Happy Monday....

Hello to all. I hope everyone had a great weekend.
My movie night with my kids was awesome. Awesome. For the first time that I can remember, I did not pick movies that sucked.
I picked three movies and we actually liked all three of them.
The Incredible Hulk was good. We all enjoyed the smash action.
The Family That Preys was good. How incredibly tangled lives can get.
Fireproof. You never leave your partner behind. Good life lessons and faith boosters.

Then last night, we had some friends over and they are such lovely people. I enjoy them immensely. They are christian people and on top of that, they are music people. They love comtemporary gospel and are singers in their praise band at their church. I guess we could have listened to music a long time, but unfortunately, they had to go home. Wish they lived closer to us.
They are the ones going on vacation with us this year for spring break and I am so looking forward to going. They have two children that are similar in age to our kids and they all get along. So, no "MOM" every five minutes while we're gone. What a tremendous blessing they are.
Anyway, I hope everyone has a great week, looking forward to peeping into your lives this week, one blog at a time.
Blessings.

My laid-back plans for this weekend........

I have had a day to myself. And I have been planning like mad. My DH is at work tonight and there is no set bedtime because it's FRIDAY!!!!!!!

So, my three cuddly wuddly kids (they'd freak out if they saw this) are going to watch movies tonight. I went to the video store and rented Fireproof. My 11 year old wants to see this sooooooo bad. I rented the Incredible Hulk. My 13 year old wants to see this one (and so do I, if truth be told). And then we'll watch Bolt with the 7 year old.

We'll have whatever we want for supper tonight (on paper plates, of course) and eat popcorn and lay on the floor and use each other for pillows and laugh and tumble and have a great time.

That's the plan, anyway. I hope you all have a great weekend. Blessings.

Prayer changes things......

Y'all I believe that prayer can change things. And there are people all over our globe that need prayer. One person in particular has caught my attention today, I was blog surfing and came across this

Please go visit this site Pray for Roy

It will give you this woman's accounting of her husbands progress through cancer.

AND, you will also be able to enter her fabulous Clinique giveaway.

But hurry, contest ends on the 1st of April.

Y'all come back now, you here.

This is my favorite season here.......

Spring is my favorite season here in my new home town. Everything is green (and laden with pollen) and the flox are bursting forth in all their splendor (did I mention the pollen) and the little baby animals are all scurrying around learning all about their new environments (did I forget to mention the pollen).

Really, truly I love the flox. They are some of the smallest pieces of joy I know. And if we get enough rain, they will stay for approximately one and half to to months and then the beautiful black eyed susans will take over and reign on the sides of our roads for another month (if we get enough rain). The pollen factor aside, I just L O V E the beauty that the Master has created just for me to view and have my breath taken away each and every time I drive by them.

I can't help it. They are so beautiful. What is your favorite thing about spring?

Maybe I'm a little to the side of center, but..................

Okay, I am NOT going on a diet. I could have just eaten a five course meal and someone say the word "DIET" and I would be hungry. I am not kidding you. Say the word "DIET" and my stomach starts thinking my throat has been cut. My stomach starts pinching my backbone...whatever you want to call it. I cannot now, nor have a I ever been able to "DIET".

This time, I am going to modify my eating habits (yes, I know that means no more chips at night after the kids have gone to bed or no more chocolate ice cream either), but I am going to try to eat healthier and smaller portions.

While I'm NOT Dieting, I am going to try to incorporate some more movement in my day. I am limited as to how much movement is good for me because of the RA. But I can certainly move around more than I do now. I'm not talking a marathon here, just more activity each day. I have a stationary bike and it certainly has been stationary. LOL. Three times a week, I am going to ride this wonderful torture device and then that night, I am going to use my handy dandy heating pad to help me use my hips and knees. I have some range of motion exercises that I can do and am going to do three days a week. Nothing fancy smancy, just small steps.

And then, once I get some of this weight off (cause, let's face it, that kind of restricts me too), I will feel better about myself and my body will feel better which in turn will make me want to move more, right? Well, it sounds like a good plan anyway.

So wish me luck with my NOT Dieting and more movement idea. Maybe, just maybe, it will work this time......

I hope you guys have a super fantastic week. And don't forget to smile at people, you never know what battle they are fighting......

THE BEIJING ACROBATS.....

What a fantastic show. I am so glad my MIL took us to see these guys. As I said to her, there came a point when I was no longer entertained and was grimacing in pain for those poor girls. They were doing things that had to be painful. They looked like they had no back bones. YIKES, I cannot even imagine the discipline and training they all have to go through to be able to be that flexible and limber. What a dangerous job. Mike Rowe ought to go try that out.

Anyway, there are two contests going on that you should go check out, cause they are smokin'.

One is at http://www.lauramarne.com./ She has got the cutest stuff. Really, it is beautiful.

and the other is at http://www.ourdandelionwishes.com/ she is giving away a bracelet from Live Love Bead and there are so many to go and oogle (I don't know if that's a word, but I like it).

Let's get out there and please don't enter so many times that you knock me out of the way, okay?

I hope you guys are having a great Sunday. Now, go, enter, show these girls some bloggy love.

And the winner is......

Shanda......YAY!

Shanda has won my giveaway for the Live*Laugh*Love prize package. Congratulations!

Today, my MIL is taking us to see the Bejing Acrobats. I can hardly wait to become dizzy watching them flip and tumble all over the place. My kids are excited as well.

Pray for my aunt as she is going through a difficult time right now. Can't go into detail, but God knows her needs.

My mom and dad spent the night with us last night. We won't see them for the next several weeks due to commitments they have and commitments that we have, but it sure is great to see them. Pray for their continued good health as they begin to get older. My mom talked to me yesterday about going to see about getting enrolled in the Medicare program. How is it that I cannot conceive of my mama getting old enough to be on Medicare? She doesn't look "that" old. She can't possibly be......because that would make me.....nevermind.

I hope you all have a blessed weekend and spend at least some time blessing God with your presence in His house this weekend. He has great things in store for you, just open the door.

Happy Thursday everyone. Almost there. Spring starts tomorrow. How's the weather in your neck of the woods? Fair to middlin' here. Some days great, some days not so great, but hey, at least we're having something.
Just a reminder, only one more day till the end of the giveaway of that stationary set. Only two entries so far. I am still having trouble getting my picture to load, don't know what's up with that.
Last night, at choir practice, we had such a good fellowship. The songs raised praise to the skies and you could tell it. We are getting ready for our Easter program and I just love most of the songs we are going to sing. They are wonderful.
If you know me at all, you know that I like to move when the music is fast tempoed. The last son that we are singing is Alive, Forever Amen. I'm afraid I'm gonna get booted out of the choir. Cause that song makes me want to do exactly what it says,

Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise.
Worthy is the One who has overcome the grave;
Let the people dance, let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King!
Worthy, worthy, Worthy is the mighty King!

It just makes me feel like throwing up my hands and waving them back and forth. So y'all, if you see it on the news of me being escorted out of the church, just remember, He's worthy and I was filled to the brim with the praising of Him.

Y'all have a good day.

Top o' the mornin' to ya'......

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone........

As promised, I am having a giveaway contest.

Up for grabs is this cute Stationary Set.
Okay, I couldn't get the photo to load right now.
I'll come back later and see if I can get the picture on here.
But for now.......

It includes a notebook, address book, memo pad and a bi-fold agenda. Plus it comes ina cute storage box that says Live* Laugh* Love all the way around with cutesy pootsy flowers and butterflies.

The luck of the Irish to ya'.

Have a great day.

Oh, contest ends at midnite 3/21/09. For one entry, leave a comment. Follow me for another entry and then come back and let me know that you are following. And for a total of five (5) more entries, blog about the contest. So, you could possibly get a total of seven entries.
Thanks and I hope you all have a blessed day.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!


Yesterday, I decided to put a sign on my mirror in my bathroom. I did this so that each morning I would be reminded that I CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY. Anyway I printed the sign out and trimmed it nicely, and was so stinking proud of myself.............then the 7 year old comes in and pops my balloon BIG TIME!!!!


The sign looked like this




I CHOOSE TO

HAPPY !!!!

My daughter goes, mom I don't understand this note. I said, "What's not to understand?" Whatever else I choose to be happy.


Do you see the mistake? Yeah, a 7 year old caught and I didn't. It's not like I'm illiterate or anything. Score one for the kid.


I hope you guys have a blessed weekend.

The Spring Fling is over.............................and I had a ball.


That was so much fun. Thanks to Tiffany and Heather for all their hard work

and for being gracious enough to include all of us. It really was a great time.



Okay, now for the moment you have all been waiting for........

the winner of the Paula Deen Celebrates! cookbook

is: #70 as per random.org. And lucky number 70 is:

Laura Ingalls Gunn. I wish I was clever enough to know how to put her
post here, but I have tried and failed this morning. Guess cause it's so
stinking early, but whatever. Congratulations to her.
And congratulations to myself and to everyone that played or just visited
yesterday, we are all winners for the wonderful new friends that we made.
You guys have a great day. And thanks for stopping by. I hope you come back again real soon.

I have a surprise giveaway on the 17th so keep your eyes open.

Spring Fling Giveaway on SITS

Okay, I totally forgot about the Spring Fling over at the Secret is in the Sauce.

Here is my item for giveaway....

A Paula Deen Celebrates! Cookbook

Leave me a comment and I'll enter you in the drawing.

Good Luck and Best Dishes.......contest ends at midnight eastern time tonight.

In my devotion this morning, I saw God's answer to your prayers. (Thanks to all of you).

In an article by Jane Struck I totally related to her statement that for years I have been blinded by the belief that I'm not as worthy of God's love as other Christians are.
A lot of this has to do with past treatment by other "Christian" people.

I have finally had to admit to myself that I have an unhealthy addiction. Food. I am an overweight person and have felt or been made to feel less than loveable because of the way I look. Discriminated against even. And I have been harboring bitterness in my heart because of this. So, food had become my comfort and now my body shows it. (Some of my problem is a chronic health issue that I can do nothing about). But the part I can try to do something about, I didn't, because I just didn't believe it would make any difference. I, too, believed if I was nice enough, people would love me and see past the ugly exterior of my body. But, and this is unfortunate, not many people can see past it, not even some of my family. Which in turn, created a need for some comfort, which I seek in food. Not pretty, is it? But there it is. My truth revealed for all the world to see.

In her article, Jane writes that God loves me (John 3:16), rejoices over me (Zephaniah 3:17), died for me (Romans 5:8), and will never leave or forsake me. God loves me when I'm nice, and when I'm not. He loves me even when others don't or when I don't love myself.

She also writes that I may never be a beautiful, popular, recognizable, and successful woman in this world, but wordly labels, accolades, recognition, and accomplishment hold no sway over God's irrational love for me.

Like Jane, I have been beholden to the deception that others are more special than I am for way too long. Please pray that I will remember that we're all equals at the Cross.

Thanks for hanging in there for this wordy post. I hope that God will speak to you through Jane's article as he did to me.

Blessings to all.

I'm a little sad....okay, I'm a lot sad.
I can't really tell you why I'm sad. My heart is broken.
That's really all I can tell you.
Please say a prayer that God will help me understand
this trial and the hurtful thing that has been said.
And that I will become a better person and draw
closer to Him because of it and not grow bitter and
cold.
Thanks my bloggie buddies!!!
I love you one and all.

Hey everyone, Happy Friday. I hope that your week wasn't too terribly bad.

But the weekend is here, so party on Garth!!!

Hey, everyone needs to stop by TheRFamilyDiaries and congratulate her on her being chosen as a parent representative to the Fishful Thinking program.

If you go to the R family diaries link above, she has a link to Pepperidge Farm's Fishful Thinking program and it is awesome. We can all use some help getting our kids to be more positive, I think.

So take a minute and go check it out. Enter the CONTEST and get some great information.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.