If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

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Thursday, May 30, 2013

What Took You So Long

I just saw this on FB and had to share it with everyone!

There was a man who purchased a blazer at Nordstrom. The longer he kept it, the less he liked it. After wearing it regularly for the first six months, he stuck it in his closet for about a year. Tucked away in the back of his mind was Nordstrom’s famous unconditional return policy.

After about 18 months, he thought he’d try to return the blazer even though he didn’t really think Nordstrom would exchange it since he’d worn it so many times. He walked up to the first salesperson he saw and gave a little speech he’d prepared: “I’m about to put your famous unconditional-return policy to its ultimate test. I have here a blazer. I’ve worn it lots. I’ve had it for a year and a half. I don’t like it. It’s the wrong color and attracts lint like it’s going out of style. But I want to return this blazer for another one that I like.” Then he stood there.

The salesperson replied, “For heaven’s sake, what took you so long? Let’s go find a blazer you like.” Ten minutes later the man walked out with a new blazer that was marked $75 more than what he paid for the one he returned. It was perfect and didn’t cost a penny more.

God, we could say, is like a supersized Nordstrom. God makes these incredible promises, but many times we can’t bring ourselves to believe they’re true. Finally, when we’re overcome by fear or despair, we eventually cry out to God. We claim his promise, and then the Lord comes through. But along the way I wonder if God sometimes thinks: For heaven’s sake, what took you so long?

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 
Click the Hodgepodge button above to go and join Joyce in all the fun (after you read mine and hopefully comment).

1. What question do you often ask yourself?
Do I really want to eat that?

2. Do you grow roses? What's your favorite color of rose?  Ever been given a dozen roses?  Where was the prettiest rose or rose garden you remember seeing?
No, I don't grow roses.  My favorite color rose is red.  Yes, I have. When I was growing up we had red climbing roses that grew around our back porch on a split rail fence.  I loved them! I don't think I've ever seen roses that were any prettier than those.

3. Do you read the freshness dates on grocery store products?  Will you use eggs past their 'use by' date?  Take medication that's expired? Buy a dented can?
Yes, I do read the dates.  Yes, I will use eggs beyond the date.  I have taken medicine beyond the expiration date, but I don't like too.  I will buy a dented can, but I prefer not too.  I do not like to drink milk or eat bread beyond the expiration date.

4. Should athletes be role models?
I think so.  That's why I hate seeing professional baseball players chewing tobacco or dipping snuff.

5. Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal became the first explorers to reach the top of Mt. Everest on this date (May 29) back in 1953. What's something you hope to achieve in your lifetime?
Retirement

6. What would you do if you had twenty acres of land and the money to develop it any way you choose?
I guess it would depend on where it was.  If it was on the beach, I'd build a condo and live there and my family could visit and use the extra side whenever they wanted.

7. If I invite you to a party with a 7 PM start time, what time will I actually see you there?
Probably 7PM.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I can't wait until November to get to see this again. 

Just before sunrise at Myrtle Beach

The sun just tipping up over the horizon!
Here's a post to humble this mama's heart and to make me so proud, I could pop my buttons!

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

A Wonderful Day!

Yesterday was an absolutely wonderful day.  Hubby and I stayed home all day. 

I did laundry and a few things around the house. 

But mostly, we just relaxed.  I read about half a book and watched a little TV and we sat out on the front porch for about an hour and enjoyed the lovely weather. 

Hubby grilled hamburgers for lunch along with corn on the cob.  Delicious!

Carolyn and Carina were with us for about half the day and then they went out with friends.

So maybe this sounds like a boring day to a lot of people, it was just perfect to me.  Especially since we had run the entire weekend.  (If you want to know about that, see the post below this one).

Today I go to work and then I'm leaving early to take my mom to get the cast off her arm.  I know she can't wait!

Have a great day everyone!!

Monday, May 27, 2013

Weekend Wrap-Up

Actually, the weekend is not over yet, but everyone else in the house is still in bed, so I thought I'd post something on the first 3 days of this 4 day weekend.  (By the end of this, everyone is up and it's gonna be a great day!  Just hung the flag out on the front porch.)

On Friday afternoon we took Kelli to the airport so she could head out to Wyoming for her Internship for the summer.  If you click HERE, you can see her blog post about her first 3 days.  Although, we miss her here, I believe this is really going to be an awesome experience for her.

Kelli and her Daddy

Kelli and me

Kelli and Carina...let me tell you, these 2 are surely gonna miss each other.  Carina keeps crawling to her door and knocking on it trying to find Kelli.  It is so stinking cute!
 Then Friday evening hubby and I went to "Outback" for dinner.  Kelli had given me a gift certificate for Mother's Day.  Hubby and I had an awesome prime rib dinner.  Yummy!

Saturday, hubby and I took about a 4 hour drive and went to Amish Country.  We had a lovely lunch there and then did some shopping.  I think my favorite part was on the way back home, we drove back roads (getting out of the touristy areas) and saw a lot of Amish homes, buggies and Amish teens riding bikes, men working in the fields and just beautiful country.

Below are a few of the pictures that were taken.  We try to be very respectful and discreet when taking photos as they do not wish to have pictures taken of their faces.

This is a window at Heini's Cheese Factory.  Of course, while we were there was bought a bunch of cheese.  Yum!

An Amish garage sale...who knew!  I don't know if the person having the sale was Amish, but there was a buggy parked there and these Amish people shopping. I guess, we all like a good sale!

I cannot tell you how many of these girls we saw out riding.  Most of them were dressed in this same color.  There were also a bunch of boys and they were dressed in yellow shirts.  Not sure what that was about.

I love seeing laundry hanging out and Saturday was certainly a beautiful day for it.


Beautiful farm

Another gorgeous farm. We are sitting in the parking lot of a small store and bakery.  I bought a beautiful hanging basket of flowers here.


Working hard in the field.

More field work


And yet another field worker
 On Sunday we had 2 wonderful church services and went to lunch at Panera Bread with Tracy's parents and then we did grocery shopping and I bought 3 hanging baskets for the front porch.  I was going to get Boston Ferns, but they were sold out.  So instead I bought Asparagus Ferns.  They are different but really pretty.  So let's see if I can keep them alive this summer.  haha

So that's pretty much my weekend so far.  I am certainly looking forward to today.  Plans are to grill out hamburgers and just hang around the house.  So far, I've done this post and I'm on my 2nd load of laundry.  Hoping to get out and enjoy the rockers on the front porch and do some reading.  It looks like a beautiful, sunshiny, cool day!

Happy Memorial Day and a big thank you to all the soldiers past and present who have made it so we can enjoy life in a free country.

(I just realized this is post 1,002 for me.  Yay!)

Friday, May 24, 2013

Friday Fragments

Half-Past Kissin' Time
I haven't posted in 2 weeks now.  In fact, the last thing I posted was the Friday Fragments.  So I guess it's appropriate that I start out again with the Friday Fragments.  After you read my Frags and comment (hopefully), why not click the big blue button above and join in some fun with Mrs. 4444's at Half-Past Kissin Time.  Come on, you know you want to.

*  As I said above I haven't posted in two weeks.  I haven't been feeling well and just didn't have the energy to spend here.  I've had allergies, or sinus infection, or summer cold or something.  Sore throat, coughing, etc.  You get the idea.  Working, resting and spending time with Kelli are about all I've had energy for.

*  It's been great having Kelli home for 3 weeks.  We've had a lot of fun.  She and I went out and saw a movie, "The Croods."  We had the whole theater to ourselves.  We laughed and talked and watched the movie and ate chocolate.  It was a good time.  In fact, it doesn't get much better than that.

*  We watched "Finding Nemo" at home together, along with several other movies.  As a family we watched a James Bond movie together.  Good times.

*  We've all gone out to eat together several times, plus our Saturday ritual of Wal-marting together.  We've played with the baby and Caroline and just had good times.
Carina helping Kelli pack!  We've had to remind Kelli that she can't pack the baby to take with her.  I'll have to be sure to check her luggage before she leaves.  She definitely loves this little girl.  Below is a video of Kelli and Carina playing together.



*  Kelli has run around with friends and with her sister, etc.  It has been a busy, packed 3 weeks.

*  She asked for a home cooked meal where we all sat at the table together before she had to leave.  So yesterday we did a roast in the crock pot and then had beef and noodles.  Yummy!  It would have been even better if Kerri had been here with us, but it was a good time.

*  All in all it's been a good 3 weeks.  However, this afternoon we will be taking her to the airport and she will be heading to Casper, Wyoming to do a summer internship with the Church of God there.  I think this will be a wonderful experience for her.

*  If things go as planned, she'll have a couple of weeks with us in August before she heads back to school for her senior year.  Yay!

I've got a 4 day weekend and I plan to enjoy every minute of it!  I'll tell you about it next week, Lord willing and the creeks don't rise.

So that's all I have to frag about right now. I gotta get cleaned up and ready to face this day.  Hope you all have a great one!

Oh by the way.  I've been getting a lot of spam lately and some of it has been slipping through the spam filter.  So for now, I've got comment moderation on.  Just wanted you to know.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Friday Fragments

Half-Past Kissin' Time

It's Friday, so that means it's Fragment time. Click the button above to go to Mrs 4444 site Half Past Kissin' Time if you'd like to join in on the fun.

Hair: I think I've made up my mind about my hair. You all have convinced me to go with the shorter style for awhile. Now, I've just got to decide where and when I want to go to get it done. Thanks for all the input. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you can check the previous post.

Survivor:  Anybody else out there watching Survivor this season.  It's had so many unexpected twists and turns.  The finale is Sunday.  Looking forward to seeing what will happen.  My vote right now is for Cochran 1st and Dawn 2nd.

NCIS:  I know some of you watch this.  Did you know that Admiral Chedwiggen from JAG is going to guest star?  Did you know that NCIS is a spin-off from JAG.  JAG was a favorite show of mine for many years.  I can't wait to see what the Admiral will be doing.

That's it folks.  That's all the fragments that I have today.

Have a great day and a great weekend! 

Happy Mother's Day

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Changes? Maybe

I'm considering a haircut.  I've been letting my hair grow for about a year or so now.  I'm starting to get tired of it, plus it's hot when it's down on my neck.  It's been years since I've had my hair this long and maybe there was a good reason for that.

This is about how my hair looks now (this was in January)

I'm thinking about going back to about this.
  As you can see, my hair is very straight and I refuse to get another perm.  Went that route for years.  No more.  I need some opinions.  So what do you think?  Should I go for it?


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Wednesday Hodgepodge


Click the button above to visit Joyce and join in with the Hodgepodge.

1. When the children of today grow up, what do you think they'll say about this period in time? What do you most hope they remember?
I think they'll say I can't believe I really wore those clothes (such as pants halfway down, etc).  I hope they remember that when their kids do something equally as silly and have a little patience with them.

2. National Teacher's Day is celebrated in the US of A on the first Tuesday in May, this year May 7th...share how a particular teacher positively impacted you.
That's too many years ago, I don't remember.  

3. What's a dish your mama made, that if set in front of you today would whisk you right back to childhood?
Chicken and dumplings...Yum!

4. Mother May I was a game we played when I was growing up...no pieces, parts, or plugs required. What games from childhood do you remember loving that were also pieces, parts, and plug-free?
Red Rover, Red Rover and tag

5. Besides your own mother, tell us about a woman who influenced you as a child?
My Aunt Diane.  She had a beautiful voice and played the piano at church.  It made me want to be just like her

6. Mamma Mia! What's the best play or musical you've ever seen?
The Sound of Music

7. What are three smells that make you feel nostalgic?
 Fruit Loops Cereal...because the first time I ate them was at my grandparents house in Florida.
 The smell of the cows behind our house remind me of the years we lived on a farm growing up.
  I can't think of another one right now.


8. Insert your own random thought here.
I think some of these questions were hard this week.  But thanks Joyce for doing them every week for us.


Monday, May 6, 2013

Weekend Wrap-Up

Friday night after work, hubby and I brought home pizza and Chinese for supper.  Kerri and her boyfriend were at the house and Carolyn and the baby were home and they all had pizza.  I had Chinese.  I'm not sure what hubby did.  Then about 10 or 10:30 we (being Kerri, Charlie, Tracy and I) headed to the airport to pick up Kelli.  Her flight arrived on time and it was great to have her home.

Saturday we slept in a little and then Tracy, Kelli and I went to lunch at Red Robin and did our usual Saturday Wal-mart shopping trip.  It was good to sit and talk and laugh together again.

Saturday evening we went to my mom and dad's to visit with the brothers and sisters that were there.  I believe a good time was had by all.

Sunday was church and then to Cassano's Pizza to meet with Tracy's family.  Many do we every get loud when we are all together.  There was Tracy, me, Kelli, Kerri, Charlie, Tracy's mom and dad, Tracy's brother and his wife and 2 sons.  Lots of pizza eating and laughing and talking going on.

So all in all, it was a great weekend.  Everyone enjoyed getting to visit with Kelli.  I can't believe I didn't take not even one picture all weekend.  I'll have to see if I can't remedy that soon. 

And did I say, it sure is good to have her home, even for a short time.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Friday Fragments

Half-Past Kissin' Time

I have not done the Fragments in quite awhile, but here goes. 

We're getting a new hot water heater installed today.  Can't wait.  It's a little hard with 3 adults and a baby to get enough hot water around here for showers in the morning.  But we've made do.  However, after almost 17 years of faithful service, our hot water heater is starting to leak.  Hubby and my brother-in-law bought the new one yesterday and it will be put in today.  So while a bit of a pain to get it done, it is over-all a very good thing.

Kelli has officially completed her junior year of college.  She will be flying home this evening and we'll pick her up in about 14-15 hours.  Can't wait.  We haven't seen her since Christmas break.  We get her here at home for about 3 weeks.  She then heads out for an internship in Casper Wyoming for the summer.  So for this 3 weeks we'll have some fun together (in between her running around with all her friends).  Really looking forward to it.

This is the scripture I'm hanging onto right now.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11  

It is so good to know that He has a plan for me for my future.  Because the plans I had don't seem to be going to happen.  But I'm believing that His plan is much better than mine.  Therein lies my hope.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Wednesday Hodgepodge



Click the Hodgepodge button above to join in with all the Hodgepodgers.  Of course, you must read my answers first. ;)

1.  This week's Hodgepodge is Volume 123.  What's something you've done recently that was as easy as 1-2-3?
I cannot think of one thing to put in this answer.

2.  The Wednesday Hodgepodge also happens to fall on the first day of May ...what is something you may do this month?
We may go spend a day in Amish Country.

3. The Englishman Horace Walpole is credited as saying, "The world is a tragedy to those who feel, but a comedy to those who think"  How do you see it?
Never heard that saying, but I suppose it's a little of both.  But as far as I'm concerned, the only way to make it through this world is trusting in my Savior, Jesus Christ.

4.  May is National Hamburger Month...how often do you eat a burger? What are your must-haves when it comes to burgers?  I assume you vegetarians won't be celebrating so tell us what you'd like instead?
My favorite way is grilled and on a bun with American cheese, mayo and tomato.  Yummy!  I also like a veggie burger with American cheese, mayo and tomato.

5. Pansies, petunias, geraniums, impatiens...of the four mentioned, which is your favorite in a patio pot? Will there be pots on your patio this spring? (Or whenever spring comes to your part of the globe?) Who does the gardening at your house?
It depends.  If it's a hanging basket I like impatiens.  If it's just little pots then pansies and petunias. 

6. When did you last (literally or figuratively) shout "Mayday, Mayday!"
I can't remember, but I'm sure it would have been when I was a child.

7.  Say farewell to your April in ten words or less.
Seen better Aprils and seen worse. Glad it's over.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
The A to Z Challenge is over now.  It was a lot of work, but it was so fun.  So just one more picture.  It's one of the saddest ones from Disney, cause it means your going home!  My hubby just told me he'll have to take me back so I can get some new pictures.  See I'm not the only one in this family that is a Disney Nut!  haha


Have a great day!!