Project 365 - Week 22

Week 22......I know I say it every week, but it is so hard to believe we are close to half way!!

This is a week I would like to put behind me, but am still glad that I have it documented!

Enjoy!

Sunday

Getting Jared ready for his dream trip!
going to Paris and Germany with Nani and Papa!

Monday

Nani, Papa, Jared and Kayley
we met them in the DFW airport where they would take a flight to Paris

the benefits of traveling with grey hairs! :)

Tuesday

One of my BFFs and her daughter.
We were "exercising" by shopping and lifting our...

JAMBAs!!!!

It is such a good thing there is not one of these in LR!!

Wednesday

Today I helped my cousin in the process of getting my Aunt's house ready for an estate sale.

Emelda Marcos had nothing on my Aunt!!

I know.....I am so cute!!
This was a Neiman Marcus hat...still in the hat box!
I so wish we had a picture of her wearing it.
yes, I kept the hat!!

Thursday

This is where I had my cup of coffee this morning!!

I spent the night at my cousin's new house.
This is the view from her porch...gorgeous!!!

Friday

Jason priming the backdrops for children's church for us.
We are getting ready to start a series on Joseph.
These will be painted with scenery to look like Egypt.

Due to this situation....I had him working!

Saturday

We worked hard around the house today...
..so out to dinner we went!!!

Now it's your turn. Link up as we share our week in pictures!

I'm still here.....

This has been a rough week.

One I would like to finish and move on from.

I haven't had the energy or words to blog. I think it would take me hours to fill you in on it all and my fingers are not up to that, but here is a recap.....

Wednesday I helped my cousin in the process of getting my Aunt's house ready for an estate sale. This was a very emotionally and physically difficult day for me. I was not completely prepared to see the house so empty. However, it was a good day. There were tears and there was also a lot of laughter as we discovered things and reminisced.

One funny story: my cousin found a bottle of dish washing liquid, like Joy. But there was something else in the bottle. My Aunt had taped masking tape over the label and written on it "something else"!! I laughed about this all day!!

I have 2 cousins. The younger one's life is, well, a mess. And she is causing a lot of problems and stress in the resolution of the estate. I won't go into details, but please pray for my older cousin.....for wisdom in dealing with her. And for me, that God would help me through some hurt/angry feelings I have about things she has done and is doing.

I drove home Thursday and actually met my husband in Texarkansas for lunch!!! We had overlapping trips and he was driving to TX to golf for the weekend with old friends. So we had our "friday date" in a Chic Filet on the freeway!! ....whatever it takes ladies! :)

I was exhausted when I got home, but allowed my son to have a friend over to spend the night. It's not so hard when they are teenagers and they promised to not be loud!! ...my mistake....

Friday morning I was wanting off the Parent Train....at the nearest stop!!!

My son and his friend decided to sneak out and prank a friends house. They had some mini firecrackers and were going to light them on the front porch of the house. What they didn't calculate into the equation was the neighbor that heard the sound and thought someone was trying to break into his house!! He came running out of the his house with a shotgun (you see in AR you can shoot someone on your property!) The boys took off running and in the process, the other boy dropped his wallet.

you can see where this is going.

The cops showed up at the other boys house at 2 am. That was about the time I woke up thinking something was not right and found out that the other boy was not in the house and what was going on. Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep.

Did I mention that my husband is NOT HOME!!!

The other boy's father and I took the boys the next morning over to the man's house and spent the next hour or so trying to make things right....which we finally did.

I don't think either of these boys will EVER forget this lesson. Now, I am not a mom who gets mad at innocent pranks (I pulled a few in my day), but where my son went wrong was breaking our house rules and leaving after curfew. These are two very good boys, who made a bad choice....one that could have turned out very ugly (had the guy used his gun). And fortunately, I think they both understand that now.

I am so glad this happened!!!

Yep, I am.

Not for the stress it caused. But because I pray every day for my kids that God will cause them to get caught should they step, even a little, off the right path. That in getting caught they would learn constructive lessons now while they are under my roof.

And oh my word, they have gotten caught in the strangest ways!!!........like your wallet falling out of your pocket! God is so good!

Well, this turned out longer than I expected. If you are still reading, thank you for all your prayers last week. I can't imagine what it would have been like without them!!

Today, I am back on the Parent Train.....I never could find that stop to get off!

WYAW

1. Do you love the sound of thunderstorms?

2. When was the last time you were carded?

3. what is one specific job/chore you do every day that you LOVE?


My Answers:

1. yes, during the night. I love to sleep during a thunderstorm....however, I do not like it to rain and storm during the day!

2. TODAY!!! I had to put that question in b/c I was so thrilled. I went to buy a bottle of wine today and the lady carded me! Before I got too excited, I asked her "do you just card everyone b/c you have to or did you really think you needed to card me?" She looked at me and said "I card everyone I think is younger than 40" woot!!!!! Before that I actually think the last time I was carded was on my 40th birthday!

3. Cook....I love to cook and am so happy to have 4 other people in the house that love to eat!!!


Now head over to Linda's and answer her questions!

Phase 4, the ole switcheroo!

I have been working with Linda, at 2nd cup, and many other bloggers to get in shape. Linda started this 30 x 5 challenge and it has been a great motivator for me (most days). Today we start Phase 4, the old switcheroo......where we switch up something in our routine.

Linda couldn't have picked a better time to start this for me and I have the "perfect" switch up........I'm not doing any of it at all!!! :)

No, I am not boycotting Linda's challenge or exercise, I am just on a mini break of sorts.

Yesterday, I dropped my youngest son that the DFW airport (after a 5 hour drive in the rain) to go on a dream trip to Germany with his grandparents!! He was so excited. We met up with my parents and my niece (also going) at the airport (they flew in from AZ) and the two cousins were buzzing with excitement and already planning what games they would play on the 9+ hour flight. Can't wait to hear all about it.

I left the airport and headed to Mansfield, TX to visit with one of my best friends......hence the "not doing it at all" part. Our plan is to hit all my favorite restaurants and food joints!! LR has some great restaurants, but there is nothing like the comfort food of your youth!!

We are getting exercise walking between stores, trying on clothes and lifting jamba juice to our mouths!! The best!

Wednesday, I will be heading to my Aunt's to help clean out her house....I guess I will get emotional exercise there.

So, Linda, I am in for Phase 4, but just won't be able to start until next week!!!

If you haven't joined this challenge before, it's never too late!!! And it is wonderful being challenged, awarded, and held accountable in such a fun way!!!

Project 365 - Week 21

Week 21!!! And going strong!! woot! woot! I still find that I forget to take out my camera at times and get so mad at myself later......but I am getting there!!!

I'd like to ask ya'll to be praying for me this week.

I will be driving to Dallas, Monday, to drop my youngest son at the DFW airport. He is going on a trip to Germany with his grandparents and they are flying in and meeting him there. They will be gone for 2 weeks touring the castles of Germany!!! Please pray for safe travel!

This trip has been planned for a long time and I had originally planned to spend the week with my Aunt. However, most of you know that she passed away in March and so my plans have changed. I am going to spend the night with a good friend in Mansfield and then Wednesday I will be meeting my cousin at my Aunt's house to help her continue to clean it out.

It will be my first time back in the house since her funeral. I have been dreading it for days. I know it will be good for me and my grieving process and I want to help my cousin....

....... but I just am not looking forward to seeing it empty and changed.

My cousin has worked so hard (by herself) going through all my Aunt's things. She was hoping to have a garage sale next weekend, but there's still too much to go through.

So I ask that you pray for my emotions as I go through another "first" in this grieving process. And that I will be able to help my cousin as much as possible. Thanks.

I so appreciate you!!

Here is my week:

Sunday

Hanging out with one of my girls before Children's Worship starts!

We made an awesome lego house!!

Monday

Book Club was tonight!

What a blast I have with these ladies!

Tuesday

I have been working at drinking 3 of these water bottles a day...
...all part of Linda's 30 x 5 challenge, phase 3...
.....I feel like I am swimming!

Wednesday

Today was so nice out!
Jared's french horn teacher brought him outside for his lesson!

Thursday

Four days ago I was thinking we would never see weather as nice as this!
I am SO HAPPY!!!!

Like father, like son!!

Friday

Alyssa and I went to see this tonight!

I LOVED it!!!

I am such a trekkie and thought they really captured the original character's personalities!

Saturday

Early breakfast with the team I went to Romania with.

I love these ladies and am so happy that we still keep in touch...

....hoping we will all go back again together some day!!

you're next!!!

Friday Fill-ins

1. Moving forward after the death of a loved one is some days hard.

2. I don't think I can ever go caffeine free.

3. My best quality is my friendliness.

4. I'm not very good with details.

5. In nearly 10 years, I will have been married for 35 years.

6. a BIG hot fudge sundae is what I need right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing something I have not planned yet!, tomorrow my plans include having breakfast with the group I went to Romania with and Sunday, I want to worship with my church family and then relax and read!

Can't thwart God's plan!

I don't usually post on TV shows on my blog.......but today I have to make an exception!

Are any of you as excited as me that we have a christian, a truly humble young man, an Arkansan (ok most of you don't care about that one) as our next American Idol?!!

I have watched the show from the beginning. I have to say that I love it. But as Kris and Danny floated to the top, I wondered how the judges and the show would handle having 2 strong christian guys in the running. I was pleasantly surprised that they did not have any derogatory words about their faith, surprised really, but toward the end they did attack Kris' character somewhat. Simon even said that his humbleness was getting old and annoying. The world does not value humbleness......in the world's eyes that is weak.

I heard a great quote once about humbleness: humbleness is being willing to look like a failure in everyone's eyes but God's. That doesn't sound weak to me......but I digress.

Even though the judges openly touted Adam as the next winner and praised him for his flamboyance.......America voted and Kris won!

Don't get me wrong, Adam has a fantastic voice. His style is not my favorite, I'm not a rocker. But I can recognize talent and he has it. But personally, I can say that he's not the kind of person I would pick as a role model for my kids. That is important to me.

How excited I am to have someone of Kris' character as the next Idol winner. I have many friends that know him and he truly is an outstanding young man.

I would ask all of you out there the pray for him and his wife. This industry is hard. Pray for their marriage, that it would stand strong. Pray that God would surround Kris with good and wise people and that his faith would be an example to all those who come in contact with him.

We supported him with our votes........let's now support him with our prayers!!

WYAW

I love Wednesdays!!!

That's when I join Linda in her blogging carnival and get to know a little bit more about each of you guys!!!

So, answer my questions and then head over to Linda's and answer hers!!!

Even better.....join in and link up!!!


1. What is your earliest memory?

2. How would you describe yourself as a child

3. What one thing are you craving today?

4. What CDs are in your car or home stereo right now?


My answers:

1. I think I was about 3 or so. We lived in Ft. Huachuca, AZ (very hot most of the year) and it snowed. My mom got me some snow to eat in a bowl, but I had to go to the bathroom first. When I came back, the snow had melted and I just sat down and cried and cried!!

2. I was a very happy and confident child....and loud.

3. summer weather.

4. Sara Groves, the sound track from Hair spray and Mercy Me..in my car.

The cost.....

..I read a line in my devotion today: Don't be deceived into thinking there is no cost involved in obedience.

The devotion was on Jeremiah. Many call him the weeping prophet because he was called by God during a tough time in the history of the nation of Judah.....they had turned far from God. Jeremiah sacrificed so much to be God's messenger and be obedient to God's call. He sacrificed his reputation and dealt with much misunderstanding, ridicule and persecution.......this hit me hard this morning.

I don't know about you, but I don't like it when someone doesn't like me.....especially when I am misunderstood. I don't like things to be hard. I want them to be easy and go smoothly. It seems that if I am being obedient and doing what God has called me to do, then it should go well..........who ever fed us that lie?

satan.

God says in His Word in this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world. I can't find any place in God's Word that suggests it will be easy to follow him.

This next line hit me hard too: satan will try to convince you that obedience carries much too high a price, but he will never tell you the cost of not obeying God. How true is that? We look at how hard it is to follow Christ, to be obedient and we make a choice. We don't think about the cost of not obeying.......lost blessing, lost peace, lost joy.........we just look at what we perceive to be easier.

God has called me to a ministry. And it is tough some days....many days. But one thing I know is that He called me here.....and I need to be obedient, make adjustments, and face the hardships that will come when I align my life with God's will.

I so desire to have that deep satisfaction of knowing I was a faithful servant. That I fully obeyed God, regardless of the cost.

How about you? What is God calling you to today? Will you make the necessary adjustments He is asking you to make?

What is the cost? Is it worth it?

I say it is!

Project 365 - Week 20

Well this has been a roller coaster week for me. I had some highs and some low lows and was was very lucky to have only forgotten once to take a picture.

Actually, as I look at these pictures, they don't really represent my week all that well.......I did all those things and they were part of my week, but I wasn't able to capture the "meat" of my week. Maybe that's what makes project 365 so wonderful.......I will most likely remember those "big" things, but these little things would be forgotten without a picture!

So, enjoy!

Sunday

This is what Mother's Day is all about......

Monday

Steve's mom has to leave today :(
We had such a great time while she was here!!!

Then she called an hour later....
...her flight was canceled and she can't get out till tomorrow..
....so back to the airport!

Tuesday

Well......it finally happened....
I missed a day taking a picture!!

Today was so busy...airport, doctor, fasting blood work, NO COFFEE (that right there is the problem!), work, torrential rain storm.....need I go on?

so, you get a silly Lily picture!!

Wednesday

New hair cut!!!!

I love it! But the likely hood that I can get it this straight again or to even look like this tomorrow is very slim!

Thursday

Jared came to me tonight and said....
"mom, I need cookies for class tomorrow!"

"better get busy!" I said

....and he did!!! completely by himself!

Friday

Started this today....
...not my friend right now.....oooowwww!!


Saturday
That's a lot of ocean....

....for this puzzle my daughter is doing!!!

Now it's your turn!!! Link up below and show off your week!

Friday Fill-ins

1. If we had no winter we'd never fully appreciate the spring.

2. Sometimes people are a perpetual astonishment.

3. If I had my life to live over I wouldn't. I like the one I have.

4. How cool that God answered my prayer inside of four and twenty hours.

5. If you've never been thrilled by serving others.......you're missing out.

6. To be interested in the changing seasons don't come to AR because we seem to have nothing but rain.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to I'm not sure, it's open to suggestions, tomorrow my plans include hosting a children's ministry volunteer appreciation brunch and going to the Greek Festival - yum! and Sunday, I want to worship God and enjoy my family!

Parenting Your Teenager Starts When They Are Young

I can’t recall his name, but his words have always stayed with me.

It was during a parenting class put on by our church. The last session, the speaker brought in a panel of teenagers. He made it clear that the teens had agreed to be open and honest with us about their feelings toward their parents as long as what was said stayed in the room.

Little did one boy know that his words would not only leave the room in my mind, but plant themselves in my heart and mold how I developed the relationships with my own children.

...........to read the rest of this post go to Jamie's at Purposeful Pursuit. She is doing a series on "All Things Family" and I am guest posting today!

WYAW

My good blogging friend, Linda at Growin' it, hosts this great carnival. I have LOVED doing it and getting to know all ya'll better. So answer my questions and then head over to Linda's and see who else is playing!

1. Are you a neat freak or messy?

2. What is your favorite devotional book?

3. What is your favorite candy?


My answers:

1. I am far from a neat freak.......I have gotten better the longer I have lived with my neat freak husband, but I can definitely walk over a mess is I have something better to do!!!

2. Experiencing God Day-by-Day by Henry T. Blackaby. I have the journal edition and have gone through it probably 5 years in a row. I am always amazed at how one day's devotion has different meanings and affects on me each year!

3. Hot tamales and good-n-plenty!!!

Are you game?

I don't know about you, but we are a BIG game family. We love any type of game (except monopoly....well, everyone else likes it, just not me).......and the more competition the better!

So, what better way to end Mother's Day but with a rousing game of DiceCapades. I have mentioned this game before, and if you don't own it...........you should!

It is a blast! Take a look:

I think my son goes everywhere with this big container of pretzels from Sam's

Steve's mom had to draw an animal for us to guess.....can you tell what it is?

an elephant!......did you get it?........ya, neither did we!
not even close!
too funny!

Jared couldn't decide whether to eat or play....

such a talented son..........this was just one of our stacking challenges

Oh my word, she had to stack 10 of these teeny, tiny dice!!!

Another stacking challenge....this was harder than it looked and I barely did it in the 30 seconds!

Steve had to do the number push ups on the dice.....Lily was helping!

I won writing the most words in 30 seconds that started with an A and had 5 letters in the word.

Jason reading a trivia clue for Steve

The only draw back to the game is that it lasts VERY long. We actually didn't finish.......but we had a ton of fun and lots of laughs while playing!!

I hope the rest of you had as wonderful a Mother's day as I did! So wonderful to have all my children home and a special treat to have Steve's mom here with us!

The video below is just a little clip of how crazy this family is.....including our dog!!! I wanted Steve to reenact his push ups with Lily because it was so funny.......

.............she would not perform.....

.....................just like a child, when you want them to show off, they never do!!

It's fun non-the-less.