A Challenge, An Intro & A Count

You may have noticed a new banner over there to the right....right under my profile....touting the Ultimate Blog Challenge.  The UBC, as I will be calling it from now on to save wear and tear on my fingers and keyboard, is a month-long challenge/blog hop that takes place once every quarter and goes along with the changes you are seeing and will continue to see around here.



I've heard of the UBC before, but this is the first time I've signed up to participate.  It's not going to be easy since I'm heading to Tennessee for four days next week and then will be on vacation July 20 - 27.  I'm not sure that WiFi will be available in either location, so I will be doing my best to get posts written before hand and schedule them to post in my absence.  Scheduling posts has never gone well here on Blogger.  Actually, it's never gone at all.  I've tried.  The posts never got published.  That brings me to the big change...

In the near future A Life Lived Well will be moving to Wordpress.  My sweet and very talented blog friend, Beth (you really should pay her a visit...she is a fabulous writer), who, by the way, designed my blog's present look, is working on a new look and the switch.  She understands and LIKES all that technical stuff that makes my eyes go crossed and my head spin.  As soon as we (mostly she) get it ready you'll be directed over there.  It's pretty exciting stuff.  The blog's going to have its own domain name and everything! (That means it's going to be a dot.com....I didn't know, either.)

With all the changes going on and new visitors coming in from the UBC, I thought I'd take a minute to tell you a little bit about me and who I am.  I apologize if you're one of my handful of loyal readers who already knows me well.

Let's start with the obvious....

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My name is Stacy.  It's nice to meet you.  I work as a school bus driver, which explains all the free time I have to play with my blog during the summer.  I've been married to Tim, a project superintendent for a commercial construction company, for 28 years (29 in November).  We have two adult children.  Our son, Matt, is 26, married, and has two children of his own.  Megan, our daughter, is 24 days from turning 21.  She is still living at home with us, though by living at home, I mean we see her as she passes through on her way out and on her way in to bed.

I'm not so sure I want to keep doing the bus driving thing and I'm keeping my eyes open this summer in case anything else pops up.  It's a tough sell.  I may not enjoy the constant driving (especially on winter roads) but it does pay well for a part-time job, I don't have to work nights, weekends or holidays, and I do have the whole summer off.

My Christian faith is probably the next thing you should know about me.  I do often write posts about Christian issues and everything else I try to run through that filter.  I do try to avoid being preachy in the regular stuff and well, if the flat-out Christian posts aren't your cup of tea, you can always skip those.

Maybe I should just sum it up by saying I'm probably a liberal's worst nightmare.  I am conservative, a Bible-believing Christian, I LOVE THIS COUNTRY, I'm pro-gun rights, anti-abortion, and no (let's just get this out and over with), I don't support gay marriage.  I believe our government is out of control and is selling us down the river at a frightening speed.

This is NOT me!
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Now, before you put me in a category (redneck, racist, wacko, Bible-thumper....am I getting warm?) take the time to get to know me.  What you will find is someone who loves God....and therefore tries to practice that love thy neighbor thing.  I believe it's more than possible to love and get along with someone without compromising my values.  I try to avoid getting on my soapbox too much on here and when I do, I welcome thoughtful discussion from all points of view and promise you I will not continue to beat a dead horse.  I know that on some things we just have to agree to disagree.

Okay, we've gone over the big (and scary) stuff.  What else can I tell you?  I'm a bookaholic.  I currently have 5 bookcases filled to overflowing with books, a NOOK that is filling up rapidly, and there are still piles of books all over the place.  I like to cook (but not to clean up the mess), travel, walk along the beach, swing on a porch swing, write, garden, and listen to country music.  I don't drink coffee, but have to have a Coke in the morning.  Flea markets, auctions, yard, and garage sales excite me!  I like to live with color (my living room is painted pumpkin orange!).  I am NOT a domestic goddess, so don't expect to find housekeeping tips.

Bottom line....I'm human, I make mistakes, and I'm trying to figure this life out.

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I join in a little thing around here on Mondays called Multitudes on Monday with Ann Voskamp, author of the best-selling book One Thousand Gifts.  It's all about being grateful for the things in our lives...the big and the small.  It's about finding God's blessings in everything.  Even the bad times.  So, every Monday you will find me counting.

131.  Meeting friends for breakfast on a Sunday morning.

132.  Having exactly what is needed, when there doesn't seem to be any way possible.

133.  A life leisurely enough to allow for blogging.

134.  Friends with skills and a willingness to help.

135.  An older gentleman at the garden center who told of losing his wife 14 months ago and shared the story of their 65 years together.

136.  A husband who shares my dreams.

137.  Summer rain drumming on the roof.

138.  The curious little dog who likes to play, play, play!  And the big dog that likes to sleep, sleep, sleep!

139.  The lush, green-ness after the rain.

140.  A husband who may not have to work on July 4 after all.

Visit A Holy Experience

Change Is Brewing

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So much is swirling through my mind these days, I hardly know where to pause and what to put into print.  It feels like change is in the air, though I'm not really sure what kind of change and where it's going to take me.

The weekend began with heartache as a precious daughter still drifting and searching for her way in life, disagreed quite strongly, loudly, and tearfully with us over what should be expected of an adult child still living at home.

Before the dust had settled she packed up several bags of her belongs and "moved" down the street to stay with a friend.  It was for a few days, she said, because living together was obviously stressing us all and it would be for the best.  She wasn't wrong, but still a mother's heart cried out in pain.

With no nagging or condemnation, the prodigal returned two days later.  The grass, it seemed, was not greener on the other side.  Some lessons we have to learn for ourselves.

On the blogging front, I have signed up to take an online course next month to learn how to make money on my blog.  Blogging has been a hobby and yes, even a passion, for over 10 years....it's time to try for the big time.  Or at least the slightly bigger time.  I never want to lose sight of what God wants me to do or the

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message he wants me to spread in the quest for followers.  I continue to pray that any followers I have come to be fed by the words given to me.  That said....there are changes brewing.

God seems to be speaking one message to me these days....over and over.  That message is to be bold so that it will never be my fault that even one is lost.  Scary stuff, boldness.  In boldness there is testing, both spiritually and physically.  Will I endure?  Will I rest in Him who can give me strength?  Or will I struggle on my own, learning the hard way that strength only comes through leaning?

So many swirling thoughts.....

On to the counting...in the counting is the calming and the peace.

121.  A daughter who CHOSE to come home.

122.  An honest business that has agreed to correct a mistake for free.

123.  Cool water lapping at simmering, sun-soaked skin.

124.  A child splashing happily in the pool, squealing "Look at me!  Mommy, look at me!"

125.  Time lost in a good book.

126.  A sweet burst of juice as teeth break through the skin of a just ripe peach.

127.  Fewer and fewer days until vacation.

128.  Always managing to have just enough.

129.  A quiet afternoon in an empty house to watch a much anticipated chick flick.

130.  Toby tree blossoms falling to the ground like snow.

Sharing & Counting

I had a bit of a busy weekend and didn't get my regular posts up on time (the Sunday Social is up right before this), which actually works out okay for me today.  I don't have a thing in mind for a post so I'm going to go ahead and give you the links I had for my Saturday Share post.  I'll be continuing to count blessings, too.

First up is a video of two friends that is sure to make you smile and maybe cry.  Celebrate the selflessness of friendship as you watch a man give his friend a precious gift.  Duct tape really can do anything.

When your mother says she's fat.....how a mother views herself affects her daughter's self-image.

I love Ann Voskamp's writing.  I love that she is teaching women all over the world to find the blessings of heaven in the everyday things.  I was blessed to have heard Ann speak and then to talk with her privately, a time in which we prayed and hugged.  She speaks and feels as beautifully as she writes.  That's why I am excited to share with you that you can now purchase One Thousand Gifts as an audio book read by Ann herself.  The link will take you to a sample, where you can listen to Ann read the first chapter of the book.  Go.  If you click on no other link in this post....choose to click this one.

If you've spent any time here you probably know I am a fan of Phillip Phillips, last year's American Idol winner.  His music and lyrics are beautiful and touch a deep place in my soul.  Here is a cover of his song Home by The Piano Guys.

 


If, like so many these uncertain days, you are returning to the older ways, the simpler ways of self-sufficiency and making do or doing without....you might find this link interesting.  It's a how-to on growing potatoes without actually planting them in the ground.  I found it too late to try this year, but might give it a go next year.

Sometimes you hit a wall.  We all have a day or a season when we just want to give up, when we feel like we just cannot do this even one more day.  Money Saving Mom offers some suggestions on what to do when you've already given up.

Maybe you're a blogger.  Maybe not.  Either way there are some things you need to know about using Facebook, but especially if you are blogger who connects via Facebook, Twitter and the other social medias.  We all know you want to grow your readership, but honestly....your efforts might just backfire on you because of how annoying the rest of us find them.  This article suggests 11 things you need to stop doing right now!

The Pinterest pin of the week:

How has no one invented this before???  Or how have I never heard of it?  This is one awesome kitchen gadget that I intend to buy.  No more guessing if you've rolled the dough to the right thickness.

Buy it here.

Now on to the counting....

111.  Waking up to the joyous chorus of birds greeting the day.

112.  The swishing sound of the leaves as the breeze blows through them.

113.  Making a child smile.

114.  Biting into a ripe cherry.

115.  A popsicle on the back step on a hot day.

116.  That first, silken slide into cool pool water after an afternoon working in the sun.

117.  The comforting sounds (clanking pots, running water, sizzling oil, the clatter of silverware) of a meal being prepared.

118.  Good news concerning medical tests.

119.  A concert with a friend.

120.  Struggling with him for the covers then meeting in the middle to share.

Wedding Gift Ideas

It's June, the month of graduations, Flag Day, Father's Day, and traditionally....of weddings.  I thought just for fun (and because it's raining and I can't work outside) I'd share some ideas for unique or creative wedding gifts.

1.  Christmas Decorations.  Most young couples don't have much, if anything, in the way of Christmas decorations when they are starting out and decorations can be a big expense.  Why not wrap up a few special ornaments, maybe ones commemorating the big day or their first Christmas together?  Or grab one of those big boxes of inexpensive ornaments for more bang and throw in a few strings of lights or garland.  If you're crafty you could even make some ornaments.  When Tim and I got married a couple of older neighbors who had a limited budget made us a large box full of ornaments.  We appreciated them so much and there was the bonus of thinking of those two dear ladies each time we hung the ornaments on the tree.

2.  Gift Certificates.  For restaurants or the movies or a spa day.  Anything that encourages the couple to spend time playing together.  It's so easy to lose track of each other in the busyness of day to day life and every couple begins marriage thinking it could never happen to them.  Help them see that it doesn't.

3.  Plastic Storage Containers.  For a couple who hasn't been living together before the wedding and hasn't already established a household, this can be a much appreciated gift.  To give it real bang....put a pantry item in each container....flour, sugar, tea bags, coffee, pasta, beans, etc.

4.  Photographs.  Are you good with a camera?  How about one of those photo books.  You could make one about them growing up separately, how they met and fell in love....the possibilities are as wide as your imagination.  You could also make them a photo calendar or appointment book.

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5.  Family Heirlooms.  Weddings are sentimental times and therefore the perfect time to pass on treasured family heirlooms....Grandma's china, great-aunt Bessie's silver, Dad's grandfather clock, the linens toiled over by long ago relatives, great-grandmother's box of recipes.  You get the idea.

6.  Feed their hobby.  What do they like?  Are they into wine?  You could send them on a wine tasting tour or set them up with all they need for a small wine bar at home.  Whatever the happy couple likes to do you can find some gift to reflect it.

7.  Classes.   Sign them up for classes at the local community college...most offer continuing education/adult interest classes.  How about a cooking, photography, money management, ballroom dancing....

8.  You.  Do you have a talent that would be useful in setting up a new household?  Construction, electrical, or plumbing skills?  Are you a decorator or gifted with a paintbrush?  Can you work magic in the garden?  Do you sew?  Are you an amazing cook or baker?  Create your own gift certificate and be specific so it doesn't get out of hand.  For example if baking is your talent, you could create a gift certificate good for one dessert a month for the first year of marriage.

9  Outside Entertaining Essentials.  Like Christmas ornaments, picnic and grilling supplies are something most newly weds don't have yet.  You could give all the tools and an array of barbecue sauces.  Or cute, summer-themed unbreakable tableware and matching linens and throw in a cute string of patio lights.

10.  Something Really Different.   How about getting a star named after them?  International Star Registry will do that for you.  Or there is a company out there that will write the couple's name in a heart on a beautiful tropical beach and take a picture.  There are a lot more things along this line you could do.  Search the internet for ideas.

Now there's no excuse for giving a toaster at the next wedding you attend.

glitter-graphics.com

Now, on to the counting with Ann because I need to remember....

101.  A little black poodle swimming in the pool...always her eyes on me.

102.  The tang of barbecue sauce dripping from ribs grilled to perfection.

103.  The satisfaction of hard work and a job done.

104.  Ants working together to carry a morsel across the sidewalk and up over the hose without ever slowing down.

105.  Progress with the church remodeling.

106.  The lonesome song of a frog late in a summer night.

107.  The sweet smell of summer on skin.....sunblock and coconut, sweat and dirt, chlorine and popsicles.

108.  A rainy day, movie day.

109.  Lightning bugs drifting in the evening darkness.

110.  The whisper soft kiss of a cool breeze on summer hot skin.

Talk to Me

I thought today was going to be a good day when I started out....and it has been, but not in the way I had imagined.  Today was the last day of school for the public school district I drive for, so I knew the kids were going to be in good moods and a lot of fun.  Add to that a half-day and what's not to like?

I don't want to be a downer so I won't go into detail, but things started going wrong right from the beginning. There were a couple of times I just wanted to give up, but God started talking....and he kept on talking.  In fact, he never shut up all day.  He has been calling me on the carpet about, well, EVERYTHING!!  He's even thrown in a couple of probie hits for good measure (a probie hit is what they call it when Gibbs on NCIS smacks someone on the back of the head).

So, here I am and things are still botched up, but I'm not feeling so bad about them.  It's kind of hard to when you've been chatting with God all day and he's telling you to ask him for what you need, to trust him, and get to know him even better.

On to the counting with Ann and the others.....

86.  A fall on an already problematic knee that could have been much worse....but wasn't.

87.  Cooler temperatures for these final days of school.

88.  A God who knows our deepest hurts and needs....and wants us to give them to him to take care of.

89.  A generous and thoughtful thank you gift from a student of a tart warmer and 6 packages of homemade scented tarts (Mom has a small business selling them and candles.)

90.  Hugs from students I never expected hugs from.

91.  A big sale on t-bones...guess what's cooking on the grill tonight?

92.  That we can get sweet ripe fruits all year round.  Local and organic is best, but some is healthier than none at all like our forefathers had.

93.  A summer that is filling up with lots of great things to do....and still plenty of down time.

94.  The wonder of seedlings pushing through freshly tilled soil in the garden.

95.  12 days until the Toby Keith concert with a friend.

96.  Two little froggies swimming in the fish pond.

97.  The heady scent of the blossoms on the mock orange bush.

98.  The warmth of a tiny poodle body pressed against my back during the night.

99.  Worship songs that make my soul cry out in praise.

100.  New friends.

I Remember You

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I'm weighing in late on this Memorial Day.  This day to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to guarantee freedom in this (still) great nation.  This day to also remember and honor all those who've passed this way before us and left their imprint on us.

Today, I'd like to combine the honoring and the counting of blessings by remembering a few of those, who even though they're gone, continue to influence me.

81.  Pappy....my grandfather, who taught me to laugh no matter how tough life gets and to appreciate antiques.

82.  Nana....my grandmother, who taught me to take the time to appreciate this wonderful world we live in, all I know about plants, and how to cook the old-fashioned, homestyle (but not necessarily healthy) way.

83.  Dad....who taught me to always be nice, always be honest, always do my best and that if I want something to work for it. .

84.  Uncle Cake....who taught me what reliability and gentleness look like and that there are always two sides to a story.

85.  Mom Artis....my mother-in-law, who accepted me unconditionally as one of her own and was my champion and rock in the early days of marriage.

Keeping the Focus by Counting

Is there something going on in the world of technology today that I don't know about?  Like a ginormous  solar flare or something?  Our cable, WiFi, and phone were all out this morning...I can't use my bank card or get money out of the ATM, even though the ATM shows I have money in there....and now that the WiFi is working I looked up my account online and all the deposits and transactions are posting but haven't been credited either way so something is goofy at the bank.

We had a good weekend.  Yesterday was the best.  Tim and I went out for breakfast then spent the day working in the yard and we went for ice cream in the evening...and even Megan went!

Now today it feels like I am being slammed from several directions and it would be easy to give in and get depressed, but I'm not going to let it happen.  I'm going to keep my focus where it should be...on God...and I'm going to pick up counting my blessings.

71.  A beautiful, sunny day. 
72.  Time spent with my daughter that DIDN'T include any aruments.
73.  Veggie soup for lunch.
74.  A much wanted book now in my hands to start reading.
75.  More energy than I've had in a long time.
76.  A hanging strawberry basket.
77.  Hair long enough to pin up.
78.  A God who knows my needs, my pains and my sufferings without me even asking.
79.  A God who wants me to ask.
80.  Peace in life's valleys.

A Post About Nothing...And A Bit Of Thankfulness

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In the words of an I Can Has Cheesburger cat, "Writer's block....I has it."  I'm sitting here staring at the screen, hands on the keys....WAITING.  Waiting for what?  I don't know.  My muse to speak?  Lightning to strike?  A post to magically pop into my head?  Whatever, it's just not happening today.  So instead of an inspirational post I leave you with some funnies about writer's block and my continuing list of things I am grateful to God for.

See?  I told you.
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Yep!
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At least I've retained my sense of humor, right?  Right??

On to the counting....

61.  Good insurance and access to good health care.

62.  Sunroof open and music blasting on a warm Spring day.

63.  Lots of hours on the job for a daughter.

64.  The constant drone of lawnmowers and the smell of fresh cut onion grass.

65.  A flag, tattered and faded, but still waving proudly on the breeze.

66.  Medicine that seems to be helping...and in more than just the intended way.

67.  A hug from my mom before she left for vacation.

68.  Fuzzy socks on a cold, rainy day.

69.  A Savior who was not...bland, wimpy, or serenely untouchable...but alive and passionate and completely touchable.

70.  A phone conversation with my son!  It's a start.

 

I Goofed, Thanks for Noticing

I hate it when I screw up.  I hate it worse when someone points it out to me.  That said, I screwed up over the weekend and someone pointed it out to me.  That someone would be my mother, who is apparently on one of her sister-better-than-you kicks, as I call them.  Sigh.

The weekend began in the emergency room and consisted of a husband doped up on Percocet to deal with the pain of 2 kidney stones, a daughter with laryngitis and a severe ear infection, and me feeling like I had the flu on Friday, being okay Saturday, and then not so good again on Sunday.

You'd think with a weekend like that a girl could get some slack from her own mother, but you'd think wrong.  All I heard today was all her complaints about my daughter (my mom pretty much thinks the entire generation is lazy, slovenly, ignorant, selfish, and a bunch of idiots) and how I missed her husband's birthday on Saturday and their anniversary on Sunday.

Crap, crap, C-R-A-P!!!  I will never, ever hear the end of it.

But I will not dwell on the negative.  Let's get on with the counting of blessings.....

51.  A mother who is healthy and not in a nursing home or dependent in any way.

52.  A husband free from pain and able to work today.

53.  A boss who allowed me to have all day Friday off, when I really only needed the morning.

54.  The patience granted by God that helps me hold my tongue when I would strike back.

55.  The tiny purple flowers (some kind of weed, I suppose) that blanket the little hill between our house and the neighbors.

56.  A surprise night out with the "girls."

57.  Beautiful boxes to give as God Boxes to some women I know.  ( Someone on here, I forget who...told me about them.  It's just a box...I decorated these...where you write down the things you give to God and keep them.  It's symbolic and a visual reminder that once something is given to God, it's NEVER taken back.)

58.  Deep, rich green grass.

59.  That the Boston bombers are not on the loose.

60.  The first, fuzzy, yellow dandelions poking above the grass.

It's a Great Day to Be Alive!

Good morning and it is a great day to be alive...no particular reason, just that life is a blessing no matter what the day holds.  That's the great part about being a Christian....having a deep, unshakable joy that comes from knowing Jesus.  You know he and the Father are always with you.  They've got your back.

While not a Christian song, this is one of my favorite "happy" songs....it captures that deep welling of "no-reason" joy.

 

We had a pretty good weekend around here.  Nothing major or very exciting, but good, anyway.

Tim worked on the church remodel Saturday and I puttered around here doing laundry, moving some furniture, playing on the computer.....oh, and cooking for the fellowship dinner after church.  I made a key lime pie and then I kind of cheated by finding three containers of hobo beans in the freezer.  I thawed them in the microwave and tossed them into the slow cooker.

Church was awesome!  A lot of people were away this week or busy with their kids' Spring sports so it was a smaller crowd, but it didn't matter.  The message was given by our friends' son.  It was about grace and how God gives it freely to us even though we don't deserve it and there's nothing we can do to earn it.  He was in tears talking about his life, all the reasons why he doesn't deserve grace and all the ways God has shown him grace.  Most of us cried right along with him.  It was a really good message.  And dinner after?  I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.  A few of us leaders were the last ones left after dinner and we ended the night by praying for the people nominated to be on the ballot for church council and for the people who will be voting next Saturday.

Yesterday was a lazy day for us with no one moving much beyond the sofa until noon.  Tim and I went to visit my aunt at the nursing home.  She looked pretty good and was as clear-minded as she ever is (she's had several strokes) so she must have had an oxygen tank with something in it.  She was so glad to see us, but she is depressed (not that I blame her, the home her son dumped her in is a hole) and kept saying how she wishes she was "done."  It's not a new refrain.  She's been wanting to join her husband, her parents, my dad (her brother) and the majority of her other relatives and friends for about 10 years now.  She's 87 and every time she goes to the hospital I think it will be for the last time, but what can I say....she's a tough cookie!

We also had a quick lunch out together and did the grocery shopping and then in the evening I got to chat for a while on Facebook with the son of a couple who used to be very dear friends of ours (more like family, actually) as well as serving our church as the associate pastor.  Ministry took them away and life circumstances and distance kind of ended the friendship.  Oh, we still think of them fondly, but we never talk or get together.  It's just one of those things.  So, it's been such a pleasure to talk with this boy, who was 4 when they moved away and is now a junior in high school!

41.  Spring flowers picked by small hands and given with big hearts and big smiles.

42.  Laughing until it "hurts."

43.  Stories shared by an elderly aunt of times, places and people gone by.

44.  Being able to make someone that happy just by showing up.

45.  Reconnecting.

46.  A God and Savior who has my back.

47.  Emerald green grass that needs to be mowed.

48.  Pomegranate flavored Tootsie Pops.

49.  The wind that stirs the flags, rings the chimes, and whisks away the dirtiness of winter.

50.  Unbelievable grace, given freely to the undeserving.

Monday Morning Weekend Review

I enjoyed a very blessed weekend....didn't see a lot of Megan, but I suspect there will be more and more of those times coming, especially now that she is going to be working again.  That's right, she got the job at the garden center!  Woot!

The women's group from church (we REALLY need a name) got together Saturday morning for another session of Beth Moore's Jesus, the One and Only series.  I've not always been a big fan of hers but this study is powerful, thought provoking, and emotional.  We break out the tissues just about every time we meet.  The conversation was exceptional this week and a few of us lingered until 1:00! (We started at 9:00!)

Tim didn't go with me to church Saturday night.  He was working on the church renovation (yes, even with one hand) and wanted to finish the part he was working on so he didn't have to go work on it on Sunday.  I kind of hate it when he chooses to work over going to church...even if he is working on the church!...but after 29 years, I've learned to accept it because it's who he is and work is what motivates him.  No sense getting all upset when he refuses to see the point.

Church was a good time, anyway.  We made our nominations for council officers and I have to call them tonight to let them know so they can have the week to prayerfully consider if they want to be on the ballot.  The great conversation continued during the dinner, too.

On Sunday, Tim and I ran a few errands and did some grocery shopping...made our first trip to Aldi's in several years.  I used to shop there a lot, but got out of the habit.  It's changed, but for the better.  I'll be going back more often.  Mostly, we just relaxed and Tim got a lot of sleep, which he doesn't get through the week.

The only bummer was that Tim wouldn't give up the remote last night so I didn't get to watch the ACM Awards.  It's never part of the show, but they do announce the winner for Songwriter of the Year.  I've had my fingers crossed the last two years because my (2nd?) cousin, Luke Laird, has been nominated both years.  He didn't win, but it was still a good night for him as Pontoon, the song he wrote for Little Big Town was up for single of the year and Eric Church's album, Chief, won for album of the year and Luke had 3 songs on that!  He's going to get that award one of these years.  No awards for my man, Toby, this year, either.  Boo!

So, now it's Monday and the counting continues.....

31.  Making the break with my soda/caffeine addiction...and Advil keeping the "withdrawal" headache at bay.

32.  Wonderful women to talk about the things of God with, who lift me up when I need it, chastise me when I need it, laugh with me, cry with me...and teach me to trust again.

33.  Beautiful, warm sunny days after a very long, very gray winter.

34.  A real vacation to look forward to.

35.  A hand-drawn picture and sweet thank you note from our granddaughter.

36.  A willingness to begin work on a "sermon"....a first and something I've fought against for quite some time.

37.  Pedicures....total luxury and pampering, but oh, so worth it.

38.  A job for Megan that she is excited about and eager to start.

39.  The reemergence of life...robins, flocks of turkeys, herds of deer, fat gray squirrels racing up one side of the front fence and down the other, daffodils just poking their green heads above the earth....all signs of winter's end.

40.  That a broken hand is a "good" break and requires no surgery.

Snow Day!

Sitting here at my desk with Daisy for company at a time when I would normally be at work.  Old Man Winter is flexing his muscles one (last?) time this morning in the form of freezing rain, sleet, snow, and high winds.  In short, it is NASTY outside today.

I was getting a little worried this morning.  I'd actually gone out to start the Rav 4 to melt the ice off it and called the bus garage myself when I came in.  They knew we were delayed at that point, so I don't know if I called before they called me or if they forgot to call me again.  At 7:30 I had my coat on and was getting ready to go out to start the Rav again when the phone rang to let me know school was cancelled.

The wet stuff seems to have died off, though the wind remains wicked as ever.....seriously, if you could hear some of these gusts hitting the house, you'd be expecting the roof to lift off at any time.  I guess I can deal with that and keep my doctor's appointment in a bit.  The roads, I hope, will have been plowed and salted by then.

Not a lot on the agenda today.  I can always do a couple loads of laundry...never ending, you know.  I'm going to roast a small turkey that I had to take out of the freezer Saturday night to make room for a much larger one I won in a raffle.  Reading some more of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is a given.  It's very interesting, not my normal kind of book, but good.  I'll probably work on my post for Wednesday, too....I'm guest-hosting the Writing to God: 40 Days of Praying with My Pen community over on Dawn's blog, Beneath the Surface: Breath of Faith.  I hope you'll come over and check it out.

"Glorify the Lord with me;

let us exhalt his name together!"

~ Psalm 34:3

21.  A home that is snug and warm when winter winds howl.

22.  The amazing technology of computers that lets me write a post, research something else, chat on Facebook, listen to music, and check email....all at the same time!

23.  The pellet stove that fills our home with constant even heat.

24.  The big dog, who though not thrilled, slept all night on the floor.

25.  Jobs that continue to last in an uncertain economy.

26.  A mother and step-father who are at least considering attending church on Easter then joining us and others from church in going out for dinner.

27.  A husband who still worries about me and calls to warn me of bad roads

even after more than 28 years together.

28.  Children who are healthy and have been spared any major tragedies in life.

29.  A beach vacation to dream about on cold snowy days like today.

30.  The soft, curly hair of a poodle under my fingers.

A Multitude Monday

Did you have a good weekend?  Are you feeling refreshed and ready to face a new day?  A new week?  Oh, how I hope you are.  Each day is a gift and too valuable to waste on negative feelings and thoughts.  Those happen, I know...believe me, I know how they creep in uninvited and knead around like a cat getting comfortable and settling in.  The "trick" is in being aware and catching them before that happens, in turning our eyes to the One who also knows, who can drive those feelings away and leave instead peace, hope, and a joy that swells beyond measure unfettered by earthly whims.

My weekend was blessed.  The ladies from church met Saturday morning for our continuing study of Jesus.  I thank God for those women every day.  We have become friends and sisters, but more than that, I think.  We share our celebrations and our heartbreaks.  We rejoice and we cry.  What we are is real and honest.  I have been a part of other groups before, but NEVER one like this, one where I willingly share the deepest recesses of my heart and soul.  Never one with this kind of trust in each other.

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Church on Saturday evening was wonderful as it always is.  The fellowship after was even better than usual.  Everyone was in high spirits (maybe because of the mild weather?) and oh my, the laughter!  We laughed and laughed...until it hurt.  I praise the God who knew that his children need to laugh and knew that it could heal as much as any medicine some times.

Sunday was simply a day of rest for Tim and I.  We stayed home except to go to Red Lobster for dinner.  By the way, if you like Red Lobster and Lobsterfest sounds good to you, go to the website and get a coupon good for $10 off on any 2 Lobsterfest meals.  You can get it sent to your email and then either print it out or just show it to them on your smartphone.

There was a "theme" running throughout my weekend...something that kept popping up over and over, but I will share more about that on Wednesday in my Writing to God: 40 Days of Praying with My Pen post.  Speaking of that, I don't have a date for you, other than not this week, but I will be hosting the Writing to God community one of these coming weeks.  I'm so excited.  I feel like I should prepare.  Company is coming!  Man your battle stations!  Ugh!  How does one Spring clean a blog???  LOL

And on to the counting, which I've discovered I was wrong about....Ann has continued the Monday link up. I must have looked on a week when she forgot the link.....or I just completely missed it, which is totally possible, and probably more than likely.  This dealing with a middle-aged brain is not for sissies, let me tell you!  Anyway....

11.  Squeals of children's laughter as a grown man crawls under tables and plays tag with them.

12.  A new plan to take a group to Tennessee at the end of July for training as Precepts teachers.

12.5  Training that falls after an already paid for vacation so I can go.

13.  Red Lobster's cheddar/garlic biscuits.  How good are those things?!

14.  Warm days and sunshine....a promise that winter will end, life will return.

15.  A brother-in-law awake, alert, and stroke-free with sugar under control.

16.  Rest and relaxation, an entire day of just the hubs and me.

17.  The confidence of a friend.

18.  Sweet bus kids who make me smile.

19.  Birds flying rapid-fire and low over the dogs and me....so intent on playing the Spring game of finding a mate, that they barely noticed us as we jumped out of their way.

20.  The scent of wood smoke on a cool morning.

 

What Do I Do?

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In the wake of last week's presidential election those of us who supported Mitt Romney have been struggling.  Struggling to understand how the election seems to have been so completely one-sided when just hours, or even mere moments in the case of some states, before the winner was declared all sources were reporting a race too close to call.  Struggling to make sense of the conflicting information bombarding us concerning the future of the country.  Struggling to know what to do.  Struggling with grief....we are experiencing a form of mourning.

And we are struggling with fear....there are those out there who are using words like "revolution" and "civil war."  They speak of stockpiling gold, silver, food, water, fuel, and ammunition.  Lawsuits and petitions are being filed in some states seeking to separate from the U.S. government.  In my limited experiences these people are not "crazies" or people on the fringe of society.  They are housewives, nurses, prison counselors, mothers, Christians, office workers, veterans, and even state police troopers.

How do we know what to do?

My answer came during Bible study with the women's group I belong to.  We are working our way through Beth Moore's Esther, an excellent study I highly recommend.  Beth says "In a mean world, New Testament believers are called to a good fight."  1 Timothy 1:18-19 tells us "I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.  Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith."

So, does that mean we are to take up the fight or remain passive?  I believe it means that God has given us all the direction we need for living in the Word and as long as we are following what He has set out there for us in faith we can have a good conscience about what we do.

1 Peter 2:13-17 says "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men; whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to the governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right.  For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.  Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.  Show proper respect to everyone; Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."

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That I believe says it all.  It doesn't matter who is president.  The path of the Christ-follower remains the same.  God has laid a course out for us and we are to set our eyes on Him and never stray.  He is in control and the work of His kingdom is what the Christian needs to be about.  We need to set the example for the rest of the world and live blamelessly....reflecting Christ in the world because the world doesn't care about our relationship with Christ, they care how much we act like Him.

Continuing to count the everyday blessings:

562.  Clear answers from a God who has been in my shoes and knows what I struggle with.

563.  A group of women who are loving, supportive, and eager to know Christ more.

564.  Summer-like temperatures in November.

565.  A three-day weekend to rest and find peace.

566.  The everyday-ness of chores....the peacefulness of folding laundry, washing dishes.

567.  Every seat filled at church.

568.  A new vehicle. 4-wheel-drive to benefit me and bought from our son to benefit him.

569.  A too busy husband means work continues to be good, when many are without.

570.  The return to normal life following the election.

571.  The rustle of leaves blown across the yard and the crunch underfoot.

572.  The smell of woodsmoke in the air.

573.  Getting back to blogging.

Time Marches On

Yes, I am still alive and kickin' and probably having too much fun as of late, but between work, church activities and my continued volunteer efforts at the GOP office, there isn't much time to write and there definitely hasn't been any time to spend reading your blogs and catching up.....except late at night and that won't do.  I can tell you exactly how it would end.

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Who wants to walk around looking like they slept on a waffle iron?  And drool in the keyboard can't be a good thing.

It's (and by it's, I mean everything) all about time isn't it?  We have all these great gadgets and high tech gizmos that make our work easier than it's ever been, but rather than freeing us up and giving us more time it seems to have the opposite effect and we just take on more, filling all the hours there are.  No wonder we're all so stinking tired and grouchy all the time!

Then there's that big unexplainable wrinkle in the space-time continuum (I have no idea if there is such a thing or if I stole it from Star Trek, but just typing such a geeky thing makes me feel smarter.  LOL)....the fact that the older a person gets, the faster time passes.  One of the truest things I've heard said was by a speaker at my high school graduation.  He pointed out that we thought it had taken forever, a lifetime, to get to that point, but that we were about to begin finding out just how short life really is because in the time it took us to walk up onto the stage, take our diplomas, and walk back off the stage the clock would be ticking twice as fast.

Oh, that man was sooooo right and oh, how I wish he hadn't been.  I wish the days when my children were growing up had lasted much, much longer.  There were things with them I wanted to enjoy longer and things I wanted to do with them that never got done.  There have been many things I've wanted to do but never found the time.  There are days so crammed full I don't even notice there are flowers, let alone take time to smell them.

I was really walloped a good one the other day.  Does God ever do that to you (or is it just me that needs it), just smack you right upside the head to get your attention?  He did it at church during my friend, Fran's sermon.  For starters, He taught me something new....Did you know that as believers we're going to be judged twice?  You read that right.  Followers of Christ face two judgements.  Just like everyone we will stand before God and give a personal accounting, but we will also stand before Jesus and be judged on our works in the body of believers.

Personally, I'm not too worried about that first one.  Oh, I'm sure there are going to be scenes from my life that when replayed in the company of God will make me squirm, but I am saved, I have repented of my sin, and I try to grow and do better.  So, I know that's going to end okay.  That second one, though......  That one is all about what we've done once we are saved.  Have we been imitators of Christ?  Have we loved?  Have we worked for the kingdom?  Have we cared for the weak?  Have we told people about Him?  There's an awful lot we should be doing as believers in the church, but are we doing it?  That's what Jesus is going to look at....  how we spent our time.  Ohhhh boy.  Time to make time to examine priorities so that when that day comes we will get to hear "Well done."


Continuing to count with Ann and the others:

552.  A brother-in-law home from Afghanistan, healthy and whole.

553.  Christmas festivals in the woods.

554.  A possible job (we'll know later today) for a daughter! 

555.  A promotion and raise for a son.

556.  Summer-like days in October.

557.  A mouth that is healing from two pulled teeth...no dry sockets!!

558.  Artists who freeze moments in time.

559.  Writers who tell stories.

560.  Musicians who capture feelings in sound.

561.  Friends who will pray for you, whether you ask or not.

Multitudes in the Pumpkin Patch

Sharing some pictures from yesterday's wonderful time with the family.   Our son and his wife and baby, missed out on the excitement because of yucky weather (cold and rainy) and Matt's torn meniscus (ligament in the knee), but we visited with them before and after picking up our granddaughter.

The mug of my new favorite animal.  I call him (her?)
Sheldon (as in Cooper).

Sora's very precise about things and it bothered her greatly
that her feet didn't reach the stirrups...we HAVE to go back
again when she is tall enough that they do.  Which will probably
be next year at the rate she's growing.  Look at her now...
and she's only 3!!!

Pappy and the kids.

Playing coy at the pumpkin patch.
She's started sucking her thumb since the baby does.

Bringing them in, fresh from the pumpkin patch.

On the hayride with Aunt Megan and Cody.

Megan, Cody, Sora, and Nanny's take on The Three Little Pigs.

Climbing the pumpkin pile.

Did I mention how much I loved this critter?
Look at those eyelashes!!  

Tim feeding the baby zebra.

Cody (having "fun") and Megan in the petting zoo.
The poor boy just had his wisdom teeth out and wasn't
at 100%.  He will probably never go anywhere with us again.

Adorable little donkeys about 2 seconds before they turned tail and
nearly kicked Sora in the face.  Bad little donkeys.  

Taking Aunt Megan for a ride in the rain.

Joining with Ann and the others....

531.  That our son is getting the best orthopedic care in the area for his knee...the same doctors who treat Pittsburgh's pro athletes.

532.  Giggles and squeals and mile-wide smiles and childish wonder.

533.  A few hours of fun for the husband.

534.  Baby camels!

535.  Rainy fall days.

536.  A steaming mug of pumpkin spice tea.

537.  A baby shower to celebrate life's continuing.

538.  New friends.

539.  A short work week.

540.  A peaceful transition to the puppy sleeping in the bed.