SO much going on, so little time!

Hi, everyone! I'm sorry I've been kind of MIA this week; between the show, and having a houseful of family, I'm a bit busy this week.

Aren't they adorable? These are my nieces and nephew; they are moving from a base in Georgia to one in Oklahoma, and are visiting for a few days. I am so blessed to get a little time with them; we don't get much because of their schedules and our schedules. One of my nieces and my brother-in-law are finishing moving chores, and won't be here until tomorrow night. Phew, what a week it's been - this weekend is a tech weekend, which means painting, sawing, and lots of construction work for the show.

We'll get back to our regular week next week. For today, I want to leave you with this - it arrived in my email box, and blessed me. I hope it does the same for you. :) GOD BLESS YOU, dear one!!!!!!!!!! Please keep leaving comments; Karen, I have them emailed directly to my email, so I DO read them all. Sometimes I just don't have a chance to respond before life takes over. :D

Things That Help Each Day

1. Faith is the ability to not panic.

2. If you worry, you didn't pray. If you prayed, don't worry.

3. As a child of God, prayer is like calling home every day.

4. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

5. When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

6. Do the math. Count your blessings.

7. God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

8. Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.

9. Silence is often misinterpreted, but never misquoted.

10. Laugh every day - it's like inner jogging.

11. The most important things in your home are God, then the other people.

12. Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional. (Preach it!)

13. There is no key to happiness. The door is always open. Come on in.

14. A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.

15. He who dies with the most toys is still dead.

16. We do not remember days but moments. Life moves too fast so enjoy your precious moments.

17. Nothing is real to you until you experience it; otherwise it's just hearsay.

18. It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.

19. Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.

20. Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting. Leave gentle fingerprints on the soul of another for the angels to read. I don't want to get to the end of my life and find that I lived just the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.

It's MONDAY!!!

Good morning, dear friend! How are you? How was your weekend?? Did you enjoy your time with family and/or friends? I thought our sermon yesterday was fantastic, and have been looking forward to sharing it with you. :)

It was called "Love Secrets" - the pastor was wrapping up a month of love sermons - but I honestly felt like it should be called "LIFE Secrets"; the principles allpy to everyday relationships, not just to "significant others". :)

First, referencing I John 4:16 & John 15:12, HOW TO PUT LOVE FIRST TO MAKE LOVE LAST.

I John 4:16: And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

John 15:12: My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Pretty clear, right? :)

Second. WHAT YOU BELIEVE TO BE SO BECOMES SO. Ref: Proverbs 23:7: for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you. I think this was the most unclear point reference for me! :)

Third - emphasis mine!:D - YOUR ATTITUDE IS CONTAGIOUS! Ref: Matthew 17:20: He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Pastor was using this about your marriage: believe that your marriage is good. Don't be looking outside, comparing to other people. Believe YOUR MARRIAGE is everything you need, and it will become so.

Fourth - again, emphasis mine! :D - Happiness is a CHOICE. He used Matthew 5:5-6 as a reference - the Beatitudes - but I don't think that HAPPINESS, per se, if a fruit of the Spirit, and I think it's a secular belief that we have to be HAPPY. I don't see that Scripturally ANYWHERE - and I have a hard time believing some of the Biblical characters we esteem were happy in their circumstances. But we can be BLESSED in any circumstance - because we are BLESSED AND HIGHLY-FAVORED BY GOD! :)

Fifth, THE LOVE YOU REFUSE TO GIVE, YOU LOSE. Ref: Acts 20:35: In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'

So. There are days when I don't make the choice to BE blessed and highly favored. This is something God's been speaking to me a lot lately; dear friend, YOU are blessed and highly favored! Dont' accept the LIE that Satan is trying to sell you, that you're not worthy and that no one cares.

We are, indeed, blessed. We ARE highly favored. We are daughters of the everlasting God, Who is all-powerful. God is LOVE.

We are loved.

Have a wonderful day! :) I can't wait to hear from you!

It's SHOW & TELL!!

Good morning, everyone!!! It's Show & Tell Friday, hosted by Kelli - be sure and check out her beautiful website! :) Kelli also is the winner of my giveaway this week; her prize is still sitting here, but I PROMISE it will go out before Sunday. :D

So, here is my newest tradeout acquisition! :)

Yes, once again brought to me by Bobbie Jo & Marti at http://www.livingwaterhandbags.com/, this was specially embroidered just for me. :) It's a cloth bag, and I think I'm going to use it to carry Bible study supplies - or perhaps theater supplies, like my script, pencils, water, etc. :)

I think it's just darling!!! I love having my Living Water purses, because they remind me to walk my talk. I just can't act like a nasty person if I've got the Word with me, you know?

I LOVE Show & Tell - we all visit each other's blogs, and you get to see great things! If you're interested in following along, visit Kelli's blog!

You NEED to go check out Lysa's post from yesterday.

I have Lysa's blog in the link list at the right of the screen, but you simply NEED to go check out her post from yesterday, here.

I have been talking about this to people all week, but Lysa put it SO WELL into words. Please, dear one, go read it. God will touch you. He loves you!

Happy Thursday!!!

Good morning, dear friends! Forgive my absence yesterday; I was just having a ME day. :) Amy and I went out in the morning, and I took care of show business most of the afternoon. Kenn & I went to turn on heat in the theater space - it's FREEZING in there!!! - and then went to get some Chinese food for dinner. I'd been craving it since Monday. LOL!!

Anyway. Here I am! :) Aren't my flowers pretty??? They were left over from a production at the theater last weekend, and I was allowed to bring a few home. They're SO pretty, and smell sooooo good. There's just something luxurious about the way roses smell - and the feel of their petals, too. They've lasted all week - even the dreenery, which usually starts shedding its fronds. :) I've enjoyed them SO much!

Have you had a blessing like this one this week? Something that's small, but that continues to give you joy and/or pleasure? Share with me! :) I can't tell you how important it is to look for those things, dear one. God keeps putting things like this into our lives; it's one of His ways of showing you how MUCH He loves YOU. Have you enjoyed watching the birds at your feeder? Or watching the sun set? How about your child's hearty laughter? You're SURROUNDED by God's saying, "I love you! Take delight in what I've put around you - that's why it's there!"

So. :) There's a website called Fun, Crafts, & Recipes that, every Friday, puts out four food questions. I just found it, and want to start answering the questions! :D Here were last week's:

Here are this week’s four questions.
#1. Steak. Plain, steak sauce, hot sauce, ketchup or something else?

#2. Water. Flavored, plain, carbonated. How do you like it?

#3. What’s your favorite kind of waffle?

#4. If you could have any one new small appliance for your kitchen what would it be and why?

1. I like my steak with some A1 steak sauce. I always put some Worchestershire sauce, salt, & pepper on before we grill them, but I like the extra TANG of the A1. :)

2. Well, actually, I like the flavoring mix sticks you can put into your bottled water. My favorite lately has been Walmart's version of sugar-free Tang, the orange drink. :) I need to pick some more up, as a matter of fact.... :)

3. Gosh! I don't eat a lot of waffles. I love chocolate chip ones, of course. :) Maine blueberries are good, too. I also like IHOP's harvest grain ones. I'm really not picky! :)

4. Wow. Ummm....Maybe a fry daddy? We have a lot of great appliances already; if I didn't have a Kitchen Aid stand mixer, THAT would be my choice - but I do. :D

Fun questions! I'm looking forward to the next set, coming out tomorrow. :)

OK, dear ones, I'm going to run. I have lots of work I don't want to do still waiting for me. :D I'll see you soon! PLEASE know you are loved; He's waiting to talk to you today. Have you had your conversation with Him?

It's Tuesday - and we have a WINNER!!!

It's GOAL DAY here on Wannabe!! :) That means we ALL check in with how we're doing on our goals - and if someone doesn't check in, I pull out my folder to check up on you. BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!! Accountability works, darn it. :D

But before I do that, we had a giveaway on this blog last week; all anyone had to do was leave a comment. Kenn drew a random number, and the winner is....

Kelli, from THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

Congratulations, Kelli! i've already been to Kelli's blog, to ask for her address. :) She has 5 photo cards and 15 handcrafted cards coming to her, as a thank-you for commenting, and reading. But THANK YOU to all of you - you're the reason I'm here! I LOVE YOU!

SO. On to today's business!!!!

My goals: office hours still aren't happening, and I'm becoming a little more OK with that. Our schedule, because of the nature of our businesses, doesn't loan itself to that. So, I do the best I can - and that will be sufficient, because God is. :D

Activity-wise, I'm still not being able to hit water aerobics like I want to - this play thing is starting to hit high gear, so I'm even busier with things! - but I am increasing my daily activities like walking, stair-climbing, etc. According to the experts, every little bit helps! :)

Bible-reading, I've at least started again! I'm still off my schedule, but I am going to catch up eventually. The important thing is that I haven't totally abandoned it - thanks, Damien. :)

SO, ladies! How are YOU doing? Nancy? What's this week's project to work on? Becky, how are things going at your house? I know a lot of your goals and priorities have changed since the beginning of the year.... Rhonda, how is your budget going? I'm VERY proud of you! :) Sheri? Deby? Are you still checking in? Judy? You here? Karen, dear one? I know the emotions have been tough lately. Are you OK?

OK, dear ones. I have a question for you: would it hurt terribly if we changed goal-setting day until another day of the week? Since no one seems to want to be introduced anymore ;), we have Wed., Thurs., and Saturday we could move it to - and that way, I could share pictures from the weekend before I forgot about them. ROFL!!!!

Have a wonderful, blessed, beautiful day. You know, I don't think it's up to me to be blessed, myself; it's up to me to be a BLESSING!!!!!!!!! Bless someone today, dear sister, and be amazed at how God turns it into a blessing for you!

It's MONDAY! :)

Good morning, dear friend!! How was your weekend? Did you enjoy yourself? Did you do something fun, or mostly task-oriented?

What did you do to grow spiritually yesterday? We went to Sunday School, but I've been fighting "female problems" the last week, so Kenn decided we were going to come home after Sunday School - which was fine with me, since dishrags have trouble concentrating. :D

Sunday School was about asking God for guidance, and then following through on the guidance you receive. We talked about the ways that God shows you guidance; one of the best studies I've EVER done was by Priscilla Shirer, DISCERNING THE VOICE OF GOD. It's an incredible Bible study, and I encourage all women's ministries to do it!

In Sunday School, we're also memorizing Scripture together. It's been really fun - when I've not been sick, anyway. :D We memorized all of Psalm 1, then Proverbs 3:5-6, then Hebrews 11:1. This week is Hebrews 11:6.

So, it's your turn to share! :) What did you learn? Tell me anything you want me to know about your weekend, too - I care!!!! :)

Oh, I forgot! Since I didn't get in to remind you, I'll give you until the end of today to comment and win my blog giveaway - a mixture of handmade and photography greeting cards. :) Just leave a comment before MIDNIGHT CENTRAL TIME TONIGHT!

Off to work - I have a class tonight, and need to finish the samples. :D Have a wonderful, BLESSED day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Show & Tell Friday!

Welcome to Show & Tell Friday, sponsored by Kelli! Go drop by her beautiful website - and participate, if you have a blog! It's FUN!

So, today's item is my husband. :D He tells me all the time he's mine, so that's what counts, right? So, when I got up yesterday, I came down and made him cookies in the shape of hearts - he LOVES cookies! - and fresh English Toffee coffee from Kat's Coffees. He was very happy when he came down to cookies and coffee. :) That mug is one I got him a couple of Christmases ago; We've adopted Grumpy as his prepresentative Disney character. :D He posed like this while I was taking pictures of the cookies, and held it until I got the shot - which means he wanted me to take THIS one. :D

Here are the cookies themselves - they spead out a bit more than I thought they were going to, but you could still tell they were hearts, especially if you squinted and looked at them sideways. :D

He's at work today, and I have a LOT of work to do today, so I'm off! Have a BLESSED day, everyone, and be sure and visit Kelli's blog! Oh, and don't forget the blog candy from yesterday - be sure to enter!!!!!

YOU ARE LOVED - pass it on!!! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! To those of you who celebrate it, anyway. I've always been rather disappointed in this day - in college, I refused to celebrate it - until my last senior year, when some friends refused to let me stay home by myself. They brought me flowers, and one of them - a dear Indian guy - fixed me real chicken curry. Ahhh, memories. :D

Anyway! This guy is now my valentine. He was playing a computer game Wednesday night, and I made him smile for me. :D

So, what are you doing today/tonight? Do you have a valentine? Do you even care? LOL!!!

To celebrate having over 1000 hits on my blog - and because why not give away something on Valentine's Day?? - I'm going to give away some BLOG CANDY! That's right, dear ones. I'll take entries - by leaving a comment on the blog - between now and Sunday night, Feb. 17. Then, we'll randomly draw. The prize, you ask? An assortment of hand-stamped and photography cards. You're looking at a prize with a retail value of over $20!

I love blessing people. :) Just be sure, if you leave a comment for it, that I know how to get in touch with you if you win!!!! I've given away blog candy on my other blog, and two of the six winners didn't leave me any way of getting in touch with them! :D

BE BLESSED, dear one. Know you are LOVED, each moment of every day. It doesn't matter what the calendar says; love is yours, each day, each moment, each SECOND. God loves you with an everlasting love!!!!!

It's SNOWING!!!!!!!!!!!

I SO love the snow. Right now, most of my enjoyment is coming from watching ALL the birds outside; there are dozens of them!

So. Today is supposed to be when I go to the movie with my friend. I didn't tell you! When we arrived on Friday, the times had been changed for the weekend - and Julia had to be at home for her grandkids as a special time. So, we went to Lifeway Bookstore - the new one in Providence Shopping Center in Mt. Juliet - and then to Panera for lunch. We had a good time - Julia is a wonderful person. :) So, anyway, we're supposed to go to see the movie today, but it's still snowing. I'm not sure if Julia's going to feel comfortable enough driving or not. Regardless, I have an invitation for lunch with another friend if the movie doesn't happen, and I need to go to a customer's home to show her how to do a project she bought the supplies for. Phew! A lot to fit in! :)

Here's another picture, just because I wanted to see if you could spot all 7 birds in it. :D

I wanted to respond to some of your comments, because I haven't done so in a while. Not because I don't CARE, but because things have been kind of wierd.

So. Here we go! :)

This one's from Sparrow - her blog link is to the right. This is the least-spiritual thing she asked me. :D She said, "What crafts will they be making at your church?"

What we do is have a "Craft Night" every second Friday at our church. We all bring our own supplies, and work on whatever we want. Most of us scrap or stamp, but we've had knitters and crocheters, too, and women who just need to get out of the house for some other adult female company come to visit. :) We go for six hours; there are several of us who do it the whole time, but you're free to come and go! If you live in the area, we'd LOVE to have you come - just email me for more details! :) It's FREE!

Nancy - whose blog link is ALSO to the right! :) - said, "Very fun stuff! I think I need some of those shoes. Everyone says they are the epitome of comfort. How are you feeling and how is your glucose level holding?Still praying for that."

I do LOVE my Crocs. I was kind of hesitant at first; Amy gave me my very first pair of Crocs for Christmas a little over a year ago, and they are textured on the bottoms. My feet are VERY sensitive to what I walk on; the wrong kind of socks can bother me! But I LOVE Crocs. I now own three pairs - the two Amy got me, and one pair of black Mary Janes Kenn let me pick out when we were in Oregon last May. I love them - and rarely wear any other kind of shoe!

I'm feeling a little better than I did yesterday; it's that time of the month, and not only do I have the regular mood swings, but it does affect my blood sugars. So you can pray for poor Kenn. :D

My glucose levels are doing really well! I can tell when I haven't done what I know I should, and there are still times when my bod does whatever it wants, but overall, I'm very happy with where I am - as opposed to six weeks ago! :)

Thank you for caring, and for praying!!!!!!!!! That means SO much to me!

One more before I go get busy. :) This one is from my local friend, Lori P. She says, "I really wish I could have heard the sermon but I was helping in the preschool and I really like doing that also. So for me yesterday was learning about Abraham and how he listened to God. It also put a whole new spin on sacrifice. That word is used too loosely. I can tell you that everyday I am in worship I find myself being more and more patient on waiting for God to show me what he has in store for me. For me, that is not easy so it shows me that I grow from hearing the message over and over. I hope that makes sense."

It sure does, Lori. I agree; we do use the word "sacrifice" too loosely. Webster's Dictionary says that a sacrifice (n) is destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else. The verb definition: to suffer loss of, give up, renounce, injure, or destroy especially for an ideal, belief, or end. And that's the secular use!

God sacrificed His son for us. We say we sacrifice for Him, but what have we REALLY sacrificed lately? Ourselves should be the answer - but one of my favorite points to make is that living sacrifices tend to crawl off the altar often....

I hope maybe you've found something fun, or interesting, or thought-provoking today. :)

Know I love you! Time to jump in the shower, and get ready to be a social butterfly in one way or another. :)

GOD LOVES YOU!!! Enjoy His blessings today!

Well worth watching!

I recommend you click this link!

http://www.blessyoumovie.com/

Be blessed!

Author Unknown....

I received this from another friend online, and wanted to share it. If nothing else, I hope it starts you thinking: do you agree? Why or Why Not? :) (She didn't know who authored this; if you know, please let me know so I can acredit him/her!)

5 Reasons God Permits Problems

The problems you face will either defeat you or develop you--depending on how YOU respond to them. Unfortunately, most people fail to see how God wants to use problems for good in their lives. They react foolishly and resent their problems rather than pausing to consider what benefit they might bring. Here are five reasons God may have permitted the problems for
experience in your life:

1. God permits problems to DIRECT you.
Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God allowing this situation to get your attention? 'Sometimes it takes a painful situation to make us change our ways.' Proverbs 20:30

2. God permits problems to INSPECT you.
People are like tea bags ... If you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith by alowing a problem or two into your life? What do problems reveal about you? 'When you have many kinds of troubles, you should b full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.' James 1:2-3

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you.
Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove. But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something...health, money, a relationship...by losing it. 'It was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to your laws.' Psalms 119:71-72

4. God permits problems to PROTECT you.
A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem-but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered. 'You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good'... Genesis 50:20

5. God permits problems to PERFECT you.
Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. 'We can rejoice when we run into problems...they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady.' Romans 5:3-4

** Here's the point: God is at work in your life-even when you do not recognize it or understand it. But it's much easier and profitable when you cooperate with Him.

Today is TUESDAY!

OK. It's Tuesday. I've been dreading this day all weekend. I am SO totally unmotivated right now. I have no desire to do A THING. I'm behind in my reading, my blogging, my LIFE.

I wish I could go on a vacation!

SO. How are YOU doing on your goals??? Obviously, I'm not going to judge you in any way! LOL!!!!!! Please share; is ANYONE else in my boat this week?????

It's MONDAY! :)

Hi, everyone! SO sorry it's so late for me to be posting; I had doctor appointments this morning, and internet problems this afternoon - and a HUGE class tonight that I have to finish prepping for. So, I'm here on a hit-and-run mission. :)

Today is Monday; it's the day that we share what we learned at church yetserday. If you didn't go to church, what did you do?

Yesterday, our sermon was - once again - on "What Women Want In a Husband". Godly man, good sense of humore, communication, honesty, and a good provider. What do you think? Does that cover it for you?

I'm not sure how I feel. Kenn and I have not had an easy month. I think I need to praise him more when he does things I appreciate; I'm afraid that I get into the "Well, I've done so much for HIM, he SHOULD do whatever". Not good. So the sermon, for ME, was about making sure he knew what I appreciated about him.

Your turn!!! :) I spilled, now it's your turn!!!

Gotta run - I've got to get this class ready for tonight. I'll be back later, if I can find the time to squeeze in a little more blogging. :) I DO love you!!!!!!!!!!! You are VERY important to me, dear one. Please don't take my overactive schedule for anything but what it is! :D

YOU ARE LOVED!

Show & Tell Friday!

Good morning! It's a beautiful, sunny day here again. The birds and squirrels are busy outside, and I'm scurrying around inside, trying to get things done before I take a little time to have fun with friends.

Anyway. :) Today is Show & tell Friday, brought to you by Kelli at http://kellishouse.blogspot.com/. And here is my item!

Isn't it PRETTY? It's by Living Water Creations; Bobbie Jo and Marti are friends of ours, and Kenn did some photography work for them for the website - is still working on some of it, actually. :)

As a result, PART of his payment he took in tradeouts, and this is one of the purses I received - I'm waiting on the other one to be custom-embroidered for me. :) I'm SURE it will make it for Show & Tell when I receive it!

If you go check out their website, and LOVE what you see, and make a purchase, please let them know where you found them! :) Bobbie Jo reads this blog, and I'd love for her and Marti to be blessed by YOU. :)

I use this purse ALL the time now; it happens to match the Crocs that Amy bought me for my birthday last year! :) Let's see - I think I'll go take a picture of them....

Here they are!!!! Yes, that's an Eeyore charm - Amy bought him, too. :D The very first pair of Crocs I owned, she purchased for me, and put a Pooh charm on them. :D She loves me!

OK, enough showing and telling. :) I can't wait to see what other fun, new things people are showing at their blogs today!! :) Be sure and go check it out at Kelli's!

Have a WONDERFUL day, dear one. Find the blessings in your life, and count each one of them!

Phew! I'm BACK! :)

Whew. It seems like it's been a long day! :) I HATE being without the internet - I always wonder what's happening with my business and my friends! LOL!!

Today is one of those days outside where it's sunny, and it's nice, but there's NOTHING interesting going on. :) So, I visited Mr. Rabbit in the side flowerbed. He was busy talking to the stick, however, and wasn't very sociable. The lillies are getting ready to grow already. The poor plants don't have a clue what to do; one day, it's a high of 40; the next, 70!!! Poor things.

I'm really procrastinating. Can you tell? I have lots to do, but I'm just so glad to be back online! I haven't heard from some of you lately, but new friends keep popping in - I'm so glad people stumble across this little testimony to our Big GOD!! :)

What do you have planned for your weekend? I have to work Saturday, and I'm really looking forward to church on Sunday. Tomorrow will be a play day for me; I'm going to the movies with my friend, Julia, and then it's craft night at church - I love to go, but I'm not sure what I'm going to work on again. LOL!!!!

OK, I'm going to quit chattering. Have a WONDERFUL evening, my dear friends, and KNOW GOD LOVES YOU. He is an incredible, AWESOME God, mighty to save, merciful and beautiful! Discover a new facet of Him today!

Please stand by....

I'm having technical difficulties! Since Dad moved his office, I can't get online - the wireless network is giving me FITS! So, I'm on his computer to let you know that he's working on the problem today - and I'll be back to post as soon as I can. In the meantime, check out some of the new blogs I've listed on the right side!!
GOD BLESS YOU!!!!! Pray I keep my temper - I'm going CRAZY.... :D

What would you do?

Thank you to Becky P. for forwarding this to me! I thought it was definitely worth sharing.

What would you do? You make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fund-raising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?'

Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play.

The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him into bat in the ninth inning.' Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt . His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's teamscored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first ! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay everrun that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ...

The smallest guy on their team, who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!' As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats its least fortunate amongst them.

I just have to share this blog with you, my dear friend.

WOW. I mean, WOW. I'm blown away by the simple words slicing straight to my heart. I think you'll want to add this one to your daily blogging list, lovely woman!
http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/
I'm so grateful Karen (Karna) pointed me toward her. When I grow up, I want to blog like Lysa.
God, teach me ABANDONMENT!!!

It's almost NOT Tuesday!!!

Sorry, everyone. Dad had the LAST ROOM in the house done today; the carpet was ripped up, and Pergo put down. It was HIS OFFICE, so that meant NO INTERNET CONNECTION. AUGH!!!!!!!! Kenn said I was suffering from withdrawal; I knew y'all would maybe miss me, and I had bizness. :D

SO. How are you doing on your goals???? I'm all caught up with my reading, which is AWESOME. I'm having trouble this week getting to water aerobics because Kenn's working and I have to do rehearsals and meetings by myself. I'm STILL hoping next Tuesday I can go.

You're all being VERY quiet, ladies. HOW ARE YOU???

Rhonda, I'm praying for you. You've got a lot to deal with, but I know God will give you the strength. :)

Karen, how are you? How're things going?

Nancy, your church service sounds AWESOME. I miss more passionate services, although our church is rather progressive for Southern Baptist. :)

Do I need to pull out my folder, ladies? :D YOUR TURN TO REPORT!!!

It's ALMOST Monday.... :)

Two of my very best friends are coming over to stamp and have fun tomorrow, so I wanted to get my blogging in so you could share, too. :)

Today's Sunday school lesson was about interceeding in prayer for each other - and the difference between interceeding and being called to be an intercessor. It was quite an interesting discussion, I thought - I'm glad God hasn't called me to be an intercessor, to be honest with you. The called intercessor has the heart of God for a specific person/entity - the pain and grief one can feel overwhelms me at the thought of it!

Church was about friendship - and, of course, most of the examples the pastor used were about Jonathan and David. What a friendship they had! To be a friend, one must show: loyalty, love, accountability, and I THINK it was forgiveness. (Lori, can you correct me if I'm wrong, please? My bulletin is in the car, and it's late. LOL!!!) I feel that I'm a pretty good friend, and am blessed to have some REALLY good friends, too. I need to be more of a friend to my husband. Sometimes, it's hard! That forgiveness one is the hardest one in our relationship sometimes.

We're also memorizing Scripture in Sunday school; I'm proud to say that I memorized all of Psalm 1. :D It's a good Psalm.

I can't wait to hear what you learned, what's on your mind. :) It's easy to share - just leave a comment! :D Have a WONDERFUL, blessed day!!!!!! YOU ARE LOVED!!!

Wow! You liked it! :D

And you would REALLY have enjoyed our photo shoot today; Kenn and I wanted to get some last-minute Valentine's Day food pictures into the stock sites, so I made chocolate fondue. I had a couple of questions about what we'd be dipping, so here you go. :D

We dipped apples, bananas, strawberries, angel food cake, and vanilla wafer rolled cookies. You can't see them here; they're like I think the ones called pirelli? It was GOOD, but I didn't eat too much. :) Trying to keep those numbers in a healthy realm, and this evening we're going to a Super Bowl Party. :/ But I'm taking veggies and dip! :D AND diet soda. :D

Don't forget: tomorrow is Share What You Learned at Church/Sunday School, and Tuesday is Goal Reaching Accountability! :D Wednesday, if YOU would like to be introduced here, PLEASE let me know - all you have to do is send me a bio and a pic, and I can link to your website, too! (So can YOU; I put a Mr. Linky on the side of my blog over a week ago, and Becky's the only one who's taken advantage of it!!! :D)

OK, everyone, enjoy your evening. Be safe, enjoy the game if you're watching, and HAVE FUN. Be BLESSED beyond measure, and KNOW YOU ARE LOVED!!!

Quickie - Amy's Avon Website!

Here's Amy's Avon website; she's a ROCKING rep, and an awesome person. :) If you don't have a rep, and want to take a look at what Avon has to offer, please visit her! :)

Show & Tell Friday!

Good morning!!! :) It's Show & Tell Friday again, sponsored by Kelli Winn! (Her blog is beautiful; I encourage you to go check it out!)

SO. My thing today is a new Fondue Set, from Avon. :) My best friend, Amy, sells Avon (waiting for her permission to link to her site!), and so I've been picking up a few things here and there. Well, I saw this and HAD to have it. :D

I LOVE hearts - and chocolate is a food group, isn't it? :) With Valentine's Day coming up, I thought, "Why not??" I don't splurge often! So, I've already asked my valentine to spend the evening with me - if he doesn't have to work :D - and we'll do some chocolate fondue in my pretty little heart set. I may have to break this out for my next stamping chocolate party!!! :D

Thanks for stopping by!!!!! I can't wait to show you NEXT week's item(s). :D Have a GREAT day!!!! GOD BLESS YOU!