Winter/Summer

This is our back yard!

With all this snow and ice we have right now, I feel like I just want to recall the wonderful time we had in Disney World this past August. It was so hot, you can't believe it!! But what I wouldn't give for some of that heat right now. Anyway, here are a couple of pictures from that trip. Hope you enjoy it! As I said in my last post, Disney World is one of my favorite vacation destinations.

This is me and KLS riding the Astro Orbiter. This was the first time I've ever ridden this ride in all the many trips I've taken here in my life. See how I'm squinting. The sun was so bright and hot that day. Ok. I think I'm starting to feel a little warmer now.
We were out on a boat heading from Magic Kingdom to the Wilderness Lodge for lunch. This is the Grand Floridian. Again see all the bright blue skies and sunshine. Are you feeling any warmer?
Here are the girls in front of the Castle. See sunglasses and squinting. Ahh sweet sunshine!

And this is the Crystal Palace on the left of the river that runs up to the Castle. Oh man, look at all that green and the purple flowers and the beautiful blue skies. Yep, I'm feeling warmer now and I'm definitely wishing I was back in Disney right now. Well, Lord willing, we will be back there some day. Who knows? Maybe even yet this year. Hope you all enjoyed visiting Disney World with me.

Random Things

I've been tagged 3 times in the last few days on Face Book to write 25 Random Things About Me. Cindy at Still His Girl was tagged on Facebook and decided to put it there and also on on her blog. So I decided to do the same thing. Sorta kill 2 birds with one stone. So here are the Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you. So here goes in no particular order.

1. Sorry girls, I have the best husband in the world. In about 3 weeks we will have been married 20 years!!!!
2. Going to Walt Disney World is one of my favorite vacations.
3. I've worked at my job for 32 years and will probably stay about 7 or 8 more years. Oh and by the way I started there when I was 5 years old. lol
4. I absolutely love to read - especially christian fiction. Lori Wick is my favorite author.
5. I went to Washington DC once a couple of years ago. I was so in awe of all the history there. The Lincoln Monument was my favorite! I so want to go back some day.
6. I love visiting with family!
7. I've never had a broken bone (and I hope I never do).
8. I am the pianist at our church.
9. I teach the teenagers' Sunday School Class.
10. I love to watch my girls when they play sports or when they do about anything.
11. I wish I had the guts my girls do. When I was their age, I would've never done half the things they do. I was always too afraid. I hate that! I'm glad they are not like me in that.
12. I always said I didn't want to marry a minister, but God had other plans. But you know what, God was right and I'm so glad I married him.
13. God is always right. You'd think by now I'd remember that and not question Him.
14. I had just been moved into the recovery room from having my gall bladder removed when the first plane hit the World Trade Center on 9-11.
15. My favorite food is steak and a baked potato.
16. I love to visit the ocean and walk for miles on the beach. For about 3 years in a row we went to Myrtle Beach in November or 8 or 9 days and every morning I'd get up and head out for a couple hours to walk the beach and shell hunt. I would love to live close to a beach.
17. I love to scrapbook and make cards. Although, since I started blogging and using FaceBook, I don't have much time left to do it.
18. I have a blog that I started last fall. Come visit me if you want at www.tckk.blogspot.com
19. I am the middle child of 5 kids. I have an older brother and sister and a younger brother and sister. My mom is the middle child of 5 kids. She has an older brother and sister and a younger brother and sister. (I just realized this)
20. I love doing Beth Moore's Bible Studies. I'm working on Esther right now. In fact, I'll be facilitating this study with our women's group starting March 3rd.
21. I am legally blind in one eye. (I went and asked the girls to give me ideas on some random things about me and this is what I get) Thanks girls.
22. I love Christmas!
23. I love chocolate (cookies, ice cream, cake, pie, pudding) Get the idea!!!
24. I love our home and would be content to live here until I die, which I hope isn't for a long time.
25. I hate scary movies. I cannot stand being all tensed up waiting for someone or something to jump out or kill someone or something.



I tagged my 25 on FB but I'd rather you chose to do it because you want to. But please, let me know if you do. I think it's so fun to read what people say. You can learn so much about others with one of these.

Winter Brrrrr!

I went to work today, but after we got there the City Manager sent out a notice that non-essential employees could go home at their supervisor's discretion (and not be charged holiday or vacation time) because of the Level II (which changed to a Level III before I left) Snow Emergency in our county. My boss, the police chief, felt we were emergency personnel and should stay. Later he said I could leave at noon as long as it stayed quiet. I had hubby come back and pick me up at 1:00 and now I'm home for the day!!! See how good God is! From my previous post you can tell I was working on having the right spirit because the rest got to stay home and I had to work. Then God turned around & blessed me and let me come home early. I just so love God!!

I took a few pictures (about 55) today and thought I'd share a few!

This is our house

This is our street (I think it's so pretty in the snow)

Look at our poor little bird feeder

This is out the side door the police department where I work. That's the fire department across the street. I love this little tree (I can see it from my office window). I don't know what kind of tree it is, but it has little red berries on it, even now with all the ice and snow. I just opened up the side door and stood there an took this picture. Look how hard it's snowing!

Here's the same tree, except I put my coat on and went outside to take it. Yep, still snowing hard and I looked like a snowman when I got back inside.

Stay warm and safe everyone!

Thankful

Remember the prayer I committed to praying for 3 weeks. Well I'm still doing it and you know what? God is starting to change my attitude a little. Today, for the 2nd day in a row my kids have no school and hubby stays home too (although he's still working, you know, Pastors can get away with that). Now normally, I'm pretty jealous, cause I want to stay home too. But instead today I've decided God is in charge and knows what he's doing. So I'm choosing to be happy for them instead. The girls are still in bed and will get to relax today and I'm glad for them. But you know what, I got an actual "hot" shower today. Usually, by the time I get the shower, the water is just luke warm. (Thing to be thankful for.) You know what else, hubby got up and got ready and he's going to drive me to work so I don't have to walk so far from a parking space in the ice and snow (another thing to be thankful for). Guess what else, yesterday when I came home, the house was pretty clean and the driveway had been scraped. (another thank you). You know God is in charge and He does such wonderful things for us. And here's another thank you. Hubby is in the kitchen right now looking for ingredients so he can make supper for us and knowing him, it'll be really good and it'll be ready when I get home.

God is so good and I'm thankful, even though I have to go out in this weather. Guess what? It's really beautiful too!!

So let's be thankful for whatever happens to us and look for the good things God is doing today. Thank you God!!!

If I Had My Life to Live Over

I read Sarah's post at Life in the Parsonage and she was talking about how I believe most of us women feel. Take a moment to go read what she has to say, then take a moment to read this that was written by Erma Bombeck. It helps me to remember what is important!

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
By Erma Bombeck (written after she learned she was dying of cancer.)
I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner."

There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm sorry's."

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live it .and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff.

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with.

And what we are doing each day.

I hope you all have a blessed day.

Isn't that just awesome! I'm not quite there yet, but I am working to live my life more like this.

Busy Day!

This has been a busy day. We woke up to snow on the ground and a lot of schools in the area on delay, but alas, (sorry girls) not ours. KLS woke up with sinus headache, so got her to eat something & take some medicine and by the time her sister was ready for school (she goes an hour later), she was feeling better and ready to go to school. I dropped them both off and then headed to work.

Work was very busy because there was a major electric outage in the city and believe it or not, everyone in town calls the police department when their electric is out. So we were flooded with calls and I do mean flooded!! Anyway, they finally got it fixed and things got back to normal there.

Then after work, I ran home and picked up hubby and KLS and we went to the school to watch KJS play basketball (by the way they won again). Left there and had to go to the high school to a meeting for KLS's College Life Skills Class. Got a lot of good information here for her future. Only a year and a half to go and she'll be heading off to college (where has the time gone?)

After that, we went out and grabbed a bite of supper and finally got home around 8:30 or so. See what I mean, it's been a busy day!! But it's been a good one! I don't mind busy, if everyone stays in a good frame of mind and that's the way today has been. Even though it's 11:00, I'm going to try to do a lesson from the Esther study and then hit the bed. I'll try to catch up on everyone's blog tomorrow.

Goodnight!

Jesus Loves Me This I Know

I received this in an e-mail this morning from a good friend and I thought it was so awesome so with her permission, I posted it here for you all to read and enjoy.

THE OLD PREACHER

While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.
After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak.... "When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... the only thing that would comfort was this verse.........

"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
We are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me...
The Bible tells me so."

When he finished, the church was quiet.You actually could hear his footsteps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.

A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."

"Senior version of Jesus Loves Me"

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others check out this newest version of Jesus Loves Me.


JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know,

Though my hair is white as snow

Though my sight is growing dim,

Still He bids me trust in Him.

(CHORUS) YES, JESUS LOVES ME..

YES, JESUS LOVES ME..

YES, JESUS LOVES ME

FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,

With my hand in His I'll go

On through life, let come what may,

He'll be there to lead the way.

(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,

In my heart He puts a song.

Telling me in words so clear,

"Have no fear, for I am near."

(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,

And life's victories have been won.

He will take me home above,

Then I'll understand His love

(CHORUS)

I love Jesus, does He know?

Have I ever told Him so?

Jesus loves to hear me say,

That I love Him every day.

(CHORUS)

Fun Game - My Letter is O

My blog friend, Sara had this great meme posted today. I thought it was so fun and decided to join in! Here are the guidelines:
If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know, and I’ll assign you a letter. You write about ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and post it at your place. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on...
Sara assigned me the letter "O". So here goes....
1. One and Only Husband - I got the best one in the world!!
2. Older Daughter - I love my oldest daughter. She is a Junior in High School and is getting ready to take her ACT's soon. She feels God is calling her into the ministry. I can't wait to see what God does in her life.
3. Other Daughter - I love my youngest daughter. She is in 7th grade and plays Volleyball and Basketball. She loves to shop, dance and sing - not necessarily in that order! I know God has big plans for her and am really excited to see what that may be!
4. Oceans - I love the ocean. They are one of the most beautiful things in God's creation. When I go to the beach, I can't help but praise God!
5. Opera Cream Candy - Esther Price makes my favorites!!
6. Opals - make such beautiful jewelry.
7. Otters - I wouldn't say I love them, but they are really cute!
8. "O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing" - I love this song written by Charles Wesley.
9. Orville Redenbacher's Popcorn - 98% fat free Kettle Corn is my favorite!
10. Ohio - The best state in the whole USA!!!!!
Wow, Sara "O" was really hard, but I made it, with the help of my daughter. So, if you want to play along, leave me a comment and I will assign you a letter.
........and if your extra nice, I won't give you a Z!

Set Me Free

There's a better video of this that they posted on YouTube. Check here if you want to see it. It was taken from the balcony of the church and you don't get the people in the congregation in it and you can see what's happening better. I think this drama is so powerful. I hope you enjoy it.

First of all I want to say thank you to my wonderful sister who helped me get this video on here. Thank you Karen! You are awesome! Here's the video of the drama team portraying the song by Casting Crowns called "Set Me Free"

There is quite a message in this song. Here are the words:

It hasn't always been this way
I remember brighter days
Before the dark ones came
Stole my mind
Wrapped my soul in chains

Now I live among the dead
Fighting voices in my head
Hoping someone hears me crying in the night
And carries me away

Set me free of the chains holding me
Is anybody out there hearing me?
Set me free

Morning breaks another day
Finds me crying in the rain
All alone with my demons I am
Who is this man that comes my way?
The dark ones shriek
They scream His name
Is this the One they say will set the captives free?
Jesus, rescue me

As the God man passes by
He looks straight through my eyes
And darkness cannot hide

Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All power on Heav'n and Earth belong to me

You are free
You are free
You are free

I Give Up!

I guess I won't be posting the video after all. I finally got activated on Godtube, but the maximum download for video is 100MB and mine is over 500. So, on to other things instead. Suffice it to say they did a really good job and received a standing ovation. They were pleased and so are we. I'm so glad my girls are brave enough to participate in stuff like that. At their ages, I was always too afraid to be up in front like that. I'm so proud of them!

I'm starting the 2nd week of the Esther study (on my own) and it is awesome. I can't wait to do it with the whole group. It's going to be so fun and we are going to learn so much together.

I signed up for the Beth Moore Bible Verse Memory thingy the other day. I missed the first one, but the second one started on the 15th and it's not too late for you to sign up if you want. You pick your own verse or you can memorize the one she is working on. The goal is to have 24 verses memorized by the end of the year. For my first verse, I chose, Psalm 25:5 in the NLT Version. It is: "Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you." This is my desire to be lead by God into His truth. There is no one else to put my hope in because He is the only one who can save me. Thank you Lord!

I don't have much more to say, except KJS' basketball team won again tonight. Yeahhhh!

Help

My daughters both participated in a drama yesterday at the church where they attend youth. Our church is really small and they are the only teens that come all the time so they actually are part of a youth group in a sister church where my husband grew up. Does that make sense? Anyway, they are part of the drama team too. So they had to go there for Sunday morning church to participate in the drama. Hubby and I got to see a run-through of it on Saturday when we picked them up after practice. Anyway, I got my sister-in-law who attends that church, to record it with my camera as hubby and I couldn't go because he's the pastor and I'm the pianist at our church.

I wanted to download it here, but I seem to be having trouble. It's about 5 minutes long and a little over 500mb's. I've tried twice to download it to Blogger and after over an hour both times it's still not downloaded. Anybody have any suggestions on what I need to do? I didn't have any trouble downloading the video on the previous post but it's just a few seconds long. I really want to share it with you all, if possible.

My First Downloaded Video

We went to Winterfest at The Beach Water Park and some crazy song was playing and my daughter started dancing. As you can see, she is always a very serious and sedate kind of person - NOT!!

Guess What I Got Today!

This was delivered today along with the DVD's for the study. I facilitate a small group of women at our church. We start again on March 3rd and will be doing this study. I can't wait. I mean really, I can't wait! In fact, I'm not waiting. I plan to start tonight. I mean, I am the facilitator, right? So I have the responsibility to get a head start. Right? Well that's my story and I'm sticking with it!
I thought I'd show you what it looked like in my neck of the woods this morning when I was heading out to work. It was actually snowing when I took this picture, but you can't tell. I've been whining about it being so cold. I mean it's in the single digits here!?! But there'll be no more whining for me after I found out some of our bloggy friends in Iowa are living with -25 degrees. Compared to that, we're having a heat wave!

Tagged

This morning E from Scottsville tagged me on her blog. When tagged, you are challenged to go to your 4th folder and post the 4th picture that's in that folder. So here's mine!

This is my youngest in 2003 with her American Girl Doll

So now I'm supposed to tag some friends. Cathy, Sherry, Sara, Nina, Jules, and Lindsay-Ann

Some Things I've Done

I saw this on a couple blogs today, so I stole it from Cathy at As The World Flops

Just copy and paste and highlight (bold) the ones you've done.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (Disney World in Florida)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Gone rollerskating
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (but only when another family member was ill)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a homerun
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Acted in a play or performed on stage
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
t43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (I've ridden one, but we weren't speeding)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible once
86. Visited the White House (the outside-never inside)
87. Won money
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life (Possibly through my job as a Police Dispatcher and 911 Operator)
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Had to put someone you love in Hospice Care
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Are Mom's Allowed to Brag?

Well allowed or not, I intend to right now!! I'm going to brag on my oldest daughter for a minute. She is an artist and I think she's very, very good. Here is an art project she is working on. Now remember it's not complete yet, but I think it's totally awesome.
She has taken the word mythical and in each letter is a drawing of a mythical creature or person. She's working on the M right now. That is going to be a vampire. The Y is a mermaid, T is a phoenix, H is a dragon, I is a kraken (giant squid), C is Pegasus, A is a griffin (part eagle and part lion) and the L is a fairy.


Oh, and while I'm bragging, my youngest daughter's basketball team won tonight! The final score was 28 to 9!! Whoo hoo!! I'm proud of both my girls. Here she is getting ready to go back into the game.

The 21 Day Prayer

In his sermon today, my husband challenged us to pray the following prayer by A. W. Tozer for the next 21 days.

"Heavenly Father, you are in charge of everything that will happen to me today-whether it be good or bad, positive or negative. Please make me thankful for everything that happens to me today. Amen."

He said we should pray this the first thing in the morning, maybe before even getting out of bed. He guarantees this will start changing our attitudes. Life may not get better, but our attitudes will. In fact, very probably we will be tested during this time. But after all, it's through the tests of life that we grow.

I truly believe I need my attitude adjusted, so I intend to do this challenge. And I dare each of you to also participate with me and we can talk about the results in a few weeks.

Beautiful Skies

My daughter had a basketball game tonight in Cincinnati. After the game I went out to the van to wait on her to come out. The skies were absolutely beautiful and I couldn't resist taking some pictures. Here are 3 of them."Come, see the glorious works of the Lord."

Psalm 46:8a

The Lemonade Award

I received this award from Cathy at As The World Flops. I wasn't sure what the award was for, so I looked it up. It's for someone showing great attitude and or the spirit of gratitude. Thanks Cathy!






The Lemonade Award:
So here is the award and the rules.
#1 You must link back to the person you received the award from.
#2 You have to nominate 10 bloggers who are deserving of this award! Who show great attitude and/or gratitude.


So now I get to nominate 10 (or however many). These are bloggers that I read almost every day and I thoroughly enjoy each one. I know I haven't been blogging very long, but I feel like I'm beginning to know these ladies (# 6 is not a lady) personally. I nominate the following and not in any particular order.:
1. Sara from ...make music from your hear to the Lord
2. Nina from Portugal Bound
3. Sherry from Life at the Parsonage
4. Cathy from Voice of Truth or latte just 4 me
5. Kelli from The Incomplete Works of KLS This is my daughter's new blog. She's just starting out. I think she plans to post some of her art work. Definitely worth viewing in this humble mother's opinion.
6. Tracy from "Deep" Thoughts From a Shallow Mind This is my husband's blog. He doesn't blog as often as I do, but he definitely has some good and also some funny posts.
7. Jules from The Roost
8. Cassandra from Tripping Around the Sun

I think I'll stop with seven for now. Please be sure to check them out. They are definitely all worth reading.

All's Quiet and I Wish I Were Napping

It's all quiet in the lives of the TCKK family and quiet is not bad (except when you're searching for something interesting to blog about)! In fact, in our home quiet is very good and does not occur very often. We're all back to work and/or school and getting back into the swing of things. Of course, the girls had a 2 hour delay because of weather this morning. They were loving that! I wish they'd give me a 2 hour delay at work. Of course, I've never been able to talk the bosses into that. hahaha

Over at The Roost, Jules was talking about napping and she started me thinking (very dangerous, I know). She has some darling pictures of animals napping, so be sure to check her out. Anyway, I think here in America we should have a required nap time or siesta, like they do in other countries. Wouldn't you just love to "have" to take a short nap every afternoon. I've tried to convince the boss that this would be a good thing too and that we'd all be so much more productive. Actually, I think he agrees with me, but he could never get his boss to agree to it. Oh well, I guess a little wishful thinking isn't such a bad thing.

So, I guess I better just finish eating my lunch and get back to work because the nap thing just ain't gonna happen today.

I'm home now and just realized this is my 100th Post. Yeah!!!!!!

Weight Watchers

I started back to WW again. I have been really, really bad the past 2 months, so Monday I went back on the diet and tonight I went back to class. I've decided not to beat myself up over what I've done, but instead to just pick myself up and start over! So no pity from me or for me. I know what I've done and I know what I have to do and that's what I gonna concentrate on, the present and future and not the past.

Anyone, want to join me?

Blessed - That's me!

Finally, I'm feeling better, almost back to normal. Of course, now hubby has the cold. I hate that I passed it on to him, but honest, it wasn't on purpose.

The first day back at work wasn't too bad. There are lots of month end and year end things still to do, but it wasn't as bad as I expected. Thank you Lord for that and for co-workers who kept up on the entry work so now I can do those reports that need to be done! It's so nice to have co-workers that go the extra distance for you and do things they don't have to just to help you out. God has been so good to me and given me good friends at work. Some are christian, some are not, but they are all good people.

Today, I'm just feeling that my life is so blessed. Again, I say thank you Lord!

Back to Work

Ok, I'm not ready, but it's time to go back to work. I have absolutely enjoyed being off these last almost 2 weeks. We have had the best time, but now it's time to get back to the other life. Mind you, I don't want to. But I have to.

You know our kids have a tendancy to think when they become adults they can do whatever they want. No one will tell them any more what to do. That's why they are in such a hurry to grow up. Well, I've got news for them. It doesn't work that way. Huh?!? You mean, I can't do whatever I want whenever I want? Uh! Nooo! If I could do what I want when I want, I certainly wouldn't be going to work today. I'd be back over in the bed either sleeping or reading a book. But real life calls and the bills need to be paid, so off I go to get ready for work.

But that's ok. I've had a bit of a respite and I know God will go with me and I will survive. hahaha

So onward and upward, I go off to face 2009 (well at least today!) One day at a time is all that's necessary! So have a great one everybody!!!!

Cathy

Home

We made it home from vacation safely. Thank you Lord. We had a terrific time. Watch in the near future and I may post some more pics from the trip. Unfortunately I came home with a bad cold. I've pretty much just rested and read all day. I've not accomplished much of anything, except to take down the Christmas decorations. I was just in the livingroom and noticed there are still several things in there we missed. I'll get them tomorrow maybe and then get everything cleaned up and back in order.

I love traveling, but I love coming home too. To me there's no better place than being home with my family. Have a great weekend everyone!

Twilight - My Opinion

Okay, so I treid to read Twilight. Just couldn't get into it. I read up to about page 156, but still just couldn't connect with it. I enjoyed the movie and maybe that's the problem, because as I'm reading the book, I pretty much know everything that's going to happen, so why read it? Anyway, I had told you I was going to read it and give my opinion, but, this is it. I'm just bored with the book and I have too many other things I would rather be reading.

So, if you decide to read it, I hope you enjoy it, but it's just not my cup of tea. Maybe somewhere down the road I'll try again, but for now, I'm done with it.

Cathy

Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg

Here are my Princess. They were in a shop in downtown Gatlinburg & I saw they crowns and talked them into posing. I have a picture of them with crowns on about 3-5 years ago. They look just as cute now as they did then in them!

Here are some night time shots from downtown Gatlinburg.

Karen, you asked for pics of where we are staying. Here's a couple in the lobby. They have a beautiful fireplace and I got the girls to pose by it.