Friday Felicities ~ April 22, 2009

Things that make me happy:

• Gorgeous spring days
• Coming home to find Terrance cooking dinner
• Working out on the treadmill...even though I will probably be sore tomorrow. :)
• Weekends that will be as gorgeous as today
• Kids that are learning about "not" complaining and "using kind words"
• Celebrating birthdays with family
• Friends that you know you can rely on to pray for you when you need it.

Link up over at Becky's with things that make you happy...

Easter 2009

I must admited that out of all the "themed" sermons throughout the year - Easter is definitely my favorite...especially as I have gotten older. I am amazed every year by how much I am moved by the service. I don't know why that shocks me...it is so powerful - just thinking about Jesus' resurrection.

Easter is the annual celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ...just in case you didn't know. It is called a "moveable feast" because it does not fall on one set day every year. It falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox...not confusing at all, is it?

The story of Easter:

Matthew 28:1-15

1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.
2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.
3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.
7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."
8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.
9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to (J)My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."
11 Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.
12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
13 and said, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'
14 "And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble."
15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.

He Lives!!!

Hallelujah!!!!

After the Storm~~April 10, 2009

Today was a day of intense storms in our area. I woke up this morning a little before 4:00 am to some extremely loud thunder. I turned on the news to see strong thunderstorms over the entire mid-state area. Thunderstorms I can deal with...tornados - I can't.

At about 12:30 this afternoon, I hear that the storms they were predicting for this afternoon had arrived. Had they ever!!

I was at work in Brentwood - about 45 minutes from our house - watching the news as they are saying that a tornado has been spotted close to our house. Now, on a normal Friday afternoon - that would be sad...because it's our house...but today was not an ordinary Friday afternoon. It is Good Friday...so the kids were home with Terrance. A tornado in the area of my "house" is bad...a tornado in the area of my family is terrifying!!!

Sitting at work, I am frantically calling Terrance telling him to take the kids and get in the closet. He is thinking that he should go out and put the kids in the drainage ditch next to our house!! He takes the kids out...and the tornado is right out in front of our house (but not super-close)!! Our house faces a rock quarry (now a fishing hole) and interstate 840 is beyond that. The tornado was on 840!!! Terrance grabs the kids and basically throws them in the drainage hole and stands there and watches the tornado fly by.

All this time, I am at work - not really knowing what is going on at home. I can't get ahold of Terrance - all the circuits are busy. He finally calls me back and tells me what happened...I lost it. I started crying. I was so frightened that something terrible had happened to my family.

I am so thankful that they are safe. God has protected us yet again.

The tornado

The aftermath

Flooding

After the Storm...

Shaded Gray Daybook ~~~ March 26, 2009

Outside my Window ... it is a beautiful afternoon. It started out pretty cloudy and gray this morning...but the clouds have parted and the sun is shining!! :)

I am thankful for ... a very healthy family. I have been reading all of the FaceBook status' of my friends and just about everyone has a sick family member. Our family is all healthy for the time being. Yeah!!

From the kitchen ...Terrance is grilling "something" tonight. LOL I can't remember what it is. It's been marinating for a few days - so it should be yummy. Probably a side salad and some rice to round out the meal.

I am wearing ... a long brown skirt and my new brown and white shirt that I found at Wal-mart. ((My new favorite shirt!))

I am reading ... Play It Again, SAHM by Meredith Efken. I really enjoy these books - they are so funny!! Also reading Plum Spooky by Janet Evanovich - also a funny read.

I am hoping ... to get my laundry caught up tonight so I don't have to fuss with it this weekend - only about 1 load to go!!! :)

I am hearing ... Michael Clayton. I'm watching it here at the office...sssssh - don't tell anyone. LOL

Around the house ... the puppy is becoming the bane of my existance.....he has now torn up 3 pairs of shoes AND torn a small hole in the living room carpet!!! But - on the up-side...he has gotten much better about not peeing on the carpet.

One of my favorite things ... FLIP-FLOPS!!! I love my flops and I am so excited that it's finally warm enough that I can pull them out!!! - and put away all of those stuffy toe-enveloping winter shoes!! :)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week ... not too much. Funds are pretty tight for the next couple of weeks because of the down-payment we had to put on Terrance's new car...but - the bills are paid and the sun is shining...it doesn't get much better than that. :) I plan on just relaxing....a lot.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you ... Myles' new 'do!!

Why only God is "awesome"...

I have been thinking about this for a while now...and I have felt the need to post...

I was a teen in the late 80's and early 90's when everything from pizza to movies to tennis shoes were considered "awesome!!". Of course, I picked up on the trend of calling things that. My dad was quick to say that "Only God is awesome. There is no awesome pizza or awesome movies." That really stuck with me over the years. I have really tried to never use that term in regard to anything materialistic or earthly. I have slipped a few times - but every time I have...I immediately regret saying it.

For me, Isaiah 8:12b-13 says it best (this is the HCSB version):

Do not fear what they fear;

do not be terrified.

You are to regard only

the Lord of Hosts as holy.

Only He should be feared;

Only He should be held in Awe.

I looked up the definition of awesome and it says: "inspiring, showing or characterized by awe". In my opinion...that only describes One...God.

Psalm 33:8 says:

Let all the earth fear the Lord;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

If we call these earthly things "awesome" - then we are diminishing how truly awesome God is. What can be more awesome than the fact that God sent His son to die for us???

Deuteronomy 10:21:

He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen.

You can see God's awesomeness everywhere around you...from the gorgeous sunrises, the rainbows that remind us of His promise, the mountains, the seas...everything around us. You cannot tell me that a "big bang" created all of this wonder. Only an awesome God can do that.

Also, the grace of God is unbelievably awesome!! We don't deserve anything!! Yet God gave us grace freely!! By His grace, salvation is granted to those who believe. How awesome is that?!?!

Ephesians 2:8:

For by grace you have been saved through faith;

and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

There is a song by Chris Tomlin called "Holy is the Lord" that has become one of my favorite song:

We stand and lift up our hands

For the joy of the Lord is our strength

We bow down and worship Him now

How great, how awesome is He

And together we sing

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The earth is filled with His glory

The earth is filled with His glory

I think it says it all perfectly...

The 4th Photo

Stephanie @ Olive Tree tagged me for this. Here are the rules:

1.) Go to your 4th folder where you store your photos.

2.) Select your 4th picture (no exceptions)! Seriously.. no exceptions.

3.) Post the picture with an explanation and link it back to your tagger.

4.) Tag 4 people to do the same!!

This picture is from the Chrismas program at church in 2007. That is Jordan in the black with her candle. She had just turned 10 years old...double digits...a hard birthday for old mom. :) They sang Light Of The Stable and did a really great job. :) I actually had to go to the sixth folder because 2 of the folders had videos in it and not pictures...why they weren't in the video section and not the picture section...I don't know. Obviously, I need to do some re-arranging.

Here is a video of the performance...you can fast forward through Myles' part if you want...but it's funny. :)

Friday Felicities ~ Febuary 6, 2009

Things that make me happy...
~ The simple fact that it is Friday!!!
~ Our new puppy - Nico Toscani Gray - named after Steven Seagal's character in Above the Law...Terrance's favorite Seagal movie...he's so cute! :)
~ That Jordan is working on her attitude - that she is realizing that a bad attitude doesn't really get you anywhere.
~ My healthy family...I need to never take that for granted.
~ Our warm house on these cold, cold, cold, cold nights...if you can't tell - I don't like the cold. :)
~ The fact that Terrance and I have good stable jobs when the economy is so bad.

Link up over at Becky's with things that make you happy...

Shaded Gray Daybook ~ February 5, 2009

Outside My Window...It is starting to get dark on another cold cold cold day. I am so ready for the cold to be over. I am *NOT* a fan of cold weather. On the bright side though...tomorrow is supposed to be around 50-ish. :)

I Am Thinking...about my wonderful, precious Bible study leader who lost her father this past week after being sick for a long while.

I Am Thankful...for my healthy family. I think I take it for granted sometimes that we are all healthy - but after seeing the struggles some families have gone through - I want to always be thankful.

From The Kitchen...pork chops on the grill and long grain and wild rice...a family favorite. After a lunch of carrots and celery - I can't wait!!

I Am Going...to play some Wii with the family after dinner. We are loving our Wii - and loving that the whole family can play together. I love it when Terrance walks in the the room and says, "Anyone wanna Wii??".

I Am Wearing...polar bear fleece jammie pants and my gray/black sweater that I wore to work. I don't really match right now.

I Am Reading...The Bride Bargain by Kelly Eileen Hake. Yet another book loaned to me by Steph. I am liking it so far.

I Am Hoping...to go to bed early tonight. I keep saying that - and then I keep staying up late. I.am.so.tired...

Around The House...Laundry is almost done - I need to put that away. Other than that...it's pretty clean.

One Of My Favorite Things...my new i-phone. I am loving it! I feel so high-tech. :)

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...nothing major...just regular stuff. I took Jordan to the orthodontist today for a consultation. It's going to cost $6000!!! I am still trying to wrap my head around that.

Here Is A Picture Thought I Am Sharing With You...

Nico Toscani...the new puppy

MIndless Fact Monday ~ January 19, 2009

~ A Leech has 32 brains.

~ Polar Bears can smell from up to 20 miles away.

~ Every U.S. bill - regardless of denomination - costs just 4 cents to make.

~ Lachanophobia is the fear of vegetables.

~ The first Wal-mart opened in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962.

~ The country of Andorra, a tiny country buried in the mountains separating France and Spain, has a zero percent unemployment rate.

~ The largest diamond ever found was 3106 carats. It was found in Guatent, South Africa on January 25, 1905. It is known as the Cullinan Diamond and weighs about 1.36 pounds.

~ During his entire life, Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting.

~ In 1992, approximately 750 deaths occured in the United States due to workplace violence.

~ Heinz has not changed their recipe for ketchup since its establishment in 1876.

You Know You Grew Up In The 80's If...

I got this from my friend Cheryl and thought it must be shared...

~ You've ever ended a sentance with the word "Psych!"

~ You know the profound meaning of "Wax On - Wax Off".

~ You've ever watched the "Pound Puppies".

~ You can sing the rap to the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and can do the Carlton.

~ Girls wore bike shorts under their skirts and felt stylishly sexy.

~ After you saw "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" you kept saying "I know you are, but what am I?"

~ You yearned to be a member of the Babysitter's Club and tried to start a club of your own.

~ You remember boom boxes and walking around with them on your shoulders like you were all that.

~ You owned those Strawberry Shortcake dolls that were scented.

~ You wore about EIGHT pairs of socks over tights with high-top Reeboks.

~ You know that "Whoa!!" comes from Joey on Blossom.

~ You wanted to be a Goonie.

~ You used to (and probably still do) say "What you talking bout Willis?"

~ You still get the urge to say "Not!" after every sentence.

~ Two words...Hammer Pants.

~ You even wore flourescent clothing...sometimes head-to-toe.

~ You have ever watched Fraggle Rock.

~ You had plastic streamers on your handle bars...and spokey-dokes or playing cards on your spokes for that incredible sound effect.

~ You thought He-Man and She-ra should hook up.

~ It was actually worth it to get up on Saturday mornings to watch cartoons.

~ You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose started falling off and his cheek bones shifted.

~ You wore a ponytail on the side of your head.

~ You saw the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the big screen and still remember their names.

~ You got super-excited when it was Oregon Trail day in computer class in school.

~ You took lunch boxes to school...metal ones.

~ You made your mom buy one of those clips that would hold your shirt in a knot on the side.

~ You ever wondered why Smurfette was the only female smurf.

~ You played the game MASH (mansion, apartment, shack, house).

~ You remember the CRAZE, then the banning of Slap Bracelets.

~ You wore stonewashed Jordache jeans and were proud of it.

~ You ever wore a pair of jelly shoes.

~ You thought your childhood friends would never leave because you exchanged handmade friendship bracelets and pins.

~ L.A. Gear...need I say more?

~ You remember "I've fallen and I can't get up!!"

~ You remember "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing" and all the Ramona books.

~ You remember going to the skating rink before there were inline skates.

~ You have ever played with a Skip-It.

~ You had or attended a birthday party at McDonalds.

~ You knew all the characters and their life stories on "Saved By The Bell" - the original class.

~ You know all the words to Bon Jovi's "You Give Love A Bad Name".

~ You remember watching both Gremlins movies.

~ Don't worry...be happy.

~ You remember New Kids On The Block when they were cool.

~ You thought Doogie Howser or Samantha Macelli was hot.

~ You remember Alf, the furry brown alien from Melmac.

~ You remember when mullets were cool...and probably had one yourself.

~ You still sing "We Are The World".

~ You tight rolled your jeans.

~ You owned a banana clip.

~ You had big hair...and you knew how to use it.

~ You remember "Where's the beef?".

~ You're still singing "You Give Love A Bad Name", aren't you.

I had to do this...again. LOL

Mindless Fact Monday ~ December 21, 2008

For this week - I will have a Christmas themed "Mindless Facts"...

~ Author Robert May considered the names Reginald and Rollo before settling on "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

~ Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas carols in England between 1649 and 1660. He thought that it should be a solemn day so he banned carols and parties. The only celebration was a sermon and a prayer service.

~ During the holiday season, approximately$220 million of poinsettias are sold.


~ "Silent Night" was written by Joseph Mohr in 1818. He was told the organ was broken the day before Christmas, so he sat down to write a song that could be sung with a guitar.



~ In 1836, Alabama was the first state to declare Christmas a legal holiday. Oklahoma became the last state in 1907.



~ In 1856, President Franklin Pierce decorates the first White House Christmas tree.



~ Electric lights were first used in 1843.

~ The actual gift givers are different in different countries: The Three Kings (Spain and South America), La Befana - a kindly old witch (Italy), Father Christmas (England), Pere Noel - Father Christmas (France), Christkind - angelic messanger from Jesus (Germany), and St. Nicholas (Holland).

~ Mexicans call poinsettias "Flower of the Holy Night" - the Holy Night is the Mexican way of saying Christmas Eve.



~ "It's A Wonderful Life" appears on TV more than any other Christmas movie.

Merry Christmas to All!!!!