Monday, May 30, 2011

A Beautiful Day

We enjoyed a beautiful day with dear friends...the guys, Mike, Kurt and Brian, went to see the new "Pirates" and Abbye and I sat on the porch a bit and by the pool with our feet in the nice cool water enjoying good conversation.
After the movie Kurt grilled and we enjoyed a delicious cookout with wonderful fellowship.
Came home in the late afternoon and just enjoyed the calm...except Mike did work a bit.
Heading to bed now to read a Poirot novel!
A lovely ending to a lovely day, oh and I have a nice treat tomorrow...my parents are coming for a visit and to see...YES, you guessed it...the new WINDOWS! :)

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Unbelievable!

Got to church this morning only to discover that someone had demolished one of our heat pumps for its copper! It happened to be the heat pump that serviced our "sanctuary".
We have been renting this building for about three years. We have outgrown it and found a church building to rent that is more than twice the size of our current one.
A sign appeared this week announcing our moving and also our landlord had put up a "for rent" sign.
Guess the brash thieves thought the building was empty.
Anyway, there were quite a few "glistening Southern belles and very warm Southern gentlemen
at Church With A Purpose this morning!

Friday, May 27, 2011

"Goddess of Domesticity"

This is my title for the day!
Those "domesticity juices" are flowing!
I've done laundry, ironed, baked walnut-chocolate chip cookies, cooked lunch, cleaned the kitchen, picked up the downstairs and now I'm heading to the newest "blackhole"---my bathroom!
Have such a bad habit with that room. I tend to pile up my exercise clothes, tennis shoes and flops plus leave my make-up on the counter; not a lovely sight.
Then on to tackle my dresser with countless books and jewelry, receipts, papers, pens,
etc.
I am more than able to take on this momentous task!
(I am quite sure there may be a bit of a nap later in the afternoon!)
And after dinner, Mike and I are enlarging a flower bed, getting it ready to be planted and pruned tomorrow after our breakfast at the Grill and our almost-weekly Lowe's trip.
Wow! Such energy! It's flowing, Baby!


And on a more serious note...
Have a great Memorial day weekend! What price, freedom!
A special "thank-you" to our military and their families who have paid and are paying the price for our freedom and protection. God bless!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

My New Friend!

Meet the Chick-Fil-A Cow!
Mike and I met Marcia and Joe at Chick-Fil-A last night and we were a few minutes early.
Found a booth and Mike went to get my "Arnold Palmer" and while he was gone the "COW"
came and joined me!
Wow! Up close and personal! He just stretched out on the seat across from me. The only thing is he doesn't talk! A bit awkward but still he's pretty cool!

Monday, May 23, 2011

Lazy, hazy days of...

Summer???? Have a little less than a month and summer will be upon us but these 90 degree temps and the added humidity sure can fool a body! Maybe we'll have an early summer and a very early, chilly Fall! Now that's what I'm talking about!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Jessica!

This is April and her best friend, Jessica, from Victory Word Days. Jessica was in April's wedding 12 years ago and that was the last time Anna, Mike and I had seen her until Thursday. Jessica's husband gave her this trip for her birthday and we have all enjoyed it!
Last night was like "old" times. Mike took us to our favorite Italian

Restaurant, La Strada, in Wesley Chapel and then the girls hit Starbucks and then to our house where we visited on the porch then retreated inside for "nuts and bolts", one of Jessica's favorite snacks. Anna left...who knows when! Mike and I had gone on to bed and April and Jessica spent the night...talking and laughing and away from kids.


We took them to breakfast at the Grill and then back to April's! It was "just like old times" for sure! What a treat to have her here once again! She'll always be a favorite!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Already??????

Yep!
Have already begun Christmas shopping for the Grands and found some exciting items for
Duncan's birthday in November!
Now the hard part...WAITING! :)

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Focused

When we're taking a picture, it's extremely important to "focus" on the picture we want.
When we're walking or running on a treadmill, it's important to "focus" on the "path". If we deviate from the path, it could be harmful... we could get hurt.

"The right focus of our faith will bring Jesus into clear view. To focus on Jesus means to be taken up with Him, to put Him at the center, to listen to what He says, and to see life from His perspective. Faith looks in the wrong direction when it focuses on us, on our problems, on others, on the world, or on the enemy.

We need to turn the eyes of our faith away from everything, anything, or anyone that distracts us from seeing Jesus. As we see Jesus, our faith will not be focused on our sins, but on the Savior; not on our failures, but on the Victor; not on our hurts, but on the Healer; not on our weaknesses, but on the Almighty One; not on our ages, but on the Lord of the Ages; not on our needs, but on the Provider; not on our anxieties, but on the Prince of Peace; not on our circumstances, but on the Shepherd; not on our problems, but on the All Sufficient One Who is with you always."

Roy Lessin

This excerpt comes from Roy Lessin' s "Meet Me in the Meadow".
I receive it via e-mail...royl@dayspring.com
This really grabbed me and I've been chewing on it a bit these past two days.

Just wanted to share this. Good stuff! Couldn't be said any better!
Thank you Roy!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Happy Birthday...

Mike!
Today is Mike's birthday. We sort of celebrated, he and I, on Saturday since he's spending the day in Florida.
Gave him some goodies Saturday and tomorrow I'll get his real present-Jeff Shaara's new book,
The Final Storm, which comes out tomorrow! He's been chomping at the bits over it for about a year now.
Happy Birthday Mike!
I love you!

One more "window" pic!

Okay! Enough already with the windows! Please forgive me-I can't help it! Sometimes I feel as though I'm dreaming...but here they are...real, really clear windows!
And this is my last blog on them...promise!

Friday, May 13, 2011

Our Beautiful New Windows!!!



I'm BESIDE myself!!!

We are so blessed!

I am "tickled"!


Aren't they beautiful!



Thursday, May 12, 2011

"Window Day"

Oh my gosh! It's finally here! The l-o-n-g anticipated "new" windows day is here.
We are ready! Curtains down, furniture moved out of the way...counting down the hours, hopefully only two of those left until the "window" guys arrive.
I feel like a little girl on Christmas Eve! Kind of felt this way after waiting 20 years for a new stove!
I've been walking around our home trying to imagine that "clear" vision. Well, after today it won't be in my imagination!
Have prayed and thanked God for new windows for some years...had that biblical hope-"confident expectation"! Knew the day would come and it's here!
Thank you God!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Speaking of last night's storm....

It was pretty intense!
And the house directly behind us was struck by lightning and caught fire.
No one was hurt but there is considerable damage to the roof and bonus room over the garage.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Marvelous May!

"The world's favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May."
--Edwin Way Teale

Well, actually my favorite season is autumn but I do love the spring! And I enjoy May especially!

What a wonderful birthday/Mother's Day weekend! It all began Friday night with Book Club.
We had it on the porch but did succomb to blankets for a few when the evening grew quite chilly.
The girls bought special birthday cupcakes from SAS...all so beautifully colorful and delicious!
Fragrant roses from Holly's bush gave such a festive touch and it was a book we ALL enjoyed.
Mike put a candle on a cake at lunch and sang to me and I received many cards and also birthday greetings from April's friends on Facebook. "Happy Birthday" renditions via phone from the Grands is always such a treat...Christian's "drum" beat led one from April's crew to individual serenades from each of Anna's.
Bill sent me an interesting birthday blessing via texting and then he and Brittany who happens to share the May 6th birthdate came by with gifts on their way to horseback riding. That's what Brittany wanted to do for her birthday!
Saturday was breakfast at the Grill then into Charlotte to see our moms and give them their Mother's Day cards and gifts.
Then at 4:30 we met April, Lee and kids and Anna, Dan and kids at Cactus Rose, our very FAVORITE Mexican restaurant which is back in business!!!!! It was delicious and action-packed!
We got there early so we could have the patio...with 8 Grands one needs space!
What I didn't know was that Mike had told them about my birthday the day before so I was very surprised when they came out with a sombrero and delicious treats that I can pronounce but cannot spell. Quite yummy with their drizzles of honey, chocolate and strawberry and a bit of whipped cream-mine with candle!
We left our section quite "used" and all went our individual ways. Anna, Dan and their 4 did come over for about an hour after their Target excursion.
Mother's Day was quieter...church, KFC takeout and a nap. Bill and Brittany came by for a visit and then Mike went back to work and me to a Hallmark Mother's Day movie!
Such a fun-filled weekend...I could hardly get out of bed this morning!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Happy Mother's Day

My mother was one of the reasons my childhood was so great!
She was and is a fun person to be around. She could go to another state and see someone she knew or meet someone new but like they had been old friends!
So many memories...sewing our play clothes, curling our hair, cutting me bangs the night before my first grade picture, leaving me with sprigs!
Putting on our babydoll pjs with pillow and blanket in hand and going to the drive-in, in the summers, on our vacations, every sign she saw had a song and she sang her way to NY and FL.
Use to drive us nuts but guess what...we all do it today!
Just a lot of love in our home and everyone wanted to hang out at our house.
My mom and dad made many sacrifices for us girls and never complained and we realized it and greatly appreciated it.
I thank God that He gave me my mom! She's a blessing!

Friday, May 6, 2011

There comes a time...

There comes a time...
There comes a time
when one must embrace "fifty-nine" !

And that time has come for me...today!
Embrace it...YES!
Act like it...NEVER!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

PS....

Love this version of 1 Timothy 2:1-6 from The Good News Bible, Todays English Version.

"First of all, then, I urge petitions, prayers, requests and thanksgivings be offered to God for all people; for kings and all others who are in authority, that we may live a quiet and peaceful life with all reverence toward God and with proper conduct.
This is good and it pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to come to know the Truth.
For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and mankind together, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself to redeem all mankind."

Amen and amen!

National Day of Prayer

"A Call To Prayer"

"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,
for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.
This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
Who desires all men (mankind) to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth."

1 Timothy 2:1-4 NAS


"...Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you."

John 16:23 (spoken by Jesus) NAS

Word to the wise....we must ask according to God's will.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

A Lovely Day!

Today I picked up two of my friends, Ann and Ruth, widows who live in our neighborhood and drove them into Waxhaw via the "scenic" route...back country roads. We dined at the Main Street Grill and then shopped a bit, spending most of our time in an antique store full of all sorts of treasures! The shopkeeper was a very interesting lady with wonderful "shop" stories she shared with us as we were the only ones in the store for a while. We then piled into the car with our purchases and drove to our house where we spent a lovely afternoon conversing on our porch. It was such a lovely day!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Happy Birthday Daddy! He's the handsome gentleman in the light blue shirt behind my mom.
He's 81 today! He was always there for us growing up...always had time for us whether it was for talks, games, just life in general. Had a wonderful childhood! And yes, we are all still very close today.

AND Happy Birthday to Christian on April 30th....our oldest Grand is 12!!!!! Hard to believe!
He's the tall one on the front row in the black hoodie! Our "kids" are growing up!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Spontaneity...the spice of life!

Out with the old, REALLY bad plastic wrap and ......


in with the new! This was a gift from friends! Was in a gift bag and all! And I was pretty excited about it.


Okay, I know some of you are wondering how any of this goes with my title but bear with me...it does!


Yesterday all our plans got changed...cookout with some church friends in Belmont was postponed due to a funeral we all wanted to attend. We decided to invite the hosts of the cookout to go out to eat with us and visit some on our porch afterwards. We invited a few others but only one other could join us and then we decided not to go out but throw something together at our house!

We 3 ladies converged on our kitchen, pulling stuff from the pantry and fridge and we ended up having a blast getting it together! We were chopping and laughing, peeling and making messes and having a wonderfully fun time doing it! It became a salad dinner with a huge beautiful toss salad and potato salad and Trader Joe Fiesta dip and tostitos...Trader Joes' thin Ginger snaps and lemon cookies along with some sugar free candies became our impromptu desserts and the fellowship just got better and better.


We went to clean up and put away the food and Teri wanted my plastic wrap. I sort of wavered a bit there. My plastic wrap was awful! I had wrestled with that "off" brand way too many times and just avoided it altogether. Should have thrown it away a year ago. Well, she was determined to conquer it and put it to right. She worked quite hard but I 'm not so sure she won the battle.

Then this morning at church there was a goodie bag on my seat....GLAD WRAP!

So I came home and threw the imposter away!


You know that saying...."Don't get mad, get Glad!" Well thanks to our friends I now have GLAD!

Used it at lunch and it really works! Amazing!