300th post

I'm so thankful. Very thankful. More than I've ever been for my family and for my God who gives all good things.

Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. John 1:3-4

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God,
You who have done great things.
Who, O God, is like you?
Psalm 71:19

11 days...

I'm not ready. Each day is filled with so much here that other than asking my mom to send me a new swimsuit I haven't done one thing to get ready for our trip. This morning I woke up thinking about it...thought so much that I almost forgot I had a doctor appointment this morning, and Erin has a eye appointment at 2:30, and I haven't arranged to get Sheridan from school early, and Lauren and Ryan will be getting out of soccer and baseball when I'm supposed to be in a VBS meeting, and Richard is out of town. But I didn't forget.

I'm loving my life right now. I have so much to be thankful for and because I have been spending some real time in the Word, God is so visible to me in all the little things.

Have you seen the Louie Gigglio sermon about if the earth is the size of a golf ball then the sun is 15 feet across and there are stars that are exponentially SO MUCH BIGGER and yet,
we're still on a golf ball and YET,
God sees each of us,
cares for our needs and has planned eternity for us.!!?

It's almost too big for me to consider and yet when I keep trying to keep His perspective the groceries and dust don't bother me nearly as much as they could.

Hawaii will be a fabulous week for me, even if I don't like wearing shorts anymore... Mostly because I'll have so much quality time with Richard, and because I'll get to see His handiwork that I've only seen on postcards.

That time of year

Softball Season. We are having Sheridan play up and skip a year of coach pitch. It's not because she's athletically superior..it's because we didn't know if we could get her to practices if she wasn't on a team with the neighbor! We are chasing Ryan around with High School Baseball and Lauren with High School Soccer (usually on the same night in different locations) and Erin is now swimming two nights a week.

Sheridan wanted to play and so she is.

Go Pink Panthers!!

TGIF

On the way to school today Sheridan squealed (which is rare since she IS NOT a morning person)..."It's Friday, there's so much to do, PE, an extra recess, we get to use the crazy scissors and we get to play with puzzles if we got a 100 on our spelling test!"

Rejoice in the Lord always, and I again I say rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Quote of the Day

"It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice."

This was in Sheridan's reading assignment for the weekend. It was a short story entitled, "Janitor? Mayor? What will you be?" A good word for me too.

Prom Re-cap

Sheridan wanted to put on a dress to see Ryan off on Saturday night. I told her shorts were OK. New vocabulary words: boutonniere and corsage.

First stop, Madison's for pictures. We were invited to come with our camera too.


These four spent most of the evening together. Trey, Lindsey, Madison and Ryan. The boys did well! One of the traditions in our town is going to the college's fountain and taking pictures. It's not just for the kids...grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends all just drive over and snap pictures for an hour or so. It was sprinkling the entire time we were there so all the girls had to hold up their dresses, but we got a few pics with our wet hair anyway.

I'm Speechless

"Ripped"

No one has E.V.E.R. called me "ripped." That is a term saved for those who work out religiously and lift weights so heavy that their muscles actually tear and then when they build up they become what we call "buff." Another word I've never been accused of.

Point of the story, to grow, you have to stretch and I've been doing a lot of stretching lately. I've been getting out of my comfort zone and making big decisions that will dictate a good portion of our future.

The first time I did this was in the fall of 2008 and Richard and I decided to buy the Russellville franchise of Rhea Lana's. What a FABULOUS adventure it has been! It stretches me a million times during sale season and a thousand other ways during the off season. It's good for me and I like it. (I know that's what they say about exercise, but I haven't ever got that)

Last month we decided to stretch a little bit more and buy another franchise.

BROKEN ARROW, OKLAHOMA, here we come!

100,000 people live in Broken Arrow and it runs right into the wonderful city of Tulsa. It's a great market for our company. Although I fought the scariness of doing this out of my comfort zone, as I've stepped out and looked around and started the planning and thinking process, it is GOOD. I haven't done one of my events without the Lord's guidance and without my family's support. I couldn't. Not on my own.

I can't wait to see what God has in store for us. Hopefully many more friends and a ripped kind of faith.

TGIF

Seriously, when I left town early MONDAY morning the biggest problem in my house was that the ants were driving me crazy! I had already reconciled with the fact that our outside spicket/pipe had burst and not only flooded our bathroom but our kitchen too. The insurance adjuster arrived right before I left and I was OK because Richard was OK.

I wasn't expecting the floor to be torn up with high powered fans and de-humidifiers running!

It does make sense that there were SO MANY ANTS because they were probably coming in by boat. Those guys are so PERSISTENT. ...

I arrived back TUESDAY just in time to pick up Sheridan from school. (more on my fantastic two days away later) Richard tells me were getting new flooring for our kitchen and both bathrooms. I'll need to pick it out by Thursday. Evidentally wood and water don't mix...there goes my one year old laminate. No problem.

Have I mentioned that we had both bathrooms re-floored TWICE (in the last 90 days) before we realized it was the outside pipe that burst and not just a tub or toilet leak? The floor guys and I are on a first name basis.

WEDNESDAY morning: Bible Study, meet furniture guys with new beds for the girls room (the final pieces of their Christmas room makeover), re-fill cabinets and fridge with food, substitute for one half day at the middle school, children's choir at church.

THURSDAY: spend 3 and half hours looking for flooring. Find something perfect. Family meal night: spaghetti, roasted zucchini & Parmesan garlic bread. Watch and cheer for my friend on Wheel of Fortune. She did awesome and we were INTO it!

Today, FRIDAY: Floor guys arrive at 8:30. Seriously, I had to do some personal laundry. And make sure my personal laundry wasn't hanging in the laundry room. It's amazing some of the things you can pack away in the laundry room.

By 9:30 I am a wreck...the fridge is in the living room as well as ALL the furniture from the kitchen and dining room. When they pull my stove out it is disgusting as I ccould see everything that has ever run down the side of it. I can also see the floor under the dishwasher. Ug! I'm getting claustrophobic and it's 10AM before we can disconnect all the wires for our computer and get it and the desk moved to the back of the house. PRIORITIES, get me some internet!! The wires are hooked up but won't work. Suddenlink guy will be here sometime after 2:00. I leave for an hour and come back with a new pair of sandals.

11:30AM : Lunch with Sheridan, Hamburgers for Richard and I (think comfort food), the flooring looks great but wait...we can't step on it until Sunday morning.


They will grout it on Monday morning.
They did leave my washer and dryer available, I just have to take my laundry outside and through the garage and around the 2 doors to that room.
I am thankful, I tell you, I am thankful. (just a little out of sorts)

Tonight: Erin is at the district track meet one hour away, Ryan plays a baseball double header 35 minutes away and Lauren has her final home soccer game here. I choose soccer for $250.

Tomorrow: my son's first prom.

Busy, busy week.
Lord, help me keep my eyes on You.

Favorites

Our family has a new favorite snack. Really. Good.

Edy's Fruit bars!

Our store has about 5 flavors. My favorite is Pomegranate (I've never bought a real one, but I love this!). My kids love strawberry and grape. There is also coconut and lime...
About 70-80 calories per bar and they're made from real juice. LOVE IT!

One of our stores in town has the box of 6 for $2.49, and another store had them for $4.69. Duh. The company offers a free box to anyone who has a tonsillectomy!

Let me know what you think when you try them!

The Lane

I love sitting on my porch and seeing the beautiful flowers and trees on our street. It's a thrill for me to see what God has so creatively provided for our enjoyment. Is this what is behind the statement "stop and smell the flowers?" or "Be still and know that I am God?"

How could there be so many varieties, so many colors, so many scents? The Bible says the rocks will cry out in praise if we don't. I think creation also gives God glory and to miss it would be a shame.

Counting my blessings...

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities -
His eternal power and divine nature -
have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been made,
so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1: 20

Where is home?

OK, so yesterday I was chatting with Chuck Barrett, voice of the Razorbacks, at a reception. I'm not a star struck kind of gal, but it was interesting actually seeing his face while speaking. He went to school here and was speaking at an Educational Foundation Reception. ANYWAY, I was telling him we were transplants here, but that when we moved here and people found out we were Razorback fans, they told us he was from here. They were proud that he calls Clarksville his hometown.

Then he asked me how long I had lived here...and I had to think. (I moved here when I was pregnant with Lauren, so that makes it 15 years. Hmmmm.)
"15 years."
He responded..."So you know your way around." Yeah, I guess so.

It got me to thinking...



So, I'm from Mountain Home. My parents still live there. We spend every Christmas there. But I haven't lived there in over 20 years. And I've lived here almost 15.

Are you from where you graduated high school? And how long until I say I'm from here? If I moved to another town now, wouldn't I say I was from Clarksville?

And in case you're going to remind me that I'm an alien in this world, I thought of that this morning during Bible Study. (I Peter 2:11)

I suppose literally speaking, I'm from Mountain Home, I live in Clarksville, but my home is in HEAVEN.

Playing with the fam

I love my extended family. What can I say? A day of eating, laughing, playing outside, playing inside...ahhh. Rhea Lana and Dave hosted our families on Saturday afternoon.

Evidentally my family missed the big morning when Ashley had to take Justus to the ER because he had broken his fibula! You just have to be around this very energetic kid a few minutes to see how it could happen! He jumps and leaps everywhere! On Friday night he was playing hide and seek (with who we're not sure) but he jumped off their stairs onto the hardwood floor and broke something. Oh my, we took turns carrying him around on Saturday. Of course, as soon as his medicine kicked in he was dragging his little splint-leg around and keeping up with everyone.

For dinner: steaks and brats on the grill, twice baked potatoes, rolls, ramen noodle salad & fruit. For dessert: bird nests & german chocolate cake...

Audra and Titus with the bubble whistles...

Annelise & Erin...
bb gun...
Uncle Dave (bless his heart) carried Justus around for the mini-egg hunt we had for the 4 little kids. It was precious. It was family.




Big kids playing soccer...

Audra and Sheridan...

Annelise & Ryan...