PAMPERED CHEF PARTY

ok.....so the stampin' up party was SO much fun that i've decided to have a pampered chef party. rosie (emily's boyfriends's sister) sells it, so i wanted to help her out and there are some things i've been wanting to get from pampered chef, anyway. it will be wednesday, february 4 at 7:00 pm. everyone is welcome and don't feel pressure to buy. i sincerely don't care if you do or don't. i just want to have fun! (you know girls just wanna have fun!) oh, and the food she's making sounds really yummy. it's going to be ceasar salad pizza and non-sinful brownies(not the correct name, but something like that). they are both low-calorie. (since i'm going back to weight watchers now). hope to see you her!

SO GLAD YET SO SAD

just found out yesterday that jim hulse got the job in st.louis, so they will be moving there! jan will stay until the house sells, though. i have such mixed emotions about this! we have grown SO close, since we have become related by marriage (the marriage of our children). jan and i craft together and just love hanging out togeter, too! steve and jim have always hit it off and share the love of sports, also! i guess there will have to be some all night crafting slumber parties after jim leaves and some other marathon crafting going on! we will definitely go visit them and we hope they will come back to visit us! we are making plans for that. steve and i would like to go visit when the astros play the cardinals. navoo, (or however you spell it), isn't too far from there and steve would really like to go there. maybe sometime when megan and travis are there we could go there or vice versa. we are very thankful we had this time to get to know them! we believe the reason why they came here was so megan and travis could meet and now i guess there is a reason why they have to go to st. louis. they will be sorely missed, though, by many people here!!!!

CRAZY CAROL

i haven't been much into blogging posts lately. i've been manic and i can't sit down for very long a one time. i just keep thinking of stuff to do. i still haven't even posted my pics from my trips to dallas, so ya'll don't even know what i did there! ha!ha! hope to be able to chill out soon and do it! i've also started organizing my craft room with the help of THE CRAFTING QUEEN and my hero jan hulse! i'll let you know how that turns out. wish i would have taken a before pic so i could do before and after!

JUDAS ASPARAGUS

The Children's Bible in a Nutshell:
In the beginning, which occurred near the start, there was nothing but God, darkness, and some gas. The Bible says, 'The Lord thy God is one, but I think He must be a lot older than that.

Anyway, God said, 'Give me a light!' and someone did.

Then God made the world. He split the Adam and made Eve. Adam and Eve were naked, but they weren't embarrassed because mirrors hadn't been invented yet.

Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating one bad apple, so they were driven from the Garden of Eden.....Not sure what they were driven in though, because they didn't have cars.

Adam and Eve had a son, Cain, who hated his brother as long as he was Abel.

Pretty soon all of the early people died off, except for Methuselah, who lived to be like a million or something.

One of the next important people was Noah, who was a good guy, but one of his kids was kind of a Ham. Noah built a large boat and put his family and some animals on it. He asked some other people to join him, but they said they would have to take a rain check.

After Noah came Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob was more famous than his brother, Esau, because Esau sold Jacob his birthmark in exchange for some pot roast. Jacob had a son named Joseph who wore a really loud sports coat.

Another important Bible guy is Moses, whose real name was Charlton Heston. Moses led the Israel Lights out of Egypt and away from the evil Pharaoh after God sent ten plagues on Pharaoh's people. These plagues included frogs, mice, lice, bowels, and no cable.

God fed the Israel Lights every day with manicotti. Then he gave them His Top Ten Commandments. These include: don't lie, cheat, smoke, dance, or covet your neighbor's stuff. Oh, yeah, I just thought of one more: Humor thy father and thy mother.

One of Moses' best helpers was Joshua who was the first Bible guy to use spies. Joshua fought the battle of Geritol and the fence fell over on the town.

After Joshua came David. He got to be king by killing a giant with a slingshot. He had a son named Solomon who had about 300 wives and 500 porcupines. My teacher says he was wise, but that doesn't sound very wise to me.

After Solomon there were a bunch of major league prophets. One of these was Jonah, who was swallowed by a big whale and then barfed up on the shore.

There were also some minor league prophets, but I guess we don't have to worry about them.

After the Old Testament came the New Testament. Jesus is the star of The New. He was born in Bethlehem in a barn. (I wish I had been born in a barn too, because my mom is always saying to me, 'Close the door! Were you born in a barn?' It would be nice to say, 'As a matter of fact, I was.')

During His life, Jesus had many arguments with sinners like the Pharisees and the Democrats.

Jesus also had twelve opossums. The worst one was Judas Asparagus. Judas was so evil that they named a terrible vegetable after him.

Jesus was a great man. He healed many leopards and even preached to some Germans on the Mount. But the Democrats and all those guys put Jesus on trial before Pontius the Pilot. Pilot didn't stick up for Jesus. He just washed his hands instead.

Anyways, Jesus died for our sins, then came back to life again. He went up to Heaven but will be back at the end of the Aluminum. His return is foretold in the book of Revolution.
* * * * * * *

STAMPIN' UP PARTY TONIGHT

my stampin' up party was tonight. we had a great time! there were 8 people there. we made valentine cards and learned the kissing technique and rockin' and rollin' technique. we also had valentine treats! for those of you who missed it wish you could have been here!!!

JOY LIST

Make a joy list. Anything goes, from losing yourself in a great novel to laughing with friends. Whenever you feel the pressure mounting, pull it out for an instant reminder of the things in life that bring you pleasure. "We are what we think about," says life coach and best-selling author Gail Blanke. "Add up the good, and embrace it."

read this on someone else's blog as well. i think i'll give it a whirl!!!

DON'T FORGET!

don't forget about my Stampin' Up Party tomorrow night! Hope to see you there! Call if you need directions.

OUR BATTLE WITH SATAN

I wanted to say basically that God isn't a game to think you can claim and dis. He is serious, there is a war to fight to hold onto Him. I don't even understand these feelings rushing through me. These feelings of good anger. This feeling that I want to kick the crap out of Satan. That I am disgusted by what Satan has done.

this came from another blog. i thought it was interesting the way he described our battle with satan.(i refuse to use a capital letter at the beginning of his name like i do at the beginning of God's name even when i am not using capital letters).

STRESSED?

had to steal this one from kenzee, but not after next thursday! i start back to weight watchers then!

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BEING A MEME PART 3

you should have know i'd have more of these after this week:

-when gabby says my name
-when i ask oli if he loves me and he says yes
-when i see them wearing the clothes i have given them
-when i see them playing with the toys i have given them
-when i do crafts with oli
-when oli wants me to watch his shows with him and points out things to me in them
-when gabby says umh (meaning yes) in her own special way
-when gabby slides down the slide and says wheeee (i taught her this)
-when they do pretty much anything i taught them
-when gabby waves bye everytime she leaves a room
-when i get to spend special one on one time with them
-when oli came in the bathroom right after i got out of the shower and said "meme, your hair!"(i
thought he'd be scared for life by the sight of my grotesque naked body!)
-when i get to babysit them
-when i get to play outside with them
-when i sing songs, do poems, or do fingerplays with oli
-when oli goes out to my car with me and helps me carry stuff in
-when gabby smiles (her smile could light up the world)
-when i play ball with oli (he's going to be a pro baseball player someday if he can just get the
catching down! or maybe a pro basketball player! he's got the skills!)
-when they show how smart they are (i'm sure they get it all from me! ha!ha!)
-when other people notice how adorable they are
-when they won't go to other people (not including their parents, of course) but they'll go to me

to be continued........

WHAT A CLASS ACT

whatever your politics (and i'm NOT going to get into that!) you have to admit that laura bush is a class act. she has stood quietly behind her husband through thick and thin! (and there's been a lot of thin lately!) i can't imagine how hard it must have been to watch and hear the man that she loves berated and put down like george bush has been! i have a lot of sympathy for him too but he chose the job and she didn't chose to be in the spotlight! she always had a smile on her face and appeared to be content in whatever situation and graceful. on top of all of this she is beautiful! this lady is one of my heros along with her mother-in-law barbara! well....to get right down to it, i love the whole bush family! they are just good people!

I'M IN HEAVEN

i guess you're all wondering if i fell off the face of the earth, well almost! i am in heaven! i'm spending the week in dallas with my grandbabies and luvin' every minute of it! (right down to the last dirty diaper! no kidding!!!) i love these babies to pieces! when the babies are asleep mandy and i play! we have been doing some card making and scrapbooking! we've even managed to get in a little shopping! (it's a bad job but somebody has to do it!) i'll be sending pics of my activities at some point, right now i'm just having too much fun!

i wanted to share this with those of you who are raising children. i know i can still benefit from most of it myself! i think it is AWESOME!!!!!

Real Resolutions for Moms by Karen Ehman


I will put my Bible before the television, the radio, the telephone and even before good Christian books, for my children will know my priorities by the way they see me spend my free time.


I will make my prayer requests known before God and my children, enlisting their help in the process and informing them of the outcome, for by letting them help when I petition our Lord will they learn of a living God who still answers prayer.


When times of crisis, conflict or confusion arise, I will hit my knees before I hit the phone knowing that by my example my children will discover that although friends are important, God alone is the one who holds the solution to life's every problem.


I will erase the words "luck" and "lucky" from my vocabulary and will instead by my speech point my children toward the One who orchestrates every detail of our lives ad brings all good things to pass, for by this my children will learn of an omniscient God.

When bad things happen, I'll neither grumble nor complain, but will instead help my children see that in the scope of our lives even the bad times are allowed for a reason, for by this my children will learn quiet trust in their Master.

When normal childhood mishaps occur, I will remember that although difficult, it is still easier to remove grape juice from off-white carpet than to erase harsh and unloving words hurled at a child whose chubby little fingers have failed her, for by this my children will see a God who understands when our best efforts fall short.

When my children have witnessed something ugly in me, unkind words, an angry temper, "harmless" gossip, biting sarcasm or even my infamous "mommy pout" when things don't go my way-I will confess it as sin before them seeking their forgiveness, for by this my children will develop the much needed habit of wiping their spiritual slate clean before God and man.

I will teach my children the importance of cleanliness and order while at the same time remain sensitive to the fact that a skinned knee or hurt feeling is more crucial than a spotless floor or uncluttered counter, for by this my children will learn to value people above things.

I will make time for the lonely, the sick, the elderly, the difficult to love, and will bring my children along, for with each afternoon visit, each ride to the doctor, each raked lawn or washed window they will have the opportunity to serve Jesus by serving the "least of these."

I will make our home a haven of rest and retreat from the outside world and welcome place for my children's friends, for with each impromptu backyard soccer game, each video viewed on a rainy day, each cup of hot cocoa or chocolate chip cookie, my children will have the opportunity to practice the act of Christian hospitality thereby learning to share all God has given them.

I will by my actions and my speech let my children see a mom in love with their dad, for by this my children will sense family stability at a time when marriages all around them are crumbling.

I will not require of my children obedience, honesty, patience or kindness without first being willing to submit to the same rules whether in speed limit, miscounted change from the grocery store or when answering a toddler for the fourteenth time, for by this my children will see a mother who is also learning and not a perfect parent to whom they'll ever measure up

In all things will I remember that more is caught than is thought.

saw this on laura's blog and thought it sounded like fun:
put an X in front of all the things that you have done
( ) gone on a blind date
( ) skipped school
( ) watched someone die
(X ) been to canada
(X ) been to mexico
(X) been to florida
(X) been on a plane
(X) been lost
(X) been on the opposite side of the country
( ) gone to washington, dc- although i would really like to!
(X ) cried yourself to sleep- numerous times! what girl (and probably most guys if they'd admit it)hasn't
(X ) played cops and robbers- i'm sure my big brother forced me to a some time or another
(X) recently colored with crayons- i have grandkids! (although i did it before them and would even if i didn't have grandkids!)
(X) sang karaoke- the first time was on a cruise and fortunately nobody was there except my family because i sounded really bad! (and steve always says he thinks i sing good!)
(X ) paid for a meal with coins only- only when i'm out of bills
(X) done something you told yourself you wouldn't- all the time especially having to do with eating!
(X) made prank phone calls- and i've toilet papered houses with my own kids!
(X) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( ) caught a snowflake on your tongue- can't recall ever doing this. you gotta remember i've lived in texas most of my life
(X) danced in the rain- used to do it quite often as a kid. loved it!
(X) written a letter to santa claus
( ) been kissed under the missletoe- my husband isn't romantic
(X) watched the sunrise with someone you care about- i'm sure it has happened before
(X) blown bubbles- once again, i have grandkids and i also taught preschool for 15 years
(X) gone ice skating- once but only once! that was enough!
(X) been skinny-dipping outdoors- don't ask because i'm not telling! my kids aren't going to believe this! i can't even believe i'm admitting it!
( ) gone to the movies alone
i'm not going to tag anybody because it might put them under pressure to do this and it's a really long one. so do it if you feel like it!

STAMPIN' UP PARTY

I'm going to have a Stampin' Up party on January 27 at 7:00pm. I want to invite all of y0u come. It's going to be a lot of fun! Even if you've never stamped before come and try it out. We are going to be doing some Valentine cards. Hope you can make it! <3

MANIC/SPIRITUAL DEPRESSED/NOT SPIRITUAL

i find that when i am manic i am very spiritual and when i am depressed i am not. as you can tell lately i have been very spiritual and also very manic. i wish i could stay on the very spiritual side. i finally called the dr. on friday and he's changing my meds. hopefully that will get things under control. this up and down thing isn't a good thing, although there are perks to being manic. i get a lot done and life seems to be so much better. there are bad things too. i spend A LOT of money and that doesn't go so well with steve. i have A LOT of anxiety and that really isn't fun either. sometimes i say and do stupid things. (even more so than usual!) i can't thing of anything good about being depressed, though!!!!

PS: A VALUABLE LESSON

"... when the gospel is deeply grasped, our need to win arguments is removed, and our language becomes gracious. We don't have to ridicule our opponents, but instead we can engage them respectfully.

People who live in the moral-performance narrative use sarcastic, self-righteous putdown humor, or have no sense of humor at all. Lewis speaks of "the unsmiling concentration upon Self, which is the mark of hell." The gospel, however, creates a gentle sense of irony. We find a lot to laugh at, starting with our own weaknesses. They don't threaten us anymore because our ultimate worth is not based on our record or performance."


Carol's comments: I wish I would have read this the other day!

THE JOYS OF OCD

MY DREAM GARDEN

i want to do a garden in the back part of our backyard beyond the pool fence. i want a winding path and different points of interest along the way. (sorta like the pics above) we already have a little hill back there that was made from the dirt they dug out when they were making the pool. i want the path to wind around it, too. i already have some of the things i want too put back there somewhere like a wishing well, wheelbarrow, and quite a few cement and clay animals. my biggest wish is that we could have a gazebo back there. steve says there isn't enough room! (we have an acre lot and the house and pool probably only take up half of it! how much room does he think the gazebo would take?) he has agreed that we can do the garden sometime, though. i hope we can get started soon! i can't wait to walk down my garden path and look at all the pretties! oh yea, i would want some flowers, too. they'd have to be ones that could take care of themselves, though, or we'd have to run the sprinkler lines back there. i am a terrible gardener! i never remember to water my plants until they start drooping! steve has to water them or they'd all have been dad long ago! i would like to have some kind of little fairies back there, too. maybe part of it could be a little fairy garden! wouldn't that be cute? oh, and i forgot to say benches along the way, too, so you could sit for a while. i already have these, too. steve has put them by the horse shoe pit, volleyball court, and trampoline. see! he already has the stuff he wants back there, so it's my turn now to put the stuff i want! i can't wait. right now i never go back there. steve likes to go back there and just walk around and check out his territory, i guess. that's probably why he knows exactly how many trees we have on our lot. (it was 100 the last time i knew and he has added some since then and had to cut a few down for different reasons) all of the trees were already on the lot when we moved here except the few that steve has had planted. actually the lot was what first attracted us to the place and then when we saw the house we knew it was the right place for us! we love it here! it is so quiet and peaceful. hardly any traffic. we even see deer here sometimes! (usually in the very early morning before i get up, but i have seen them quiet a few times. they also come out at night) we have been very blessed but steve has worked VERY hard for all that we have! i just hope he doesn't work too hard and have a stoke before he gets to retirement! (strokes run in his family at an early age. his dad died of a stroke at 61 and his grandfather at 59! steve will be 55 in april! i don't want to be an early widow! i can't live with the man, but i certainly couldn't live without him! i would be lost!) between his job and his church calling he is one busy man! then when he is at home he feels guilty if he isn't always doing something! i tell him all the time he needs to learn to relax and that it's ok to relax sometimes!!!! i don't think he believes me though! his dad was the same way. the family owns a ranch and he not only worked on the ranch, but had another full time job as well. his dad only lived a few years after he took early retirement from his full time job. (the ranch was also a full time job, actually) it always makes me sad that he didn't have more time to enjoy his semi-retirement. (he would have never retired from the ranch) steve says his dad wouldn't have had it any other way. do any of you have any other idea for my garden? i like to hear them.

5 THINGS TAG

5 things in your purse:
1.wallet
2.planner
3.keys
4.phone
5.brush

5 things in your workroom:
1.craft table
2.futon
3.shelf
4.chair
5.bed-needs to be gotten out of there so i have room to craft

5 things you always wanted to do:
1.be able to paint
2.be able to draw
3.write a book
4.play the piano (i took lessons for 4 years when i was a kid, but i need a refresher)
5.play the guitar (i also took lessons for a little while but didn't stick with it long enough to learn much)

5 things you are into:
1.blogging
2.crafts
3.decorating
4.crossword puzzles
5.reading

5 bloggers you want to tag:
1.jennifer
2.liz
3.leslie
4.laura
5.lori

A VALUABLE LESSON

i learned a valuble lesson today! sometimes it's best just to keep your BIG mouth shut! (even if you are just dying to answer back). i've always known this really and i've never been very good at it! i try to do it with my husband. nothing will stop an argument like silence! (if they don't get mad at you for not answering). also when you say something out of anger just to get back at the person that's bad too! (another thing that i already knew but did anyway!) i caused a mini crisis by doing these things and almost lost a friend in the process!

PATIENCE-NOT ONE OF MY VIRTUES

“Love can only be patient when it is first grateful for what is right now.”

It is true: I can love only when I am thankful for the now. When I embrace the present as a gift, a time and place not to be afraid of, to resist and fight, but a place to welcome as a wise bestowment from a kind Father.

Love cannot be patient when I am discontented or my fears (of failure, of bedlam) drive me to micromanage. Patience can only grow in the soil of gratitude. Lack gratitude, then lack patience, and, ultimately, lack love.

Henri Nouwen suggests that

“[t]he word patience means willingness to stay where we are and live out the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will
manifest itself to us.”

Patience is only a possibility when we mindfully invite this moment to rest here, and not hurry on. And we can, because we know that this moment brings us something, something yet hidden, that will reveal itself as a gift for which we can give thanks.

Nouwen offers that “patient people dare to stay where they are. Patient living means to live actively in the present….”

I reflect on and concur: Patient pilgrims linger in the present, thankful for what is. Patient people dare to accept people where they are, grateful for who they are now, appreciative of works of art not yet finished but still deeply loved. Aren't we all just that?

Deep breathe. Love is patient. And it can only be patient when it is first grateful, receiving the present as a present... grace.


isn't this awesome! it came from the same blog as the last one HOLY EXPERIENCE..

GRATITUDE

To initially enter into thankfulness requires purposeful intent, a daily, proactive effort to maintain. To recognize our life for what it is --- recognize: see, re-think, thank -- we’ll have to have the mental and spiritual fortitude to cognitively re-create the world. To re-cognize how God continually creates beauty good in all things, the ugly too.

We can’t blankly, inattentively, stumble through the day – mindlessly moving from one mechanical task to the next – and maintain habitual gratefulness.

And that’s what we endeavor. Not simply the feeling of gratefulness -- fleeting, that -- but the virtue of gratefulness – a lifestyle of giving thanks in all things.

The emotion of gratitude flaps about according to the weather. Obliging, sunny hours, and it basks. Stormy days and it hangs, limp and beaten. The vulnerable feeling of gratefulness falls prone to circumstances.

The virtue of gratitude, however, determines its own weather. Regardless of forecasts, skies or daily events, virtuous gratitude gives wholesale thanks. “In everything, give thanks!” The robust virtue of gratefulness rises above circumstances.

And the virtue of gratitude necessitates vigilance. We’ll have to take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.

In the mess of my day, it’s clear: a lifestyle of thanks isn’t the realm of dim-witted pollyannas. Only the spiritually attentive and mentally robust can re-cognate their days, see their day with God-eyes, and hike their way to the heights of life-gratitude. Isn’t the joy worth the daily effort of the journey?

Because re-cognizing ourselves into gratitude is to enter into the exploration of God right here.


this was taken from the blog "holy experience".

DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS

This is a post from another blog I read:

Will Texas Secede the Union.... again?

from French Lique, Texas by Dixie's Whimsey

Over the Thanksgiving Holiday I received this email from one of my very dear friends, who also happens to be a very-very Texas Gal, born and bred in the country, on a ranch, in South Texas... and while this is "tongue-in-cheek", it's not too far off the beaten path of what some real Texans really think... If you doubt the truth of these words, click here to read Texas Sucession Facts. Texans are a different sort... even down here in French Lique...

* * * * * * * * * * Here's the email...

Hmmmm, let me think about this a minute.....Maybe History can repeat itself.

From The People of Texas

We Texans love y'all, but we'll have to take action since Obama won president over McCain. We'll miss you too. Texas has given all those complainers plenty of time to get used to the results. After seeing the whiners along the campaign route, the folks from Texas are considering taking matters into our hands.

Here is our solution:

#1: Let Barak Obama be President of the United States . (All 49 states.)

#2: The Republic Of Texas elects it's own conservative President.So what does Texas have to do to survive as a Republic?

1. NASA is just south of Houston , Texas . (We will control the space industry.)

2. We refine over 85% of the gasoline in the United States .

3. Defense Industry. (We have over 65% of it) The term "Don’t mess with Texas ," will take on a whole new meaning.

4. Oil - we can supply all the oil that the Republic of Texas will need for the next 300 years. Yankee states? Sorry about that.

5. Natural Gas - Again we have all we need and it's too bad about those northern states. John Kerry will figure a way to keep them warm....

6. Computer Industry - we currently lead the nation in producing computer chips and communications: Small places like Texas Instruments, Dell Computer, EDS, Raytheon, National Semiconductor, Motorola, Intel, AMD, Atmel, Applied Materials, Ball Semiconductor, Dallas Semiconductor, Delphi, Nortel, Alcatel, Etc, Etc. The list goes on and on.

7. Health Centers - We have the largest research centers for Cancer research, the best burn centers and the top trauma units in the world and other large health planning centers.

8. We have enough colleges to keep us going: UT Texas, A&M, Texas Tech, Rice, SMU, University of Houston, Baylor, UNT, Texas Women's University, Ivy grows better in the south anyway

9. We have a ready supply of workers. (Just open the border when we need some)

10. We have control of the paper industry, plastics, insurance, etc.

11. In case of a foreign invasion, we have the Texas National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard. We don't have an army but since everybody down here has at least six rifles and a pile of ammo, we can raise an army in 24 hours if we need it. If the situation really gets bad, we can always call Department of Public Safety and ask them to send over a couple Texas Rangers. (OH NO, DON'T FORGET THE LARGEST ARMY BASE IN THE FREE WORLD, FORT HOOD !!!)

12. We are totally self sufficient in beef, poultry, hogs and several types of grain, fruit and vegetables and lets not forget seafood from the gulf. And everybody down here knows how to cook them so that they taste good. Don't need any food. This just names a few of the items that will keep the Republic Of Texas in good shape. There isn't a thing out there that we need and don't have. Now to the rest of the United States under President Obama: Since you won't have the refineries to get gas for your cars, only Mr. Kerry will be able to drive around in his 9 mile per gallon SUV. The rest of the United States will have to walk or ride bikes. You won't have any TV as the space center in Houston will cut off your communications. You won't have any natural gas to heat your homes but since Mr. Gore has predicted global warming, you will not need the gas.

Signed,

The People of Texas

Have a nice day!

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

PS... I wasn't born in Texas, but I got his as fast as I could... *wink*wink*smil

A LOVE/HATE RELATIONSHIP

a lot of people blog about their pets frequently. basically i can catagorize my relatioinship with my cats as a love/hate relationship- they love me, i hate them! well......i don't exactly hate them 100% i guess. if something happened to one of them i would be sad. (at least for a day or so), hey, i'm just a sentimental person. i was sad when my daughter got rid of her dog even though i never particularly liked the dog. it was a good decision for them though. also i wouldn't have anybody to talk to during the day. i guess i'd just have to talk to myself 100% which i do all the time anyway. it can really be embarassing if you do it out loud in a public placem though! (am i talkin' to any of you out there? do you feel me?) i think if i didn't have them soon the saddness would turn into- the joys of not having a pet!!!!! please, please don't anyone turn me in to the humane society! i might get put in animal prison and have to spend the rest of my life cleaning up after all those fuzzy creatures and fixing everything that they destroy!!!! am i a hard-hearted person or just tired of the negative side of pet ownership i ask? i do think kittens and puppies are adorable (if that counts for anything) but they do always grow up!!!

CAROL NEEDS...

1.Carol needs to be grounded in some very basic things-Sounds like a good idea to me!
2.Carol needs Assessment Information Request-?????
3.Carol needs a 1995 a retired Tony Carter teapot of a chaise lounge with the gramaphone on a small table-hmmm. Sounds very interesting!
4.Carol needs our help-That's for sure!
5.Carol needs to change-I need to change my evil ways baby!
6.Carol needs a power source-I sure do!!!! I'm tired way too much!
7.Carol needs more busts-I sure do! Mine are way too small!
8.Carol needs eyes in the back of my head, Elasti-girl arms, and a magic wand-Not a bad idea! I really could of used these when I was raising kids though!
9.Carol needs the alternative GNU classpath class-I'm confused!
10.Carol needs prayers-Amen!
I saw this on another blog and thought I would try it out. You google your name and needs after it. These are the first 10 responses to mine. Try it! It's very enlightening and surprisingly quite a few of them were true!

GIVE ME A BREAK AND OLD HOME WEEK

Sugar Grove Church of Christ
11600 West Airport Blvd.
Meadows Place, TX 77477

i've been having a lot of anxiety lately and been manic a lot, but today i've been pretty even tempered! it's so nice to have a break from the tightness in my stomach that comes from anxiety!
i went back to my old church today (even though it's 45 min. away). i'm giving up trying to find one closer to fulshear that i like. none of them feel right! it felt just like going home! i think i made the right decision. i also think i had guidance with this decision!

DISCUSSIONS, DINNER, DANCING, AND DECORATING (I BOUGHT STUFF FOR DECORATING)

so steve had to go to this thing last night for church. it was a thing for the young men and young women about missionary work. they wanted people to volunteer to be people who weren't members of their church that the kids were coming to talk to about the church. the people were supposed to ask them questions. who could be better suited for this them me?(besides i didn't want to stay home alone all afternoon and night!) i thought hmmm........ this could be fun! so i prepared some really good questions to ask them with scriptures to back them up. when i got there i found out that we were supposed to only ask them questions about the topics they were assigned to talk to us about! drats!!!! i had some really good questions that i don't think they would have known the answer too. when i saw how nervous some of them were i decided that would have been kind of mean though. when i told josh jones, their bishop, about my questions he said "well.......i guess you'll just have to talk to me about them!" i don't think he thought i would say yes, but i said "i would love to!" he said he'd have us over for dinner some night and we could discuss it! i told you i love to debate! the biggest treat of the night was the dance though! steve had to chaperone for that. it was really fun to watch all those teenagers! dancing sure is different these days!!! oh yea, we got to stay for dinner too and they had a potato bar! yum yum! i'm always up for food! (and it shows!) actually the dance wasn't the best part after all now that i think about it. they had some neat shops down at the town square. i love town squares because it reminds me of the town i grew up in. i only had time to go to one of them though! i'm going to have to go back sometime to go to the other ones!

DARLING PICS OF GUESS WHO?????

EMILY AND OUR FUTURE SON IN LAW HOPEFULLY

FOR ALL YOU NEW MOTHERS OUT THERE:

NAUGHTY PIC

im not usually this crude but this just stuck me as so funny!

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

i dont know if yall are getting as much out of these spiritual things im putting on here as i am, but i am trying to strengthen my relationship with God and i just thought others might get something out of it too.

QUIET TIME AND MEMORIZATION

"In the 1950s, a group of mature Christian men discussed the questions: “How do we help new believers develop a relationship with God? What are the most critical and basic elements that will help them grow in their new life with Christ?”

They concluded that quiet time and memorizing Bible verses were the two most important practices to establish believers in the faith and keep them growing.

More recently one of the men was asked if, after all these years, he would still choose quiet time and Scripture memory as the most fundamental helps for becoming established in the faith.

His answer? “I’m more convinced than ever.”

Quiet time is about making space in your life every day to promote a deepening bond with Jesus Christ, a time of mingling Life to life.

Quiet time is not a solitary exercise, nor an independent enterprise.

It is a fellowship, an interchange, a communion, a friendship, a date with God."

~Jean Fleming, Feeding Your Soul, A Quiet Time Handbook

Lord, why would I want to miss communing with you today? Could anything be important enough to keep me away from a time to mingle with You?




Related: Memorization aids and inspiration at Ann Kroeker's January's Mega Memory Month ...

I'm joining MMM with a committment to memorize Phil. 2:1-18. Care to come along too? Prayerfully consider joining Mega Memory Month and making 2009 the year of the new you as His Word does His work within.

PROCRASTINATION- A BIG NO NO!!!

"No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by putting them off till tomorrow. It is only when they are behind us and done, that we begin to find that there is a sweetness to be tasted afterwards...

Accomplished, [tasks] are full of blessing, and there is a smile on their faces as they leave us.

Undone, [tasks] stand threatening and disturbing our tranquility, and hindering our communion with God.

If there be lying before you any bit of work from which you shrink, go straight up to it, and do it at once.

The only way to get rid of it is to do it.

(this really speaks to me because i am such a procrastinator!!!!!)

WEIGHT WATCHERS HERE I COME

this morning i got on the scales and what a shock!!!! i hadnt gotten on them in quite a while. i guess i just didnt want to know. well....now i know and i now have the motivation to get back to weight watchers. anyone want to join me? i know it would be easier if i did it with a friend. its not as hard as you think with weight watchers. its the only way ive ever been able to lose weight. you can have goodies sometimes as long as you count the points.

I DID IT!!!

i got off the comp long enough to do the dishes! (thanks, laura! i lol when i read your comment "step away from the comuter!") i hate handwashing dishes! some of them were left over since the new years eve party!(i'm so ashamed!) the dishwasher has been run several times since then just the handwash ones haven't been done! my future son in law did them once without being asked! (you see why i want him for my future son in law! steve just asked the other day "why don't they just go ahead and get engaged!" i guess he feels the same way! they say they are going to get married so why not go ahead and get engaged? emily says she doesn't want a long engagement and she doesn't want to marry him until he finishes school and gets a good job. he says he doesn't have any money! poor excuse i'd say! not really! she's only 20 after all! we just don't want him to get away! they already act like an old married couple!)
i'm taking a break now. steve still hasn't come home for lunch. i'd say i'm probably safe now because it's almost 1. boy i sure did get lucky today! on days like today i guess i should just title my blogsite: meanderings of a manic! i'm much more witty on these days though! i think they should add one more symptom to the list of ones that are signs of mania: blogs a lot! so......when you get a lot of blogs from me in one day you'll know what's going on!
now....back to the housework! yuck! i do have a good incentive though. i told emily i'd go to the first colony mall with her as soon as i got my housework done. i think that was 2 days ago!!!!! ha!ha! i have gotten all the christmas deco down and all the massive piles of laundry that accumulated during the holidays done since then though! i just have to put all the laundry away and i can go to the mall!!! yea!!! i hope she still wants to!

i guess it was my imagination! it's 12:15 and he's still not here! i guess i was given a reprieve and what did i do with it? i'm still on the comp! guess i shouldn't have read that article about doing the things that are uplifting for you first! when i get started i just can't stop!

i think i blew it! i always have to check my email, google reader, and facebook before i shut down the comp! the clock is bonging 12! he'll be here any minute!!!! my anxiety level is rising!(like it wasn't already way up!) i think i hear his truck now coming up the driveway!(or maybe i'm just imagining things!) i think i may be just a little manic! you think?

gotta go quick and start doing something before steve comes home for lunch and asks what have you been doing all morning? i do this all the time. good thing he doesn't read my blog! shhhhhhh! i only have 10 minutes to make it look like i've been slaving away all morning and not been on the comp since i got up! do you ever do stuff like this? i figure it's his fault since he gave me the laptop for a gift? doesn't that sound logical to you?

be sure and go back and check out meme moments and why i like being a meme part#2. i just finished the draft and posted it.

aren't my posts a lot more intesting since i learned how to add pics and don't you enjoy the things i steal from other bloggers since i started reading more blogs? ( i really need a better word then more. maybe lots of or tons of would be better. maybe i should change started reading to i am obsessed with, too!!!!) ok-here you have it. my new and improved sentence- don't you enjoy the things i steal from other bloggers since i became obsessed with reading tons of blogs? there that's better!!!!!

I SHOULD NOT GO TO BED EARLY BECAUSE.....

last night steve convinced me to go to bed with him at 9:45! yes, you are reading that correctly 9:45! he said we could read for a while but by the time i had taken my meds, turned out all the lights, and locked the doors he had finished reading and had the lights out. he said i could read longer if i wanted to and turned over and started snoring. he goes to sleep faster then anyone i know! i read for about 15 minutes and then got sleepy so i turned out the lights and soon went to sleep. well.....i slept unitl 9:30 this morning and have been on the comp ever since. i think the more i sleep the more i want to sleep! i woke up with the zombie feeling again and all i wanted to do was finish off the key lime pie in the fridge which i did! so.........this is why i don't go to bed early!!!!!!

MY FIRST BLOGGING AWARD

http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fsmilingsally.blogspot.com%2Ffeeds%2Fposts%2Fdefault

smilingsally (the blogger listed above) is the one who gave me this award.

COMMUNION WITH GOD

• Speaking truth aloud to myself, to God, as I work: You are here, close, and I love You, Lord. This work is my song of praise to You.
  


• Singing love songs after meals, as I put away the laundry: Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart, naught be all else to me, save that thou art.
  


• Clinging to Him when the day and I unravel: Give me grace, Father. You are here and You’re my help. I need You!
  


• Pausing, intentionally and purposefully, to pray at set times throughout the day: O God of heaven and earth, I bow low

this is from a post i read from one of my blogs that i subscribe to. i thought it might be helpful to others of you who are trying to be closer to God like me.

GUESS WHICH ONE I AM?

All jokes aside, at this point, weight loss isn't just a desire based on vanity. I know that I will never be 22 again, much lighter and wrinkleless. But I do want to be healthier. I do want to enjoy life more and increase the chances of living longer. My children may never admit it, but they need me, and my future grandchildren will too! {smiles}
The paragraph above is a quote from another blog that I subscribe to, but I feel EXACTLY the same way!!!!!! Now I just need the stength, discipline, and motivation to do it!!!!! I've done it before so I know I can do it again! I was manic at the time so that helped me to do it, but I lost 15 pounds another time when I wasn't manic. It all was on Weight Watchers. I kept the weight off for 2 years the first time because I had changed my eating habits. I just gradually slipped back to my old habits. Please pray for me!

YOU KNOW YOU'RE A REDNECK WHEN:

Redneck Tree Swing


Redneck cooler races
Now that's class. Notice that she is not spilling her beer.


Redneck windshield defroster


Redneck toilet paper holder


Redneck camper


Redneck motorcycle mover


Redneck revenge


Redneck motorcycle sidecar


Redneck discus



Redneck ice fishing



A Redneck Wedding
(Is that a mermaid on the far left? She is even pulling the top to stay down. )
Don't laugh, you know you are related to these people somehow!


The Treasure here is the chuckle that these Redneck jokes gave you.

TABLESCAPE TUESDAY

to all of you looking for my TABLESCAPE TUESDAY entry i wasn't able to do it because my camera battery is dead and i can't find the charger! i'll try to do it for next week! sorry!

THE PILLSBURY DOUGHBOY

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment
community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection
and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities
turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry
Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and
Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a
man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in
show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not
considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked
schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty
old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John
Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is
also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.