bullet! And yes I know there are repair men to call, but there's one other thing that's squeaking louder than my dryer and that's my dadgum wallet.
I received yellow roses for Valentine's day. Lovely. And it's been a looonnnggggg time since I saw a petal in my house, so kudos to John for that. The very valentiny taco salad will be the official V day supper here at the house and then the day will round out with watching any American Pickers. People please refrain from being jealous.
Wednesday marks the beginning of the 26th year that John and I haven't killed each other. Sound romantic? Now, that was a joke and only a joke. We really like each other MOST of the time, but I'm not now nor have I EVER been a mushy person and therefore will not be going for a mushy blog. In general I'm not a person who enjoys public displays of affection and thank goodness John's not either. Wednesday we'll probably high five each other and go out to dinner and MAYBE if we go crazy, a movie. We stopped caring about gifting each other about 3 sets of orthodontic procedures ago. In another 10 years, we'll owe each other $250,000 worth of ungiven gifts. John's been blessed with a wife that doesn't wear jewelry of any kind, including....on most days....a wedding ring. I can't stand stuff hanging off of me....even if it's diamonds and pearls. So, if my jewelry wearing ever kicks into gear, he'll have LOTS of ground to cover in a short period of time. But that's not bloody likely to happen. All in all John's quite handy to have around. I think we made a good decision by unionizing 26 years ago.
Owen's 30 game baseball season begins Friday afternoon. If in the next few months you're looking for me, it's a safe bet I'll be at the ball park in Monroe, Ruston, Franklin Parish, Rayville or West Monroe. My head's already reeling from the amount of hours this commitment will require. Baseball games can last for up to 18 days at a time. OY. I'll be posting a picture of him in his first game day uniform. Also he made the gold card level of the Renaissance Club at school again. The requirements for it are: all A's, no tardies and no absences. My high school career was far from gold. I'll just leave that riigghhtttt there. I counted 14 trips up and down "main street" the other day picking up and dropping off any or all of my kids from one place to another. My taxi driving skills are top notch as long as forgetting people is part of the job. OOPS! Yes I've forgotten one or 2 of my peeps in my day to day chauffeuring.
Sunday will be Emma's 20th birthday and on that day, 50% of my children will no longer be teenagers. If it weren't for my "coiffure specialist" I'd look my ENTIRE age. A few months ago a lady I'd just met went on and on about how I didn't look 51 years old and I was all like, "Awesome!!" until hours later I realized if she saw my REAL hair color she'd not be saying that. It was a let down to say the least.
I'll bring this post to a close as some of my peeps are walking in the door and will surely be snatching this computer to do Math and other school work.
Happy Valentine's day to all.
So far Valentines' day has been very quiet around here. I managed my online bakery (LOVE IT) washed towels and dried towels. In the next few minutes I'll break up my V day excitement by folding the clean clothes and rejoicing in the fact that since I've washed and dried everything for another week, I'll no longer have to listen to my dryer squeaking. The squeaking of the dryer began over 2 weeks ago. It's the loveliest sound you've ever heard. Just imagine a very loud squeak....any squeak....and imagine it for hours and hours and hours. It makes my day so grand. I'd bet quite a lot of money if John were home all day listening to the squeaking, the fixing of the dryer would race to the top of the priority charts to number one with a bullet! And yes I know there are repair men to call, but there's one other thing that's squeaking louder than my dryer and that's my dadgum wallet.
I received yellow roses for Valentine's day. Lovely. And it's been a looonnnggggg time since I saw a petal in my house, so kudos to John for that. The very valentiny taco salad will be the official V day supper here at the house and then the day will round out with watching any American Pickers. People please refrain from being jealous.
Wednesday marks the beginning of the 26th year that John and I haven't killed each other. Sound romantic? Now, that was a joke and only a joke. We really like each other MOST of the time, but I'm not now nor have I EVER been a mushy person and therefore will not be going for a mushy blog. In general I'm not a person who enjoys public displays of affection and thank goodness John's not either. Wednesday we'll probably high five each other and go out to dinner and MAYBE if we go crazy, a movie. We stopped caring about gifting each other about 3 sets of orthodontic procedures ago. In another 10 years, we'll owe each other $250,000 worth of ungiven gifts. John's been blessed with a wife that doesn't wear jewelry of any kind, including....on most days....a wedding ring. I can't stand stuff hanging off of me....even if it's diamonds and pearls. So, if my jewelry wearing ever kicks into gear, he'll have LOTS of ground to cover in a short period of time. But that's not bloody likely to happen. All in all John's quite handy to have around. I think we made a good decision by unionizing 26 years ago.
Owen's 30 game baseball season begins Friday afternoon. If in the next few months you're looking for me, it's a safe bet I'll be at the ball park in Monroe, Ruston, Franklin Parish, Rayville or West Monroe. My head's already reeling from the amount of hours this commitment will require. Baseball games can last for up to 18 days at a time. OY. I'll be posting a picture of him in his first game day uniform. Also he made the gold card level of the Renaissance Club at school again. The requirements for it are: all A's, no tardies and no absences. My high school career was far from gold. I'll just leave that riigghhtttt there. I counted 14 trips up and down "main street" the other day picking up and dropping off any or all of my kids from one place to another. My taxi driving skills are top notch as long as forgetting people is part of the job. OOPS! Yes I've forgotten one or 2 of my peeps in my day to day chauffeuring.
Sunday will be Emma's 20th birthday and on that day, 50% of my children will no longer be teenagers. If it weren't for my "coiffure specialist" I'd look my ENTIRE age. A few months ago a lady I'd just met went on and on about how I didn't look 51 years old and I was all like, "Awesome!!" until hours later I realized if she saw my REAL hair color she'd not be saying that. It was a let down to say the least.
I'll bring this post to a close as some of my peeps are walking in the door and will surely be snatching this computer to do Math and other school work.
Happy Valentine's day to all.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
My Keeper never slumbers
I read many devotionals every day. I received this one a few months ago and never got around to posting it but the subject is something that never changes. I need to be reminded of this frequently. I like to know that God is watching over me and even though I stumble quite often, He's still pleased with me. Even though God doesn't see me as a failure, I fight believing I am one every single day of my life. I still hope one day I won't believe it or have to fight it. Until then, I appreciate words like this one. I just have to learn to believe it about myself.
This devotional is distributed through email and is written by Bev Robinson. Her Husband Ras does one as well. I've been receiving it for a couple of years now and it never fails to speak to me.
The name of it is:
What the Lord is saying Today
I am always here for you. I never sleep and never slumber. Sometimes you wonder if I I will be there for you when you need Me. I will always be there with you. I have what you need when you need it. I have not left you alone. You need not spend any more time wondering, I watch over you with joy, seeing who you are now but also seeing who you are becoming. I am the Alpha and Omega, and see the end from the beginning. One day you will look back astounded at where you came from. My special precious one remain thankful and be at peace.
Psalms 121:1-4 (MLB) I RAISE my eyes toward the hills. Whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Keeper will never slumber. Behold, the Keeper of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."
Bev Robinson
This devotional is distributed through email and is written by Bev Robinson. Her Husband Ras does one as well. I've been receiving it for a couple of years now and it never fails to speak to me.
The name of it is:
What the Lord is saying Today
I am always here for you. I never sleep and never slumber. Sometimes you wonder if I I will be there for you when you need Me. I will always be there with you. I have what you need when you need it. I have not left you alone. You need not spend any more time wondering, I watch over you with joy, seeing who you are now but also seeing who you are becoming. I am the Alpha and Omega, and see the end from the beginning. One day you will look back astounded at where you came from. My special precious one remain thankful and be at peace.
Psalms 121:1-4 (MLB) I RAISE my eyes toward the hills. Whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; your Keeper will never slumber. Behold, the Keeper of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep."
Bev Robinson
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Look what I just found in my bed
He's even on my side of the bed. I think he was hiding under the bed until I left the room. I wondered what the noise was earlier that sounded like, "AHHHHHHHHH."
It's official! Every single person and pet in this house that's not assigned to sleep in my room chooses to wallow on my side of the bed.
It's ridiculous.
Oh and SHOCKER!! It's raining! Not snowing! Every single weather person in America should be ashamed of themselves.
It's official! Every single person and pet in this house that's not assigned to sleep in my room chooses to wallow on my side of the bed.
It's ridiculous.
Oh and SHOCKER!! It's raining! Not snowing! Every single weather person in America should be ashamed of themselves.
Check it out
The other night the girls had a make up party. I think I was expecting them to play with regular looks and see what worked best for them. Well, Emma became a canvas for Caitlin. Have a look at what the final result was. It may be a bit too dramatic for Sunday morning church, but what a great job! I started to put a picture of Natalie Portman on here to compare but then I got nervous thinking I might get in trouble for copyright infringement so I decided not to! If you want to compare, go look up a picture of Natalie....it's a pretty great copy of the real thing.
See what art ability I passed down to my children? From stick people with triangle dresses and top hat snails to this.
Amazing
Scary
Intimidating
And then sleepy.
See what art ability I passed down to my children? From stick people with triangle dresses and top hat snails to this.
Amazing
Scary
Intimidating
And then sleepy.
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