GIVEAWAY WINNERS, AND OTHER THOUGHTS

I have a feeling this post might be ALL over the place as there is much on my mind…But first things first.

CONGRATULATIONS to Janette from Janette’s Sage.  She is the winner of my Valentine’s give away.  For those of you who do not know Janette, (but I think most of us do!) she is an absolutely delightful, spirit filled woman who blesses me every time I visit her blog (which is pretty much any time she posts something new) She is wise, funny, creative, and loving and she is definitely one of my very favorite friends to visit in blogland.  So if you don’t know Janette, pop by for a visit and I KNOW you’ll be glad you did.   Now I have to tell you that while Janette did win my BIG giveaway (it’s really not that big Janette, haha ~  but there is a surprise or two besides the coasters) I decided that since I had soo much Valentine fabric that I just couldn’t resist, that I would just go ahead a make up one extra set as well.  Sooo, Cindy from Letters From Midlife has won that set.  Congratulations to you!  Now Cindy, (for those of you who don’t know her) is a wonderful Christian woman whose well written blog is always a blessing to me.  She is also VERY creative and talented and makes beautiful gift cards and gift tags that she sells at her Etsy shop.  I consider Cindy a kindred spirit in many ways.  It was harder for me to do a giveaway then I thought it might be as I kind of wanted everyone to win, haha.  If I had my way I would have picked you all.  Anyway ladies, send me your addresses in an email, and I will get those off to you as soon as I can. 

And then I wanted to mention that I have been a fan and an avid reader of Karen Kingsbury for quite a while now.  I just love the way she writes.  Her stories and style of writing have always seemed to really touch my heart.  Can’t tell you how many of her books I have cried my way through.  Well, a few months back I had purchased two in her new Bailey Flanigan series but for some reason or another had never gotten around to reading them.  Well, since New Years I have read them both and was very excited to find out that there are two more in the series; actually only 1 is available now, and the other will come out in the spring.  I purchased book 3 today!  YAY!!  I am soo looking forward to reading that.  I also purchased a new Bible.  I felt kind of wild, haha; but here are my thoughts on that.   A few years ago after I lost (I won’t go into that sad story now) the Bible that I had carried for years and years, I had decided I wanted to get  a small Bible that I could just carry around in my purse if I wanted to, so that I would never be without it, should I need it.  Seemed like a wonderful idea.  However, since the time I purchased that it has become harder and harder for me to read the tiny print even with my reading glasses on of course.  I have found myself straining and struggling.  So I decided I needed to break down and get myself a LARGE print Bible.  I quickly found out most of them were HUGE!!  Too heavy to lay in bed reading, or to tote around easily, BUT! The sweet gal at the store helped me to find a smaller type one that I think will be just perfect.  I am soo pleased for some reason. 

And then, I wanted to tell you about the thoughts I have had as I have been studying through the book of James in my devotional time.  Oh, and btw, it certainly works out well that my DIL will be teaching this book at the women’s Bible study group when it starts back up in February.  It will all be very fresh in my mind. : )  But I regress….I have always loved the book of James.  I have read it soo many times of course that I could never really count them up.  Pastor Dave from our old church taught for several months on the book as well and I remember it well.  But I love how no matter how familiar some scripture is to you, the Lord finds a way to bring a new insight or thought to your mind; or sometimes just another focus.  Now truthfully of course this is not a new thought for me, but rather a never ending challenge and struggle; the power of the tongue.

 

James 3:8  But no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.   

What others say to us and what we say to others can last a VERY long time, for both good or for evil. The casual sarcastic or critical remark can inflict a lasting injury on another person. Proverbs also speaks of the person who doesn’t consider the destructive power of his words. 

Proverbs 26:18-19  Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” 

WOW…I have been dwelling all day on how many times I have been guilty of that.  The fire of the tongue has been used to burn many.  Children are told, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”  But that child’s rhyme isn’t really true.  The pain of word spoken against us can hurt us for a lifetime, long after a broken bone has healed. 

James goes to talk about the contradictory character of the tongue as well.  How the very thing that can spit gossip, cursing, and hurtful remarks, can also bless God and others.  The well-timed encouragement or compliment can inspire someone for the rest of their life.   I love these next couple of verses.

Proverbs 16:24  Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

Proverbs 12:25  Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad. 

I guess what I am trying to say here is how much more I want to focus on what I say.  And truthfully what I write for others to read as well.  The ONLY one with the power to control the tongue is the Holy Spirit.  So I am going to make that a part of my daily prayers from now on. I want my tongue to bless others and spread the sweetness of Jesus.  I have (at times) prided myself (always a mistake) with being able to “speak my mind”.  Well I read today in a commentary, “If your talent is to speak your mind ~ God probably wouldn’t mind if you buried that talent.”  A VERY good idea!

Hope you all have a wonderful week-end!  

THIS LITTLE CUTIE IS ALREADY 4 MONTHS OLD!  HE IS GETTING SOO BIG!  GRANDMA CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HIM.    DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE IS MISSING ANY MEALS. KIND OF LIKE GRANDMA ; )  MEL SAID HE HAD HIS FIRST SOLID FOOD MEAL TODAY, SOME RICE CEREAL, AND HE LOVED IT!  NOT SURPRISED.

P.S.   The girls won last tonight!  The losing streak has been broken!  YAY Mom!!

NEW WASHER AND DRYER, AND! A VALENTINE'S GIVEAWAY

Hope you are all enjoying your Monday.  It is raining here in California, and I am totally enjoying it.  Seemed like the perfect day to catch up all my laundry in my BRAND NEW WASHER AND DRYER!!  Yes, we have finally broken down and replaced the pair that have faithfully done our laundry for the last 12 years.  You might remember a while back I told you I had a repair man out on the washer and he told me that her days were definitely numbered.  Told me it would cost WAY more to fix it then it would to just buy a new one.  Let me tell you the laundry has been a definite challenge ever since.  I had to open the washer lid and manually give the tub a spin (not an easy task if you are wondering) to get it to MAYBE go into the spin cycle.  It was taking me ALL day to do the wash (which just shouldn't be the case when there are only two of us, and one of those people has the majority of their laundry go to the dry cleaners considering he wears suits and ties to work, haha) as sometimes it never would spin....meaning I had to wring out the clothes and put them WAY TOO WET into the dryer which then made the drying time take just forever not to mention was killing my arms.  Anyway, on Sat. we shopped around at a few places we decided to check out, and bought the new ones.   They actually delivered them on Sun afternoon, so we sped home from San Diego and church and a yummy lunch and by 5:00 they were up and running.  I have been practically giddy.  The new ones are NOT the biggest (don't need that anymore) NOT the top of the line (not necessary) and WITHOUT all the bells and whistles, (who cares?)  and yet are all I need them to be and more.  I am sooo grateful; thank you Jesus.  It is funny how you take for granted something as basic as a washing machine until you no longer have one that works.  Other than that, our week-end was pretty uneventful.

I mentioned I was going to do a give away and the time has FINALLY come.  For years now my mother has made coasters out of fabric.  I remember when she first told me about them I thought to myself, "how in the world would that work?  Surely they would get wet, and therefore be pointless" haha...But when she gave me a set and I tried them out I was pleasantly surprised.  They are by the far the best coasters I have ever owned.  They are the perfect size, you can make them to match your own personal decor, and they are definitely unique.  In addition to that I have a set that go with my Fall decor, another set for my Christmas decor, and now a new everyday set.  I have also made a set for a Valentine's day decor.  They are really pretty cute.  I have also made some new ones for Mel's everyday decor.  Let me show them to you....

A CLOSE UP VIEW OF MY NEW ONES...THEY ARE PERFECT FOR ME AS MY COLORS ARE OLIVE GREEN, BURGUNDY, AND CREAM

EACH "SET" INCLUDES 4 COASTERS

ONE IN USE...

CLOSE UP VIEW OF THE ONES I MADE FOR MEL....HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM MEL?

THE BACKS OF THESE ARE JUST ONE FABRIC

YES, HER SET IS STILL NEEDING ONE....I WAS SHORT SOME FABRIC, SO I HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE STORE

THE VALENTINE SET

THE BACKSIDE

WORK SOO NICELY

Soo, I have decided to put together a little "Valentine's" gift for someone, and a set of the Valentine's coasters will be part of it.  Not necessarily this particular set, but maybe, who knows??  If you are interested in this gift, just leave me a comment here.  I will let hubby pick a name this week-end, so that I can get it to whoever might win this BEFORE the first of February.   I have been wanting to just bless one of my readers with a give away for some time now, but it just never seemed to work out.  These are nothing all that spectacular, but they will definitely be made with love.  OH, and for any of you gals who do your own sewing out there, if you are interested I can definitely show you how ridiculously quick and easy these are and then you could always whip yourself up a set to go with your own decor.  If I didn't have my Fall and Christmas ones packed away for now I would show you those too.  They are really quite cute.

Hope you all have a wonderful week!  My dryer is buzzing, so I am off to switch loads... : )

AN OLD POST, AND SOME NEW THOUGHTS

Ecc. 33:1  To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven.

This is one of those verses that for me is so packed full of profound truth, it is hard sometimes to really get my head around the simplicity of it at the same time. As I have moved through the various seasons in my life, I have found myself both looking ahead to what is still (God willing) to come, and the ones I have left far behind. But one thing ALWAYS remains the same.


Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

God moves on an eternal time table that is not always readily evident to His people. He works within seasons, and time frames for His own purposes.

Proverbs 19:21  Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." 

It is right and good to plan. It is necessary for it gives direction and allows us to set priorities. However, yielding some time on our agendas and in our hearts for the purpose of God to prevail just makes sense if we want to live our lives as He would have us. This may mean we may have to re-adjust from time to time. But that's OK...In whatever season in life we find ourselves in, we should move forward and plan, and yet yield to the will of God and His purposes, and we will do it all in the power of the Holy Spirit...

I originally wrote this following post a couple of years ago.  Back when I first started blogging and I am not sure if I had any readers at all, haha.  I was reading back through my blog books this morning when my mom was trying to remember when something happened and I came across this post and I thought it might be worth posting again.


I have been going over to Greenbelt Park recently on the days that Nina comes, and getting out and sitting on the picnic tables there and working on my Bible Study. The day started out kind of foggy and cold, so I was concerned I wouldn't want to sit out there today.   But it wasn't long when the sun burned it's way through, and it was a beautiful 72 degrees.  There was a slight breeze blowing,  just enough to ruffle the leaves on the nearby trees. I sat there working for about an hour and half without another person in sight. I enjoyed the solitude which seemed strange somehow, as I was outside and in a public place. Just as I was finishing up, I noticed a mom and her young daughter making their way toward the play ground. The mom couldn't have been more than at the most 25, and the daughter was probably close to 3 or so. It was a toss up who seemed more excited to be heading towards the equipment. I watched as the young mom put her little one in a swing and began pushing her, and the little girl squealed with obvious delight ~ simple pleasure, free to anyone who chose to use the park. A few minutes later, a little old man so hobbled and bent it was a wonder he was maneuvering his frail body down the side walk at all, made his way to the bench sitting by the sand, and took up his post watching the small child on the swing. He laughed aloud at her undisguised enjoyment. I was struck with how life changes from one stage to another as quickly as the weather it seems. One minute your the young child in the swing completely dependent upon your mother for all your most basic needs, and the next you find yourself the young mother herself caring for her family.  A couple of blinks later and your me sitting on a bench in the park wondering how I could have possibly reached this stage in my life so quickly.  And finally the little old man hobbled and shuffling in what is surely his last little while here on this earth. Time races by and things inevitably change. My eyes wondered and I noticed the softball fields off in the distance. How many times did I come to this park, and sit in those stands and watch Melody play a game of softball?! Too many times to count that's for sure. How I enjoyed watching her play. I closed my eyes and could hear the girls chanting their little cheers, and the sound of the balls hitting their gloves as they warmed up for a game. I could even smell the nachos in the snack bar and feel the excitement I always felt as a game was about to start. Those days have come and gone, and today I miss them. I miss her. I miss being the young mom with a large family to go home and prepare a big dinner for. But I was struck with something else today that I don't usually think of when I am in a nostalgic mood. There is going to come a time in my life (hopefully) when I am the old man sitting on the bench and will remember what it was like to be the Grandma with all the young grand kids and kids still in their early 20's and 30's. Still living in the house they all grew up in and wondering if we will ever afford to retire. Yes, life goes quickly I have found, but I am no longer in a hurry, and I intend to enjoy this stage in my life and savor it for all it's benefits and pleasures. Because no doubt the time will come when it will all change and other's will find themselves standing in my shoes, and I will be the little old lady hobbling along (I kind of hobble now haha) waiting for the Lord to call me home....


Yes, "seasons in our life" come and go and we all find ourselves on that roller coaster ride called life. Sometimes we are going up and the climb seems non-ending and overwhelming, other times we have reached the mountain tops and the view from the top is exhilarating and majestic, other times we find ourselves plummeting downward at a breath taking speed, our hearts and minds busy with just the hanging on. But I find my comfort in knowing that Jesus is always there, always the same, never moving, my rock.

Psalm 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.


I found it interesting how things have changed for me in just a couple of years.  We are no longer living in that house and we have found ourselves a little closer to that retirement.  I no longer find myself longing for the days when my kids were all at home and I was a busy mom.  I no longer dwell on the fact that Melody has moved away and started her own life, not that I don't still miss her of course, but in a different way.  I am so much more content with my life as it is now WITHOUT my kids living with me.  It does have it's perks, haha. But some things just never change.  Life moves on....seasons come and go, and change is inevitable.  But God is ever faithful and eventually we settle into our here and now.  Hope you all have a wonderful week-end.

I am linking up today with Spiritual Sundays, join in and be blessed by all the wonderful posts!

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

It is time for Hodgepodge Wednesday.  I soo enjoy this.  You can join the others who participate HERE.

1.  A new Miss America was crowned on Saturday night - did you watch?  If you were a contestant what would your talent be?  No, I did not watch it, though I wouldn't have minded.  As for what my talent would be?  A VERY good question, haha.... I suppose IF I were going to be such a contestant, I would brush up my piano....I use to play a pretty good Moonlight Sonata.  I loved many of Beethoven's pieces.  However, since this is all just a random "what if"  dream anyway, I guess I could always sing (like Carrie Underwood to keep the dream REALLY good) How Great Thou Art.   Oh, and I guess if I am going to sing like her, I might as well LOOK like she does too... : )  This video (I know I have shared it before) ALWAYS brings me to tears....How I love this song.  And she puts her whole heart into this.  Perfect worship song.  Give it a listen if you have the time.  The end of it is truly spectacular..





2.  Do you have houseplants?  Real or fake?  Over the course of the years I have had MANY real houseplants.  I love them.  But I just DO NOT, and let me repeat that, DO NOT, have a green thumb.  I just sort of end up killing everything.  Right now I have two African violets in my bathroom that are still doing pretty good.  I sooo love them.  I also have MANY (too many to count, haha) fake flower arrangements, plants, trees and bushes.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE fresh flowers in my house too, and I look for excuses to buy them.

3.  When you were in school did you speak up or were more of the hide your face, avoid eye contact, and pray the teacher didn't call on you type of student?  This seams like a pretty simple question, but as I REALLY thought about it, I realized it really kind of depended and varied on the subject.  If we were in any of sort of math class, (and this was true of elementary school right on through college) I hid and prayed I would NEVER be noticed or asked ANYTHING, haha.  But when I was young I LOVED to read, or to be asked to read etc. so my hand was always waving wildly in the air.  I also loved Religion class or Bible class and loved to get "my opinion" or thoughts out there.  I loved anything having to do with writing and again I couldn't wait to share.  I hid in History, (never could remember anything very long), Spanish, (oh soo bad here), and Economics and Government (I was a complete disaster in those), lol.  So there you have it.  I was a DEFINITE mix.


4.  Next Monday marks the Chinese New Year.......what you order when someone suggests Chinese food?
Oh how I LOVE Chinese food....there are sooo many favorites, and truthfully I almost never have it anymore.  BUT!  If I could order a plate of it right now and didn't have to care if what I wanted was not healthy or low in calories, it would be....(goodness am I even going to know the name of what I like)....let's see....I love chow mein, sweet and sour pork, broccoli and beef, egg rolls, cashew chicken, I could go on but you get the drift...I LOVE it.

YUMMMM....DOESN'T THIS LOOK DELICIOUS?


  

5.   What would you define a miracle?  What would it take for you to consider something a miracle? I think I consider anything that COULD NOT happen outside of the power of God a miracle.  A phenomenon that defies the laws of nature.  And by strict definition - whether you are a believer or not - an act of God. I think that a changed life is sometimes the biggest miracle we all might ever see.  God can take a person who has been say for instance a drug addict and living the life that goes along with that, and change them into a completely different person through the power of His Holy Spirit.  I have actually seen this happen more than once, and it is definitely a thing to behold.  I have also heard stories of someone whose doctors had done all they can do, suddenly become well after prayer too.  From the Bible's perspective, miracles are gracious and mighty works of God that display His unique power and dominion over all creation, including life and death.  They are "gracious" because God in His mercy chooses to reveal Himself supernaturally in a way that displays His willingness to interact with mankind.  OH!  And then His very creation is a miracle if you ask me....the way the sun, the moon, and the stars light the sky.  The waves crash into the shore.  The mountains inspire many with their beauty.  And don't even get me started on the way the human body works.  : )

6.  What's your favorite Disney song?  If you're stuck, you'll find a list here...Oh there are a few I just love....but my favorite I think would be from Beauty and the Beast....Be Our Guest. We saw this play several years ago, and I will never forget the performance of this song.  One of the best things I ever saw.  I remember the entire audience gave it a standing ovation when it was over.  Love it...

If you have the time take a listen to this....it ALWAYS brightens my mood..

7.  I should have_______________yesterday.   Goodness I hate to get started on that thought, as there are SEVERAL things I "should have" done yesterday.  If I must name a few it would be.....I should have EATEN LESS yesterday...I should have SPOKEN KINDER to my mother yesterday.  I should have DONE SOME GROCERY SHOPPING yesterday.  I should have SHOWN MORE OF GOD'S LOVE yesterday.  sigh....

8.  Insert your own random thought here.  The rest of my week should be a busy one as I am to spend the day at my mom's tomorrow.  She has a few things she needs me to do for her.  I am happy to help her and am looking forward to the day.  On Thursday I hope to get all the fabric I need to make up a couple of nighties and receiving blankets for my sister Diane's daughter Michelle who is to have a baby boy in May.  My sister had only 1 child...a girl.  She has had 2 daughters.  Sooo, this is to be the FIRST boy in that family.  They are all very excited.  And then my sister is coming over on Friday so that I can help her make a couple of nighties herself as she wants to crochet all the edges of her nighties and receiving blankets.  Lots to get done before her "sprinkle" in March.  Just so you know, I had no idea what a "sprinkle" was until my daughter was pregnant last year.   : )  For those of you who don't know, it is just a little shower (or a sprinkle) for a woman who is having her second or third etc. baby, (especially if that baby is of another sex) lol.  I think it is a wonderful idea.  But then I just love an excuse to get together and celebrate almost anything.


Hope you are all having a good week!

MONDAY'S THOUGHTS

Good morning!  I am soo loving the weather right now.  We FINALLY have some cooler weather and even a little rain.  I was beginning to think that winter wasn't coming to So. California.  Our week-end was low key but wonderful.  On Friday I went out to take my little grandson Jeffie to the docs.  Poor little guys leg had been bothering him for 3 days so we decided to have it checked out.  Mama and daddy are both working so I picked him up from school and headed on over to the docs.  She couldn't find anything wrong so we had to get a blood test just to check a little further.  Jeff was VERY brave...I felt bad for him.  Soo afterwards we headed over to Target so he could pick out a little something for being such a good boy, haha.  His leg was feeling just fine the next day, (naturally) but still glad we had a little time together.  We stopped for a frozen yogurt and I took him on home.  His mama was home by then so I visited for a while and left for home.  We decided to skip cards at my parents house as dh was coming down with a little cold and we didn't want to expose them to anything.  We put a fire on and a movie and had a nice quiet evening.  On Sat. we spent the majority of the day doing some chores around here.  Actually dh did the chores and I kept him company.  : )
In the late afternoon we decided to go and see a movie and saw The Iron Lady with Meryl Streep.  It was a pretty good movie and we both enjoyed it.  She was just a stun in it.  I love her though in almost anything she does.  Such a good actress.  After the movie we did some grocery shopping and came home and bbq'd some wonderful fish for dinner, and watched some football that dh had taped.  Yesterday we went down to San Diego and went to church and then over to my son's house for lunch and more football.  Just a nice afternoon.
I plan on doing some sewing and some laundry today.  Nothing really very exciting I guess.  Hope you all have a good week.  I am struggling getting my head into my diet, but I am giving it my best effort.  I do love traveling around blogland and reading about your wonderful recipes for dinner and sweets though.  A gal can dream can't she?


Psalm:  17:8  Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings.


Love this!

Getting ready to run out the door for church, but just had to share this for any of you that may have missed this....It was just soo exciting to see this commercial played on public television on a commercial that literally millions viewed.   My hubby and I's jaws dropped when we saw it and had to run it back a couple of times.  How darling these children were and how powerful to hear the word coming out of their mouths.  I do feel badly the Tebow lost yesterday, but his impact with his testimony for Christianity is unforgettable.  Have a WONDERFUL day.

WEDNESDAY'S THOUGHTS

I had a really nice day with my mom yesterday.  We went to lunch at one of our favorite places, The Corner Bakery, and had a light little meal.  After that we went over to Bed, Bath and Beyond as my mom wanted to look for a new comforter.  And we found one!  Soo pretty, just the perfect colors, and one of those complete sets in a bag.  And!  On clearance.  Doesn't get much better.  She was soo excited.  I got a few goodies too. My hubby got a new Keurig for his birthday as you might recall.  Well, I needed a way to display his coffee choices, so I got a really nice spinning display shelf, AND a large box of coffee choices, AND!  a basket that you can put into it which gives you the option of using your own coffee grounds.

I really like the way it looks.  After our shopping we came back to her house and put the new comforter on her bed to see what we thought.  It was great!   My mother has made me (and all of her children) sets of cloth coasters that are just the BEST coasters in the world.  I have a set for my living room, and also a set for Fall decor and Christmas decor.  But I was really needing a set for my family room.  So I asked her if she had any in "the works" that might work for this.  (She hasn't made any of these in quite a while) She pulled a set out that was all cut and ready to go.  The colors are perfect.   All I have to do is sew them.  I am hoping to get around to this later on this afternoon, or maybe tomorrow.  When I get them done I will be sure and post a picture or two so that you can see just how cute they are, and how perfect.  I am thinking I am also going to make up a set for Valentines day decor, and maybe some for the 4th of July as well.  THEN!!  I am finally going to do my give away.  I know I have mentioned give aways before and then not carried through, so I probably shouldn't say anything about this yet.  But I can never keep myself quite.  This time, it IS going to happen.  I will get some sets made up, and then let you know the details about the give away.

Last night as I was laying in bed praying it occurred to me that "IF" and it is a big "IF" we get out to see Sam in Feb. like we plan, he will already be 5 months old!!  5 months!!  I can hardly bear it.  He was just a sweet little newborn the last time I saw him, and in the blink of an eye he is already a few months old.  I feel like I am missing soo much.  It is hard I am not going to lie.  I want to hold him REALLY bad!!  But this morning when I woke up my daughter called and told me she had posted several new pictures of him.  She sends me quick little videos of him almost every other day, so I have heard him laughing etc. too.  Thank goodness for all these ways to keep connected.  It is not the same of course, but it sure beats the way it used to be.  She does not have access to Skype yet, but we are working on it.  Meanwhile, I just HAVE  to share his latest photo session with his mama....He sooo looks like her in many of these pics.

3 AND HALF MONTHS....HOW ADORABLE IS THIS?? SUCH A HAPPY BABY

HIS MAMA'S PRETTY EYES

THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE....SOO SWEET...LOOK AT HIS LITTLE HANDS!

HE DIDN'T LAST OVER 30 SECONDS SHE SAID, BUT STILL!!

HE LOVES THIS NEW LITTLE JUMPER

ESPECIALLY THIS LION..

SAM AND THEIR DOG BAXTER....BFF'S, HAHA

I REMEMBER THIS SAME EXPRESSION ON HIS MAMA'S FACE

Well, I guess my "break time" is up, and I need to get busy on a few things.  Hope this finds all of you enjoying your week, and finding joy in His blessings!

One last one....

LOVE HIM!

FARRELL'S ICE CREAM PARLOUR

Monday morning again....such a FAST week-end.  And let me tell you, I enjoyed every minute of it.  I am kind of tired this morning, but it is a good tired.

Friday night found us at my parents to play cards.  What with the holidays and everything we had going on we had not been there for that in like six weeks.  Time goes soo fast.  I enjoyed the game and the company, despite the fact that us girls got beat AGAIN....Just can't figure it out mom...It is our turn to win!!

Saturday I left here early (leaving my hubby happily watching football and just generally kicking back) and picked up my two grand daughters Annabel and Lindsey.  Annabel will be 15 on Wed!!  15!!!  I honestly can't believe she is already that old.  HOW can I have a 15 year old grand daughter?!  Anyway, I hadn't had a chance to do anything special with Lindsey either for her birthday, so I decided to just combine the two of them for some special time with grandma.  I enjoyed every single minute, but in the future I will try a little harder to give them both just some one on one time.  Anyway, we headed over to Victoria Gardens which is a HUGE mall which is more like a little city in that it is all outside and there are about 3 full streets of shops.  I LOVE it, but right now with my knees it is a LOT more walking than I can really do very easily, so we did a little less shopping than I think the girls would have liked.  Lindsey anyway, haha.  But, we started with lunch at our favorite sushi place.  Then we did some shopping.  We took the trolley a couple of times which did help me out quite a bit.  What fun we had.  The girls made quick work of their choices and I enjoyed watching then trying on clothes and just generally enjoying themselves.  Lots of the stores had some real sales going on as they are trying to clear out things from Christmas.  After a couple of hours of this though, Grandma was really starting to feel it badly in these old knees of hers, so we decided to hit a movie.  We picked a pretty "girly" one and the timing was perfect.  We all enjoyed it.  After the movie we headed over to Farrell's Ice Cream parlor where the rest of their family (and Grandpa!) was going to meet us for a birthday celebration dinner.  I don't know how many of you remember this restaurant, but they were popular years ago and had closed down.  Well, they have re-opened a few of them and what a business they do!  Oh my goodness.  There was to be an hour and a half wait for a table as big as we needed it (there would be 9 of us) so we put our name in and settled in to wait figuring the rest of them could meet us there when it got closer to time.  Believe it or not we all enjoyed our "waiting" time.  There is much to see there, and lots of noise and entertainment going on.  And the girls picked out an occasional cute boy or too as well, haha.  The rest of the family arrived just as we were getting beeped to sit, so it worked out perfectly.    Soo fun.  They have a guy who comes around and makes you balloon hats so of course we got a few of those.  The birthday girls got free hot fudge sundaes and had to stand in their seats while being sung to by a crowd of at least 10 waiters and waitresses.  They sang it in hip hop style and made the girls dance etc.  It was hysterical.  Grandpa taped it and if I could figure it out, I'd post it.  But for now I give up.  Anyway, here are a few of the pictures we did get.

"POSING" AFTER DINNER

THE GIRLS WITH THEIR HELLO KITTY BALLOONS, AND JEFFIE WITH HIS MONKEY IN A TREE

16 YEAR OLD EVAN WITH HIS DUCK HAT...HAHA...HE WAS A GOOD SPORT

All in all it was a VERY fun day, but I won't be going to Farrell's anytime too soon again, haha.  VERY difficult food choices when you are watching your calories.  I did eat a salad (with Jenny Craig dressing) and had only a couple of bites of hubby's sundae so I didn't do too badly, but it was just hard.  And then there is all the bells, whistles, and noise too.  Definitely a birthday celebration place, but that's about it.

Sunday after church and a great message we went over to my youngest son's house and had a wonderful lunch and watched the BIG football game, haha.  My hubby and son were really into of course, and the rest of us did watch some of it too as well.  We were ALL glad to see Tebow win.

I am going over to my mom's tomorrow and I AGAIN need to address these grey roots so my week is starting to fill up.  Hope you all have a good week.  Many blessings wished for you all....

COULDN'T RESIST THIS LATEST PICTURE OF SAM....SOO ADORABLE!

JANUARY MUSINGS

Well here we are a whole week into January.  I have done A LOT of just plain old relaxing this week.  Our holiday "season" was a busy one and I think I was just tired, haha.  But I am ready now I think to get busy in this new year.

I headed back to Jenny Craig this morning and let me tell you it was with VERY mixed feelings.  I lost 40.4 pounds last year and it was VERY difficult.  Very slow, very deliberate, LOTS of whining and feeling sorry for myself, and a lot of soul searching along the way as to why this is always such an issue with me.  But last Halloween I just kind of got sick of it all.  Not just of the food, (thankfully I LOVE that) but the whole concept of HAVING to watch every little thing.  I fought and fought.  And prayed and prayed.  And finally I decided I would take a little break through the holidays.  Stupid really...no one had to tell me that.  My plan (crazy though it was) was to somehow get through all the parties, events, gatherings and FOOD and somehow just maintain.  And then in January I would begin in earnest again.  Well, it started out fine.  Believe it or not by Dec. 1st., I had only gained 2 pounds.  And what is 2 pounds right?  But as I say, "I kicked the giant" and the next thing I knew I was kind of out of control.  Now truthfully not as bad as I have been sometimes in the past, but out of control nonetheless.  It was with HORRIFYING fear that I climbed on that scale today.  A total gain of 7.4 pounds!!  Now most people I know for a fact would be hysterical at a 7 pound gain, but not this gal.  7 pounds doesn't seem that bad for the degree in which I have been off.  I think I can take that 7 pounds anyway off again in a couple of weeks.  I hope so anyway.  Last January when I stepped back on that scale I had gained back 40 of the 55 pounds I had lost the year before!!  Sooo, this was much better right?!  lol    Anyway, the break is over, and  I must continue on.  I am not going to focus sooo heavily on it like I did last year as I think I spent more time beating myself up than anything else.  I will do the best I can do WITH the Lord's help.  I know without Him I'd have no hope of any control at all.  I will try my best to make this my lifestyle and not "my diet"....I will try and focus on seeking God and growing closer to Him and not worrying so much about my failures OR my successes.

MATTHEW 6:33  "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you...

I do plan on doing some sewing next week, and I am looking forward to that.  We did not get to Melody's over New Years, and I am really missing her and that little man of hers.  We are hoping to go in February.
Annabel's birthday is coming up and I am hoping to spend some time with her this week-end.  Cody and Donatella's birthdays are both coming up in February too.  I picked up Jefffie and Lindsey yesterday after school (Thursday are their early days) and took them to see "We bought a zoo."  We all enjoyed it, but I think it was a little over Jeff's head.  He is the lover of all animals though, so he enjoyed that part of it.  He told me after the movie, "Grandma, I am going to go home and get out all of my animals and build my own zoo.  Only this time I won't build cages, I will be "enclosures"....haha  See the movie to understand this.  How I love that little guy!  We are going to play cards with my parents tonight for the first time in 6 weeks.  I am looking forward to that too.  The weather is just glorious here is the only way to describe it.   Sunny, warm, mid-70's during the day, and chilly enough for a light blanket at night.  My windows are all open with a wonderous breeze blowing through.  I imagine winter will be back as this is weird even for So. California for January, but in the meantime, I am enjoying it.

Hope you all enjoy your week-end....

HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

What are three words you would use to describe your 2011? Well the first one that pops into my head is BLESSED....just so many things that I felt were direct answers to prayers.  (see post below)  The second word might be BUSY...the year flew by and I had so many things that kept me blessedly busy, haha... all the sewing I did for the new grand baby, the trips to Texas and New Mexico, and then there were the parties, showers, and celebrations that seemed to fill this year.  The third word could be CONTENTED...It took me a while to settle into my life as an empty nester I am not going lie.  A while to work into my daughter living so far away from me, a while to feel like this new house was home.  A while to accept that I had indeed had cancer and to know deep in my soul that these kinds of things can and WILL happen to me.   But I can say now that the Lord has truly helped me to understand that true contentment does not come from circumstances or from simple things that can and do happen every day, but from a relationship with a living God that fills your heart with a peace knowing that He is always there for you, and meets your every need.  That through Him, I truly can do all things.  Even those things I felt impossible.  I don't know what trials 2012 might hold, or how I might react to them, but I do know that He is sufficient for whatever that might be.

Phil 4: 11- 13  Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.  I know how to be abased, and how to abound.  Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

2. Do you like shrimp? What's your favorite way to have it prepared? Oh I LOVE LOVE LOVE shrimp!  I am not sure if there is any way this delicious food could be prepared that I wouldn't like it.  I love coconut shrimp, grilled shrimp, shrimp cocktail, garlic shrimp, fried shrimp, shrimp salad.  I could sound like Forrest Gump's friend here really easily, haha.   I guess my favorite would be barbecued shrimp.  Did I mention I like shrimp? 

3.  Is your house de-Christmased? If so when did you tackle that job? If not, when will the decorations come down?  Yes, it is all down and put away.  Always a BIG chore, ALWAYS somewhat dreaded, and ALWAYS glad when it is done even though it makes me feel somewhat sad at the same time.  We took ours down on the Friday before New Year's this year.  We usually tackle that job New Years day for some weird reason, but this year New Years fell on Sunday and what with church and all didn't seem like a good idea.  It took us ALL day.  My hubby finished up taking down the outside lights yesterday afternoon, so we are all packed up and stored away for another year;  ALWAYS a good feeling.

4. Do you like to watch scary movies?  NO!!  Though I guess maybe it depends.  I don't mind suspense, but I STRONGLY dislike anything Satanic, bloody, or heart stopping.  I guess maybe I just plain old don't like them. 

5. ice skating~sledding~skiing~snowboarding~of the four listed which wintertime activity do you most enjoy?  Well, this California girl doesn't really do ANY of those things.  We did have a cabin in Big Bear Mountain when I was growing up though, and then I LOVED sledding; couldn't ever seem to get enough of that.  Ice skating was fun, though I have only done it a handful of times.  And now?  Don't do any of it...   : )

6. Did you have a childhood hideout? Describe it.  I guess I had to think about this for a while and the answer is I didn't really have a hideout.  Didn't even really have my own room most of my growing up years.  I escaped occasionally in a good book.  I could transport myself almost anywhere that way.

7. What's a place or space that motivates you?  I am motivated I think primarily at church.  It challenges me to DO something worthwhile for God and for others.  I am also frequently motivated visiting many of you here in blogland.  It just seems like soo many of you are on so much.  Creating things and spending your time on such worthwhile endeavors.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  2012 is here and I am excited to see what the Lord has in store.  I am praying that it finds me AGAIN busy and blessed.   I want to do soo much more for Him this year.   

I soo enjoy doing this hodgepodge posts.  To view the other hodgepodgers, click HERE and enjoy!