Live Over Days

I heard a new phrase today that I just love... "Live Over Days." Days so wonderful you just want to live them all over again! I hope that all your days in 2009 are "live over days!!!"

:)

Yay... Jon comes home tomorrow!!

Not much else to say, but I'll be glad to see that boy!

:)

Last Day of November...

Wow, this month has really flown by, but it has been fun to blog every day. I am just about finished decorating on the inside of the house and I made a major dent in the gift wrapping process today, too! I'm planning on mailing my Christmas cards tomorrow since it's December 1st and am feeling good about getting those done!



Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful December and a very Merry Christmas... remembering that God's greatest gift, his Son, is ours for the asking.

May our hearts be grateful for the many, many blessings in our lives during this last month of 2008!!

Canton Trade Days...

What a fun day we had today! We spent the middle part of the day shopping in Canton, Texas at the First Monday Trade Days. There were so many beautiful things to see, touch, smell and taste!! We found a few real bargains... including sunglasses for $5, some gifts for half of the price I had actually purchased in Dallas, candles, and gift bags and wrapping paper for a steal! We had a delicious lunch outside including, of course, tornado potatoes (basically homemade potato chips made from a spiral cut potato.) They were so good!! Cathryn took photos, so I'll add them to my post soon.

Then, when we got home this afternoon, Debbie helped me put up my Christmas tree and it looks so pretty!! (She's such a good friend!) Now... need to finish decorating the mantle, wrapping presents and making candy before the party at my house on Friday. (Photos to come in the next few days!!) Yay for the holidays!!

:)

Today needs a better name...

Black Friday just DOES NOT seem appropriate for such a fun day and I think it needs a better name. We woke up before dawn again and hit the stores at 4-ish. We just returned home (it's now 2:45). We got a few bargains and a few things checked off of our lists. It was a productive fun day... having so much fun with the girls!! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I have so many wonderful people in my life. I can't begin to name them all... but a few are: Jon.Jen.Ryan.myMom.myDad.Frank.Carolyn.Scott.Kyle.Beth.Elizabeth.Ian.Jeri.Chris.Christen.Brad.Steve. Sarah.Stephani.Matt.Bailey.Sandy.Roger.Jason.Angie.Hunter.Blake.Don.Marilyn,theMillers.KenoGirlsandfamilies.Joe.Kristy.Alison.Kelly.theHesters.theGorhams.Mike.Dawn.theMcCradys.Sonia.Patsy.Mickey.Bill.Ray.Natalie.Dan.theCarpenters.theBrownings.theWhites.theEvans.theKellyfamilies.AuntFerneandfamily.
theLynchs.theIsraels.mywonderfulstaff.mycolleaguesatwork.myneighbors.andmyextendedfamilyand
longtimefriends!

God has blessed me richly and I am forever grateful...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Check list complete!

Yay for having my Wednesday pre-Thanksgiving list complete! I even took time to watch a Hallmark movie tonight. I'm such a sucker for those kind of "feel-good" movies!!

Now, I just have to do the last minute stuff tomorrow morning. Ahhh... I'm so grateful for a wonderful extended family. It makes holidays so special to get to share them with those you love. I just wish my dad and my brother's family could be here, too. Maybe next year we can all be together.

Good night! :)

Making Progress!!

I'm making progress on getting ready for tomorrow. I've checked a few things off of my list, but have a few more to go. (I know it should probably stay that way all the time, but I have to say... It's SO nice to have a clean refrigerator!!)

OK... Next task... clean floors and then carve the annual Greenberg's Smoked Turkey from www.gobblegobble.com!! YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Things to remember today...

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22)

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7,8

It's Thanksgiving Week!

I am SOOOO looking forward to Thanksgiving this year. We have a small, but awesome group of family and friends who will be coming over. My prayer this holiday is that God's peace, forgiveness, happiness, compassion, and love will permeate the hearts and minds of people throughout the world.

Enjoy the week, everyone!

One Day at a Time...

It's so hard to see family members in failing health... I just went to visit with my elderly aunt (she's 93). She always had a head for numbers and for managing things. She was also always such a strong business woman... way before it was common for women to be entrepreneurial and run their own businesses. Now, she is so frail and has a failing memory. She is not able to care for herself, but one of her daughters is caring for her 24/7. It is amazing to see the bond they have developed over the last year or so... God is good and I know he is using this situation for His purposes. I know something good is coming from this.

Checking things off my list!!

It's been such a productive Saturday. I just love checking things off my "to do" list!!

I bought a few essential groceries,
hit Walmart and Target for a couple of items,
took apart a really expensive blow dryer to try to fix it (and totally destroyed it in the process!),
made a few returns,
started setting up the tables for our Thanksgiving dinner,
did a little laundry (although I didn't quite finish!) and now...
I am wrapping up addressing my last few Christmas cards.

I also watched a couple of Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas movies while I was working to get me in the spirit of things!! :)

All in all... a great day!

So secret!

Ok, this is just precious.... Enjoy!


Too much candy from Capucha on Vimeo.

So glad tomorrow is Friday!

It has been a long, but productive week. I am so looking forward to having Thanksgiving at my house next week and to having a few days off from work. (Jon, we'll miss you, bud!)

:)

Elizabeth Grace

Isn't she a cutie?? This was her pumpkin dress and she was all dressed up for church!! (Ian is in the background holding his hammerhead shark!)

Apples...

I was at Tom Thumb the other day and saw some apple varieties that I never seen before. Being the "google queen" as my kids would say, I came home and tried to see just how many varieties of apples there really are. Boy, was I amazed... Check this out:

Aceymac
Adams Pearmain
Adanac
Akane
Akero
Akifu Fuji
Albany Beauty
Alexander
Alfriston
Alkmene
Allington Pippin
Almata
Ambrosia, USPP #10,789
American Summer Pearmain
Ananas Reinette
Anaros
Anderson Jonathan
Andre Sauvage
Anna
Antonovka
Api Etoile
Arkansas Black
Arlet
Aroma
Aromatic Russet
Ashmead's Kernel
Astrachan, Red
Aurora Golden Gala®
Austin Apple (Sponsel cv.)
Autumn Gold (Hein cv.), USPP #9,907
Autumn Pearmain
Bailey Sweet
Baldwin
Ballarat Seedling (Stewart cv.)
Barry
Batmans Tree
Battleford
Beacon
Beautiful Arcade
Beauty of Bath
Beauty of Stoke
Bedfordshire Foundling
Belle De Boskoop
Belmac
Belmont
Ben Davis
Benoni
Berne Rose
Bess Pool
Beverly Hills
Billie Bound
Bismark
Black Amish
Black Gilliflower
Black Oxford
Blackjon
Blacktwig
Blaze
Blenheim
Blue Pearmain
Blushing Golden
Boiken
Bolero ®
Bonnie Best
Bonza
Bottle Greening
Braeburn
Braestar ® (Brayleet cv.)
Bramley's Seedling
Breakey
Breakwell's
Britemac
Brock
Brown Sweet
Brownlees' Russet
Buckingham
Buff
Bulmer's Norman
Burgundy
Calville Blanc
Calville Rouge d'Automne
Cameo (Caudle cv.), USPP #9,068
Campfield
Canada Red
Canada Reinette
Captain Kidd
Car dinal Von Galen
Carlos Queen
Carmeliter Reinette
Carpentin
Carroll
Cat's Head
Champlain
Cheddar Cross
Chehalis
Chenango Strawberry
Cherry Cox
Cherry Pippin
Chestnut Crab
Chieftan
Chinook, USPP #10,669, PBR #0386
Chisel Jersey
Cindy Red
Cinnamon Spice
Clayg ate Pearmain
Cleopatra
Coe Fuji (Ebbourcoe cv.), PPAF
Coe's Golden Drop
Cole's Quince
Colvis Spice
Connell Red
Coppertone
Corail (Pinova cv.), USPP #11,601
Cornish Aromatic
Cornish Gilliflower
Cort Pendu Plat
Cortland
Court Of Wick
Court Pendu Plat
Bitmap
Cox's Orange Pippin
Crawley Beauty
Crème D’licious
Creston, USPP #10,739
Crimson Crisp
Crispin
Criterion
Crofton
Dabinett
Dandee Red, PPAF
D'Arcy Spice
Davenport Russet
Davey
Dayton,USPP #5,584
Delblush, protected in France
Delcon
Delicious
Detroit Red
Devonshire Quarrenden
Discovery
Doctor Dologo
Doctor Hogg
Doctor Matthews
Dolgo Crab
Dorsett Golden
Double Red Jonathan
Duchess
Dulcet
Earliblaze
Earlichief Delicious
Earligold, USPP #4,820
Early Harvest
Early Joe
Early Mcintosh
Early Red
Early Strawberry
Early Victoria
Eddie April
Edith Smith
Edward VII
Egremont Russet
Ellison's Orange
Elstar
Emperor Alexander
Empire
Empress
English Beauty
Enterprise (Co Op 30 cv.), USPP #9,193
Epicure
Erwin Bauer
Etter's Gold
Excel Jonagold, USPP #10,314
Exeter
Extra Red Gala (Wyles cv.)
Fall Pippin
Fallawater
Fameuse
Fearns Pippin
Fiesta
Fireside
Firmgold
Five Crown Pippin
Florina (Querina cv.)
Fortune
Foxwhelp
Franklin
Frauen Rotacher
Freedom
Freyburg
Fuji
Fuji Lynd Spur (Fuji Spike cv.)
Fukunishiki
Fukutami
Gala
Gala Supreme
Galarina (Borkh cv.)
Galaxy Gala (Kiddle cv.)
Gano
Garden Royale
Garland
Geeveston Fanny
Geneva
George Carpenter
George Cave
Gernes Red Acre
Gideon
Gilbert Gold
Gilpin
Ginger Gold (Mountain Cove cv.), USPP #7,063
Gloster
Gold Rush, USPP #9,932
Golden Crab
Golden Delicious
Golden Earl
Golden Haralson
Golden Hervey
Golden Noble
Golden Nugget
Golden Pearmain
Golden Pippin
Golden Reinette
Golden Russet
Golden Supreme ®
Golden Sweet
Goodland
Goof
Granny Smith
Gravenstein
Gray Stark
Green Sweet
Greensleeves
Grenadier
Grimes Golden
Grove
Haas
Hampshire, USPP #8,519
Haralred (Lautz cv.)
Haralson
Harcourt
Hauer Pippin
Hauxapfel
Hawaii
Hawkeye Delicious
Hawley
Hayne's Seedling
Hazen
Henry Clay
Herrings Pippin
Heyer 12
Heyer 20
Hidden Rose
Hightop Sweet
Hokuto
Holiday
Holly
Holstein
Honeycrisp,USPP #7,197
Honeygold
Hoople's Antique Gold
Horei
Horneburger Pancake
Horse
Howgate Wonder
Hubbardston Nonesuch
Hudson's Golden Gem
Hunt Russet
Hyde King
Hyslop Crab
Idaho Spur
Idared
Imperial Gala ®, USPP #4,121
Imperial Red Delicious
Ingrid Marie
Irish Peach
Itzstedster Apfel
Jacob's Strawberry
James Grieve
Jefferies
Jerseymac
Jesse Hall
Jonafree, USPP #4,633
Bitmap
Jonagold
Jonagored Supra, ®, Jonagold (Morren cv.), USPP #10,401 and/or USPP #5937
Jonalicious
Jonamac
Jonathan
Jonica Jonagold, USPP #7,146
Jonnee Red Jonathan
Jonwin
Jordan Russet
Jubilee
Juliet
July Red
Bitmap
Kandil Sinap
Karin Schneider
Karmijn De Sonneville
Katja
Keepsake
Kent
Kerry Irish Pippin
Keswick Codlin
Kidd's Orange Red
King
King Cole
King David
King of the Pippins
King Of Tompkin's County
King Russet
Kingston Black
Kinsei
Kleinheart (Sponsel cv.)
Knobbed Russet
Lady
Lady In The Snow
Lady Sudeley
Lady Williams
Lakeland
Lamb Apple Pearmain
Late Harrison
Lawspur Rome
Laxton's Fortune
Laxton's Superb
Leather Coat
Lehigh Greening
Lemon Pippin
Liberty
Limbertwig
Lindamac
Lobo
Lodi
Lombart's Calville
London Apple (Sponsel cv.)
Lord Lambourne
Lord Nelson
Lubsk Queen
Lydia's Red Gala (Hilltop cv.)
Lyman's Large Summer
Macoun
Macspur
Magiemer
Magnum Bonum
Magnum Gala (Stiekema 1 cv.), USPP #11,182
Mahogany
Bitmap
Maiden's Blush
Maigold
Malinda
Malus Floribunda
Mantent
Margil
McIndoe's Russet
McIntosh
McLean
McLellan
McLicious
McShay
Medaille d'Or
Melba
Melon
Melrose
Melrouge
Mendocino Cox
Merton Beauty
Merton Delight
Merton Russet
Merton's Charm
Milo Gibson
Mio
Miracle Mac
Mollie's Delicious
Moore Sweet
Mother
Mountain Boomer
Moyer's Spice
Muscadet de Dieppe
Muscat de Bernay
Muster
Mutsu
Nectarapple
Nehou
Newell's Large Winer
Newell's Late Orange
Newtown =2 0 Pippin
Niagra
Nittany
Nonesuch
Norland
Northern Lights
Northern Spy
Northfield Beauty
Northwestern Greening
Nova Easy Gro
Novamac
Novaspy
NuRed Jonathan
Ohio Nonpareil
Old Nonpareil
Oliver
Ontario
Opalescent
Orange Sweet
Orenco
Orin
Oriole
Orleans Reinette
Ortley
Ottawa
Ozark Gold
Pacific Beauty
Palmer Greening
Parkland
Park's Pippen
Patterson
Paula Red (Arends cv.)
Peasgood Nonsuch
Peck's Pleasant
Perrine Transparent
Perry Russet
Pettingill
Pewaukee
Pilot
Pinata
Pine Golden Pippin
Pineapple (Sponsel cv.)
Pink Lady (Cripps cv.), USPP #7,880
Pink Pearl
Pink Pearmain
Pink Princess
Pink Sparkle
Pinova
Pioneer
Pitmaston Pineapple
Pixie Crunch
Plum Crabbie (Sponsel cv.)
Polka ®
Pomme Gris
Pomme Royale
Porter
Porter's Perfection
Prairie Spy
Priam
Priestly Prima
Prima, USPP #Reissue 28,435
Primate
Primevere
Princess
Prinzenapfel
Priscilla, USPP #3,488
Pristine ®, USPP #9881
Pumpkin Sweet
Puritan
Quebec Bell
Queen Cox
Quinte
Ralls Genet 'Rall's Janet'
Rambo
Ramsdell Sweet
Raritan
Razor Russet
Red Astrachan
Red Baron
Red Berlepsch
Red Bietigheimer
Red Bouquet Delicious
Red Cortland
Red Delicious
Red Gold
Red Gravenstein
Red Idared
Red June
Red King Red Delicious
Red Prince Red Delicious
Red Rome
Red Royal Limbertwig
Red Spy
Red Wealthy
Red Winesap
Redchief Delicious
Redcort ®
Redfield
Redfree, USPP #4,322
Redmac McIntosh
Redmax, USPP #7,167
Redsleeves
Redspur Red Delicious
Redwell
Regal Gala (Applewaites c v.)
Regent
Reine de Reinette
Reinette de Angleterre
Reinette Gris Du Canada
Reinette Russet
Retina
Reverand Morgan
Revival
Rezista Early Jon-like ®, PPAF
Rezista Gala-like ® (Releika cv.), PPAF
Rezista Gold Granny ® (Goldstar cv.), PPAF
Rezista Rome-like ® (Rajka cv.)
Rhode Island Greening
Ribston Pippin
Richared
Richelieu
Rocket Red Braeburn, PPAF
Rome
Rome Beauty
Ross Nonpareil
Rouville
Roxbury Russet
Royal Court TM
Royal Empire
Royal Gala
Royal Red Delicious
Royal Russet
Rubinette
Rubinola
Runkel
Rusty Coat
Saint Edmund's Pippin
Salome
Sam Young
Sandow
Sansa, USPP #6,519
Sayaka
Scarlet Crofton
Scarlet Gala (Creech cv.)
Scarlet O' Haralson (Sponsel cv.)
Scarlet O'Hara (Co op 25 cv.)
Scarlet Pippen
Schmidtberger Reinette
Schweitzer Orange
Scifresh (Jazz cv.)
Scotia
Scotian Spur McIntosh, USPP #10,770
Seek-no-further
Seiko-fu Red Fuji
Sekai Ichi
Senator
Senshu
September Wonder Fuji (Fiero cv.), USPP #11,193
Shamrock
Sharon
Shay
Shiawassee
Shinsei
Shizuka
Sierra Beauty
Signe Tillisch
Silken (BC 8S-4-33 cv.), USPP #10740, PBR #95-670
Sinta
Sir Prize, USPP #3,988
Skinner's Seedling
Smokehouse
Smoothee ® Golden Delicious
Snow
Somerset of Maine
Sonata, USPP #11,601
Sops of Wine
Spartan
Spencer
Spigold
Spijon
Spitzenburg
Splendour
Sponselli (Sponsel cv.)
Spur Gala (Lynd cv.)
Spur Winter Banana
Spuree Rome
Stark Spur Delicious
Starking Delicious
Starkrimson Red Delicious (Bisbee cv.)
Starks Gala
Starr
State Fair
Staybrite Winesap
Stayman
Stayman Winesap
Stearns
Strawberry
Strawberry Chenango
Strawberry Parfait
Strawberry Pippin
Sturdeespur (Miller cv.)
Sturmer
Sturmer Pippin
Sugar Shack (Sponsel cv.)
Summer Mac
Summer Pearmain
Summer Rambo
Summer Rose
Summer Treat
Summer Yellow
Summerred
Sun Fuji, R
Suncrisp (NJ55 cv.), USPP #8,648
Sundance
Sundown (Cripps II cv.), USPP #8,477
Sunny Brook
Sunrise
Sunset
Suntan
Superchief Spur Red Delicious
Surprise
Sutton Beauty
Swaar
Swayzie
Sweet Alford
Sweet Bough
Sweet Delicious
Sweet Gourmet
Sweet Russet
Sweet Sixteen
Sweet Winesap
Swiss Gourmet (Arlet cv.), USPP #6,689
Swiss Limbertwig
Tallow Pippin
Taylor
Telstar
Thome Empire
Tiger (Sponsel cv.)
Tioga
Tohoku
Toko
Tolman Sweet
Tompkin's King
Top Red Red Delicious
Transcendent Crab
Transparent
Tremlett's Bitter
Triple E Fuji (Torres cv.) USPP #12,219
Tsugaru
Tumanga
Turley Winesap
Twenty Ounce
Twin Bee Gala
Tydeman's Early
Tydeman's Late Orange
Tydeman's Red
Ultrared Gala (Obrogala cv.)
Valstar Elstar ®, PPAF
Vanda
Vanderpool Red
Victory
Viking
Virginia Gold
Virginia Greening
Vista Bella
Wagener
Waltana
Walter Pease
Waltz ®
Wantage
Washed Russet
Wayne
Wealthy
Wellington
Wellington Bloomless
Westfield Seek-No-Further
Westland
Wheeler's Golden Russet
White Astrachan
White Winter Pearmain
Whitney Crab
Wickson
William's Pride, USPP #6,268
William's Red
Willie Sharp
Winesap
Winston
Winter Banana
Winterstein
Wismer's Dessert
Wolf River
Worcester Pearmain
Wyken Pippin
Xavier De Bavay
Yakata Fuji, USPP #7,001
Yarlington Mill
Yellow Bellflower
Yellow Newton
Yellow Transparent
Yellow Tremlett's
York
York Imperial
Zabergau Reinette
Zestar ™ (Minnewashta cv.), USPP #11,367)
Zuccalmaglio's Reinette

Beautiful Day... Short Post...

It was gorgeous in Dallas today... with nice, crisp Fall weather. It is a wonderful reminder of God's perfect love and plan for us...

"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Romans 1:20

Monday, Monday (Ooops, Tuesday!)

Darn it! I was on a pretty good roll, having a post every single day this month!! But then, I fell asleep tonight after work and woke up a few minutes ago (after midnight) and totally missed the opportunity for a Monday post. I'll have to make it up, I guess! Oh well...

Sleep tight, everyone! :)

Just had to post this fun photo!

Jen has this on her blog, so I "antiqued" it, 'cause I just had to post it, too. We had such a fun day yesterday. I am so grateful to have the McCrady family in our lives. They are precious!!

Have a great week, everyone!! :)

Cupcakes to Rock Haulers

It was a really fun Saturday. Jen, Gail (Jen's mother-in-law) and I started the day with a quick trip to Tuesday Morning. We found some really fun things and then moved on to the cute shops in Park Cities off of Northwest Highway. We did a lot of window shopping and had a delicious lunch by the roaring fire place at The Corner Bakery and enjoyed a great time of visiting. Of course, we had to then go across to "Sprinkles" for cupcakes! They were delicious, as always. It was Gail's first trip to Sprinkles, so we all really enjoyed it and savored every yummy bite!! We even memorialized it with photos, which I am sure Jen will post soon on her blog! :) We went into several other fun shops and then headed home. It was great fun, and I think we all agreed it will be definitely fun to do this more often!!

When I got home, I had an email with photos from my brother's trip to Dominica. He got to drive this huge "truck" up a narrow, winding mountain road, driving on the "wrong" side of the road. YIKES! I don't think I would have wanted to tackle that. The other photo is of some of the rocks that he will be shipping off the mountain. (How does he get into these things??!!) Pretty cool!

Ann Dunwoody - Congratulations!

Q: Anybody know who Ann Dunwoody is?
A: She's the U.S. Army's first female 4-Star General.

Pretty cool, eh?!!

Really Cool Bible Trivia

Q: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
A: Psalms 117

Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible?
A: Psalms 119

Q: Which chapter is in the center of the Bible?
A: Psalms 118

Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118
Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118

Add these numbers up and you get 1188.

Q: What is the center verse in the Bible?
A: Psalms 118:8

Q: Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives?

The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His Word! Psalms 118:8

'It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.'

Now isn't that odd how this worked out (or was God in the center of it)?
And... when things get tough, always remember...

Faith doesn't get you around trouble, it gets you through it !! :)

(Another one of those email forwards that I love!)

There something special about...

A CLEAN HOUSE!! It feels SOOOO good to be all ready for the weekend. :)

Girl Friends

Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

BUT.........
Sisters are there,
no matter how much time and how
many miles are between you.
A girlfriend is never farther away
than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you
have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life
will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,
praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on
your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the
valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk
beside you...Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,
daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers,
Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended
family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and
neither would I. When we began this adventure called
womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or
sorrows that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we
would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.

(From one of those millions of email forwards!)

Arson and Burglary...

...are two words no one wants to hear about their home. I just returned from a precious friend's home who had that happen this morning. Please keep her in your prayers and pray that they find the criminals who did this. Her husband had passed away a few years ago and the thieves stole her wedding rings and her grandmother's ring that were hidden in a fire proof box at the top of a closet. No one was hurt and she is so blessed with good friends, a great boss from Baylor Hospital, and wonderful neighbors. She was sharing her home with an old friend, so all of her belongings are gone, too...

Again, please keep them in your prayers.

Good morning!

Dear Lord,

Thank you for this day. Thank you for my being able to see, to hear, to speak, to move about this morning. I'm blessed because you are a forgiving and understanding God. You have done so much for me. I have witnessed your hand of blessing, your miraculous power in my life and the lives of those I love, and you just keep on blessing me. Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. I ask now for your forgiveness. Please keep me, my family, and my church family safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a positive and Christ-focused attitude and plenty of gratitude. Please clear my mind of distractions so that I can hear from you and please direct my steps today.

Thank you so much, in Jesus' name, amen.

(Shared this morning from Os Hillman's daily devotional.)

Veteran's Day

To all our current service men and women and to those who have completed their period of military service, THANK YOU! You have my sincere gratitude and appreciation.

Let Freedom Ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spending the day with my dad...

Today was a nice day! I got to spend the whole day with my dad, attending the Baptist General Convention of Texas. We attended a luncheon for the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, honoring three individuals who have contributed so much over the course of their lives to improve their communities, meet basic needs, and to reach their respective corners of the world for Christ. We then attended the first general session, which was really interesting. We ended our day with a dinner for Wayland Baptist University alumni who were attending the convention. It was in honor of Wayland's 100th anniversary. We saw a great video talking about the history of Wayland and where they are heading in the future. It was really interesting to hear about the world-wide impact they are making with campuses in Kenya, Arizona, Alaska, Texas and many, many more places. It's truly amazing to see their devotion to missions and outreach. The icing on the cake today was that my dad got to see several of his old friends and that was great, too.

Dominica

Just learned that my brother is on his way to the beautiful island of Dominica for a week. I have been looking at photos tonight and there are some beautiful ones if you go to "google maps" and Dominica. Most of the island is tropical and filled with waterfalls. Below is a photo posted on the state department's web site:



Hmmm... I am a little jealous of my big brother (even though he's going for business instead of pleasure!!! :)

Trees...

Well, it turned out to be another gorgeous day! I got up early and Jeri and I went to see a movie at 10:45 am! We saw Eagle Eye and it was so good. It had the story line of a chick flick housed in the body of an action movie. How perfect is that??!!

Here are some of the trees I was talking about a couple of days ago. So pretty!! :)

End of the week...

Well, here it is, the end of the week AGAIN! I know it's a really trite and tired saying, but I truly have a hard time believing how fast time flies at this stage in my life. I am not "old" but I sometimes, I regret that I haven't appreciated each and every day for the joys, the work, the struggles, the whole process of living. It is easy to get busy and forget about being joyful, grateful and to remember to have fun with life. Look at this beautiful sunset! Isn't it inspiring??



Today was a beautiful day. I love the temperature this time of year!!

Random change of thought... my homeowner's association sent out a note today about this precious dog who was abandoned in our neighborhood with two bags of dog food. His name is "Jack" and if you know anyone interested, please leave a comment and I'll try to get the contact information to you. From what they say, he is a great dog, gentle with children and other pets and is happy outdoors without frequent barking. He looks like a great dog... part chocolate lab and part "??"



Have a great weekend, y'all!!!!

Entertaining!

I am really looking forward to tomorrow evening... My long-time friends Kelly, Karolyn and Margaret are coming over for dinner and to just catch up. It's been a long time since I've had them at my house, and I'm so excited for them to get to see the remodeled kitchen!!

Yay for old friends. :)

Beautiful trees...

I woke up this morning really wanting to take some photos of the beautiful trees. I even took my camera with me today. I am just loving all the amazing bursts of color... reds, yellows, golds, and green! But, alas, I got off too late tonight and it was already too dark. Maybe tomorrow!!

Changing subjects, but I am really proud of myself. I am the WORST procrastinator and am terrible about scheduling needed appointments. However, so far this week I have done great. I have scheduled appointments with the vet, my dentist, my car (and yes, they fixed the mirror, Jen!), the fence doctor, the handyman (to fix the guest bathroom door before Thanksgiving!) and so on! Whew!! I even got my poor car washed (which was getting dreadfully dirty both inside and out!)

However, I still have to schedule the waterfall guy (it's broken AGAIN!), my mammogram (UGH!) and my colonoscopy (UGH... UGH... UGH!!!!!) Turning 50 is heck!! :)

But, I'll count my blessings that it has been a good week and I'm so, so, so lucky to have great friends, a wonderful job and an amazing family.

Happy Wednesday!

Heavy Heart

Mr. Obama will be the new president of the United States of America beginning in 2009. He will have many challenges and people challenging and testing him in the coming days, weeks, months and years. I pray tonight and will continue praying that God will touch his heart and that his actions and decisions as President will reflect the Christian values that he has claimed to have throughout this campaign. Many daunting issues face our country and I will also pray for our senators, representatives and justices that their decisions will also be grounded in the Constitution and in the Christian values that founded our nation. We can trust that God will use this man to bring His will to pass, but it is incumbent upon us to do our part. Please join me in lifting up our leaders. President Bush has not finished his job and he needs our prayers, too, for these final weeks of his responsibilities as President.

Again, our job is not finished. We must pray and pray and pray.... and then thank the Lord that we have the freedom to do so.

Truett says... "VOTE!"

The Impressionists... Amazing Art!

I had a really wonderful afternoon today. Debbie and I went to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth and saw a huge collection of master paintings that were on a traveling exhibit from the Art Institute of Chicago. Wow... all I can say is that they were beautiful and amazing. We got to see original art from Cezanne', Renoir, Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, and more. They were truly fabulous. One of my favorites was "Paris, a Rainy Day" by Gustav Caillebotte. I could have just stared at it for an hour. It was huge. Remarkable. They wouldn't let us take any photos, so I have a few from our delicious lunch at Joe T Garcias and then outside the museum. It was a gorgeous day. Such a nice treat.

The Bridge

This is a wonderful video... All I can say is Wow. I just had to share it.

http://www.maximumreferrals.com/videos/bridge/bridge.html

Prayers of Friends and Family are such a BLESSING!

Jen has known for some time that layoffs with her company (and specifically in her division) were pending... but today was THE day. We are so blessed to have such good friends and family that stopped what they were doing and prayed for her this morning when we found out what was happening. She just learned that her position is safe, but that she will be transitioning to a new work group. While change is always a challenge, we are so grateful that she is keeping her position. Please keep her in your prayers as she learns more about her new role and responsibilities.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers and for being there! :)

VOTE!!!

Just a reminder that if you haven't already voted, you have until this Friday, 10/31, to vote early and beat some of the election day crowds. If you live in Dallas County, early voting locations can be found at this link:

http://www.dalcoelections.org/nov42008/EVLocations.htm

This is a critical election for the future of our country. Please PRAY, then VOTE. Don't miss this incredible God-given opportunity to tell the world what AMERICA is all about.

Thanks for letting me have a little soap-box time!! :)

Nothing too inspiring today, but...

I'm so excited that I got my Christmas cards already!! I love Shutterfly and every year they have a great sale if you order them early. I literally ordered the cards one evening about midnight and got them in two days!! I could hardly believe it. The wonderful thing about ordering them so early, is that you have plenty of time to get them addressed and everything. I also have started my Christmas spreadsheet but Jen beat me to the punch this year and got hers started first!! I'm not always so organized, but I do LOVE it when it works out like that!!!!!

I go back to the orthopedic doc tomorrow morning for hopefully my last elbow appointment. What a miracle it is that our bones just heal with time. It's simply amazing.

Hope y'all are enjoying this beautiful, crisp weather!! :)

Do you like it?

Well, I am thinking about getting a new Christmas tree this year and I'd love your opinion. Please comment if you like this one.

Thanks!! :)

Another Melanie Update

Wow... we got to actually visit with Melanie today. What a blessing... the doctors had taken out the trach earlier in the morning and so she was actually talking. She looked really good. Thanks again for all your continuing prayers. She was able to move her arm slightly and is getting a little leg movement. Her mom seems so hopeful and precious. What a sweet Christian woman. Continued prayers are definitely needed, though. Thanks again, y'all!

Melanie Update

Great news regarding my friend Melanie. She is continuing to gain strength and some muscle control and movement... she is beginning to eat real food... and she is able to talk some. All fabulous improvements! Thank you all for your prayer support. It is such a blessing to her and to her family!!

Precious Great Niece!

These pictures have been circulating among my family, but they were just too cute not to post on my blog, too. Isn't she adorable?? Mimi would have been in love with this little girl!!!!!!!

Fun Week...

Well, it was a fun, busy week. One of the highlights was going to the "Boomers Comic Club" at Prestonwood. There was a great Christian comedian and I got to go with a friend, Linda Walker, who I met through Silpada Jewelry. I was tired after a long day of work, but it was still fun to do something new!




Last night, I went with a few of my old church buddies to a party with a new group and we had a really nice time meeting a bunch of new people from other area churches. We were encouraged to wear costumes, so Jen helped me find this fun hat that I wore. Although it wasn't a dramatic costume or anything, a bunch of the other girls really loved it!


Spending today getting ready for next week... :) Here we go again!!!!

Cool new additions to the campus

Here are some photos of one of my campuses that is getting an extreme makeover, including a new library. It's going to be beautiful!!

BEFORE:







UNDER CONSTRUCTION:





PROPOSED FINALE:

"Gotta have it" syndrome

I saw this quote on a random blog and it really touched me. Especially after having a garage sale with my sweet sister-in-law and precious niece today who were dead-dog tired after a long night for an "away" football game and then preparing their garage for the sale. I tend to collect "stuff" and it felt so good to get rid of so many things that I don't need and that other people were so excited to have. My goal is to be a better steward of my resources and to live for the joy of living, not for stuff to collect. For those of you who know me, you know that this is probably WAYYYY overdue.

"It doesn't matter what you have, someone else always has something bigger or better. And those decorating magazines can often give us great ideas but also a dose of the "gotta have it" syndrome. Maybe it's time to take a little break. Instead of focusing on "home beautiful", concentrate on what makes your home warm and caring. A place where you can express your God-given talents. No mater how little or how much you have, you can experience the results of a godly home. Make it more of a sanctuary in the best sense. A place of security, trust, and comfort. That comes from you. There's no decorating scheme in the world that can replace the role you play in your home!"

from "The One Minute Home Organizer"
by Emilie Barnes

Please Pray for Melanie...

Please keep my friend Melanie in your prayers. She has had a rough week with another blood clot in her right arm. She is battling through one thing after another, but is still making progress. She was able to say a few words yesterday. We are grateful for the progress, but she still needs our prayer support. This has been going on since July and her family is able to be strong for her because of our prayers. Thanks!!

I'm sling-less!!

Great news! I went to the orthopedic doctor this morning and my elbow is continuing to heal nicely and I don't have to wear my sling any more!! Yay!

Jon's 21!

I can hardly believe that the cute little boy with the flat top hair cut, overalls and scruffy voice is all grown up! I was getting prepared for this moment, but it's pretty strange and unsettling to know that my "baby" is an adult!! Wow... where did the time fly??

Lovely Day!

Today was such a nice day. Jen came over and we made blueberry muffins and spent the morning just visiting, sitting on bar stools in the new kitchen, (and admiring the new vent hood that was finally delivered and installed this week.)



It was so nice having a quiet, non-busy time just to spend together. Then, we started nibbling on a pot roast that I had made the night before. (It was delicious, if I say so myself!!) We started watching a movie, "While You were Sleeping" as Jen went through some old photos. She found some absolutely precious ones and it brought back so many memories for both of us. It was hard to believe how much everyone has grown up in these past brief years!!

We then started tackling a classic "Kim Russell 30-minute" project of pulling stuff together for a garage sale that Jeri and I are hosting next weekend to help raise money for the Leukemia marathon that Jeri, Christen and Stephani are running in two weeks. You just cannot believe how much "stuff" there is. It felt so good to help Jen "edit" and redecorate my rooms and really de-clutter them.





Thanks, Jen, for spending your Saturday with me. I loved every minute and it was such a wonderful indulgence to have you with me all day!!

God says...

We say: 'It's impossible'
God says: All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

We say: 'I'm too tired'
God says: I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)

We say: 'Nobody really loves me'
God says: I love you (John 3:1 6 & John 3:34 )

We say: 'I can't go on'
God says: My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15)

We say: 'I can't figure things out'
God says: I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5- 6)

We say: 'I can't do it'
God says: You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)

We say: 'I'm not able'
God says: I am able (II Corinthians 9:8)

We say: 'It's not worth it'
God says: It will be worth it (Roman 8:28 )

We say: 'I can't forgive myself'
God says: I Forgive you (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)

We say: 'I can't manage'
God says: I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

We say: 'I'm afraid'
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7)

We say: 'I'm always worried and frustrated'
God says: Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7)

We say: 'I'm not smart enough'
God says: I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30)

We say: 'I feel all alone'
God says: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)

God determines who walks into our lives....it's up to each of us to decide who we let walk away, who we let stay, and who we refuse to let go.'

God bless all my friends in whatever it is that you know they may need this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as they seek to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.

Who the Heck is Steven Wright?

According to one of the million email "forwards" I know we all get, here's some information about Steven Wright... (BTW, for you OCD people... I have no idea what happened to number 7 in the list. It was missing before I got it!)

"If you're not familiar with the work of Steven Wright, he's the famous
erudite scientist who once said: 'I woke up one morning, and all of my
stuff had been stolen and replaced by exact duplicates.' His mind sees
things differently than most of us do, to our amazement and amusement.
Here are some of his gems:

1 - I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.
2 - Borrow money from pessimists -- they don't expect it back.
3 - Half the people you know are below average.
4 - 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.
5 - 82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
6 - A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
8 - If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.
9 - All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand.
10 - The early bird may get the worm , but the second mouse gets the cheese.
11 - I almost had a psychic girlfriend, ..... but she left me before we met.
12 - OK, so what's the speed of dark?
13 - How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?
14 - If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
15 - Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
16 - When everything is coming your way, you are in the wrong lane.
17 - Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.
18 - Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now.
19 - I intend to live forever.... so far, so good.
20 - If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
21 - Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
22 - What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
23 - My mechanic told me, 'I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.'
24 - Why do psychics have to ask you for your name?
25 - If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
26 - A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
27 - Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
28 - The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.
29 - To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.
30 - The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.
31 - The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.
32 - The colder the X-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.
33 - Everyone has a photographic memory; some just do not have film.
34 - If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?"

Beautiful Fall Weather!

Can I just say that I LOVE the weather we are having now!! It's perfect!

Catching Up!

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since my last post and I have a lot to catch up on!  Jeri, Christen, Jen and I went to Las Vegas for a fun-filled four-day weekend.  We saw so many beautiful hotels/casinos and amazing sites.  It was really surprising to me how much things had changed since I was last in Las Vegas about 5, no wait, 7 years ago~ ~ ~ (my, how time flies!!).  

We stayed at The Mirage and our room was beautiful.  It was really contemporary and overlooked Las Vegas Blvd (from a distance) so we got the beauty and lights without all the noise!  The other girls enjoyed an afternoon by the gorgeous pool and I had a visit to the salon, since I couldn't get my cast wet (and it was HOT!)  

We visited The Bellagio and saw the beautiful water feature set to gorgeous music that is piped in around the property... we saw the largest chocolate fountain in the world there, too, along with a huge Dale Chihuly glass sculpture installed in the ceiling in the foyer.  The conservatory was undergoing its seasonal renovation, but still, the hotel was one of the many highlights of our trip.

We also went to see the "Price is Right" game show, which was a Las Vegas version at Harrahs. We were really hoping that one of us would get picked to "COME ON DOWN"... and Jeri really wanted to play the "Plinko" game... but sadly, none of us were picked, but we all enjoyed the fun afternoon.  Right before that, we had visited the Hard Rock Hotel and then the Stratosphere, where Jen rode one and Christen rode two of the rides on top.  I didn't realize that Christen was such a daredevil!!  

Our big splurge was on the Cirque du Soliel show, "Love" and it was wonderful.  The acrobatics and classic Beatles' music, creative lights and staging were phenomenal.  There is a wonderful small preview of the show at this link.  

Other highlights were "Bill's" where Jeri had a fun run at one of her favorite games, New York New York, where we all did great at a $5 table of Black Jack (and the girls rode the roller coaster), Wynn, where we had fancy appetizers and saw some beautiful decor, breakfast in Paris, a quick trip to Excaliber, Caesar's Palace and so much more.  It was a wonderful vacation and a great "girl's trip!"  I hope we can do it again someday!!!

Since returning, we also had Keno and a delicious b-day cake.... and a delicious b-day cake at work.  51 can't be all that bad when I have such wonderful friends and family.  I am blessed!!

Speaking of friends, please keep Melanie in your prayers.  She is beginning to respond to therapy and is slowly regaining some muscle movement, but she mysteriously became completely paralyzed in July and was in ICU for 2 months as the team of doctors tried to figure out what was going on.  While in ICU, she had two heart attacks and a stroke and had part of her lung removed as the doctors were fighting one condition after another.  She has remained strong and has an amazing Christian family by her side... but with so many issues, everyone has had to remain vigilant to ensure she stays on the right track toward recovery.  Thanks for your continued prayers for her and her family.  They need strength and resolve and trust to keep this going.  I know they are so tired.  However, last week, she was moved from Zale Lipshy hospital near downtown Dallas to a rehab hospital in Plano, so this was a major step forward and a huge blessing.

Yesterday was such a fun day...  for my b-day, Jen, Ryan, Debbie Miller and Stephanie came over and helped me finish up the decorating and wallpapering of my kitchen.  It was so much fun for me and with my elbow still being out of commission, it was another true blessing.  It feels SOOOO good to have this all nearly finished.  At this point, I am only waiting on the arrival of the vent-a-hood to go over my new stove top.  YAY!!

Below are some of the photos following all of the hard work they helped me with yesterday.  THANK  YOU, guys!!  I'm the luckiest person to have you in my life!