Thursday, April 30, 2009

~ Quote for the Day ~

Work as if it was your first day
forgive as soon as possible
love without boundaries
laugh without control,
and never stop smiling
even if you don't know the reason.
*unknown

Sunday, April 26, 2009

~ Memories from a Beach Wedding ~







~ Lazy Sunday Afternoons ~

Aren't Sundays wonderful? I had a largely lazy Sunday. G took off to Cullman to go dirtbike riding with friends; I went to church; came back home and ate left over Mexican Lasagna (yum Pampered Chef recipe); put in an old movie (Pollyanna again ...) and promptly fell asleep before she had her first meal with her maiden aunt ... l woke up after she fell from the tree, so really lovely nap! Played in the dirt a little outside and then grilled steak and made baked sweet potatoes for dinner - yum again. G's home and didn't have any mishaps while out on the trails (yay!).

So, really a very lovely lazy Sunday afternoon.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

~ Three Trees ~

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."
Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing ! boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said, "Peace" and the storm stopped . At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best. (Author Unknown)

Thursday, April 16, 2009

~ Struggles ~

Has anyone ever offended, embarrassed and humiliated you so bad that you go out to a private place and cry for a good 20 minutes before you can even be seen in public again without totally losing it. And then, after you get past the crying part, ANGER TAKES OVER, and you plot your revenge, or what you should have done/said or will do/say, etc. Only to have God block your path to that evil side of your pesonality. And, even knowing that it is GOD blocking that evilness, you struggle to find ways to get around HIM basically!

Yeah, that is me, it happened VERY recently. And to be truthful, I am still having a hard time with forgiveness, even knowing once I truly forgive this person in my heart, the struggle with my evil side will not be so hard, my pain of this hurt will lessen because God will be sharing it with me and will take it from me. I am only hurting myself, not the offender. Now just writing this TRUTH is helping. I just have to take the next step with it. I will. Soon. Today. Now.

Why is it sometimes so hard to do though?

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

~ Memories of Easter ~


~ Hello Sadie ~

Sadie, our oldest dog, chilling on G's chest, her favorite place to be.

~ Have your ever ~

Just for Fun
Have fun with this.copy and paste this list into your own blog and bold the items that you have 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/world
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. Taught yourself an art from scratch
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 (It's called a Mental Health Day)
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 home run
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 (just not fluently ...)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
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
43. 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 (only is a chalk drawing is considered ...)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person (but only from the outside sadly - line was too long!)
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 (hmmm does selling Mary Kay count???)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten 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 (Mrs. Beasley)
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
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
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby No, only lost one ...
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

Saturday, April 11, 2009

~ Not Much ~

Not much has been going on worth repeating on here. Hope everyone has a great weekend. We will be spending Sunday with my family - Mom, Dad, Sister and other extended family. They have a cantata at their morning services in church and then we will have the traditional Easter feast, i.e., ham, potato salad, deviled eggs, slaw, coconut cake, etc., and of course hide a few eggs ...


Happy Easter weekend my friends.
*****

Friday, April 10, 2009

Friday, April 03, 2009

~ A cool blog ~

Check it out: http://www.ascribingartists.blogspot.com/

The Ascribing Artists Blog is a creative ministry bringing together visual artists who wish to "Ascribe to the Lord the Glory due His name." Ascribing Artists recognize that anything they do pales in comparison to the Glory of the Lord. Artist are welcome to share their artwork, techniques, stories, praises, encouragements and advice. (copied)

Pretty Cool!