A Life Lived Well...

Movin' On Up...to Bigger & Better Things

2013-07-01T22:10:00.001-04:00

Things are happening much more quickly than I expected (Beth, you are AWESOME!) and the new blog is up and running. Not everything in the sidebars and pages are transferred yet, but the posts and comments are good to go. So, I'm going to start posting there as of July 2, 2013. Please visit me there and change your bookmarks.

New Blog

A Challenge, An Intro & A Count

2013-07-01T08:58:00.001-04:00

You may have noticed a new banner over there to the right....right under my profile....touting the Ultimate Blog Challenge. The UBC, as I will be calling it from now on to save wear and tear on my fingers and keyboard, is a month-long challenge/blog hop that takes place once every quarter and goes along with the changes you are seeing and will continue to see around here.

I've heard of the UBC before, but this is the first time I've signed up to participate. It's not going to be easy since I'm heading to Tennessee for four days next week and then will be on vacation July 20 - 27. I'm not sure that WiFi will be available in either location, so I will be doing my best to get posts written before hand and schedule them to post in my absence. Scheduling posts has never gone well here on Blogger. Actually, it's never gone at all. I've tried. The posts never got published. That brings me to the big change...

In the near future A Life Lived Well will be moving to Wordpress. My sweet and very talented blog friend, Beth (you really should pay her a visit...she is a fabulous writer), who, by the way, designed my blog's present look, is working on a new look and the switch. She understands and LIKES all that technical stuff that makes my eyes go crossed and my head spin. As soon as we (mostly she) get it ready you'll be directed over there. It's pretty exciting stuff. The blog's going to have its own domain name and everything! (That means it's going to be a dot.com....I didn't know, either.)

With all the changes going on and new visitors coming in from the UBC, I thought I'd take a minute to tell you a little bit about me and who I am. I apologize if you're one of my handful of loyal readers who already knows me well.

Let's start with the obvious....

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My name is Stacy. It's nice to meet you. I work as a school bus driver, which explains all the free time I have to play with my blog during the summer. I've been married to Tim, a project superintendent for a commercial construction company, for 28 years (29 in November). We have two adult children. Our son, Matt, is 26, married, and has two children of his own. Megan, our daughter, is 24 days from turning 21. She is still living at home with us, though by living at home, I mean we see her as she passes through on her way out and on her way in to bed.

I'm not so sure I want to keep doing the bus driving thing and I'm keeping my eyes open this summer in case anything else pops up. It's a tough sell. I may not enjoy the constant driving (especially on winter roads) but it does pay well for a part-time job, I don't have to work nights, weekends or holidays, and I do have the whole summer off.

My Christian faith is probably the next thing you should know about me. I do often write posts about Christian issues and everything else I try to run through that filter. I do try to avoid being preachy in the regular stuff and well, if the flat-out Christian posts aren't your cup of tea, you can always skip those.

Maybe I should just sum it up by saying I'm probably a liberal's worst nightmare. I am conservative, a Bible-believing Christian, I LOVE THIS COUNTRY, I'm pro-gun rights, anti-abortion, and no (let's just get this out and over with), I don't support gay marriage. I believe our government is out of control and is selling us down the river at a frightening speed.

This is NOT me!
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Now, before you put me in a category (redneck, racist, wacko, Bible-thumper....am I getting warm?) take the time to get to know me. What you will find is someone who loves God....and therefore tries to practice that love thy neighbor thing. I believe it's more than possible to love and get along with someone without compromising my values. I try to avoid getting on my soapbox too much on here and when I do, I welcome thoughtful discussion from all points of view and promise you I will not continue to beat a dead horse. I know that on some things we just have to agree to disagree.

Okay, we've gone over the big (and scary) stuff. What else can I tell you? I'm a bookaholic. I currently have 5 bookcases filled to overflowing with books, a NOOK that is filling up rapidly, and there are still piles of books all over the place. I like to cook (but not to clean up the mess), travel, walk along the beach, swing on a porch swing, write, garden, and listen to country music. I don't drink coffee, but have to have a Coke in the morning. Flea markets, auctions, yard, and garage sales excite me! I like to live with color (my living room is painted pumpkin orange!). I am NOT a domestic goddess, so don't expect to find housekeeping tips.

Bottom line....I'm human, I make mistakes, and I'm trying to figure this life out.

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I join in a little thing around here on Mondays called Multitudes on Monday with Ann Voskamp, author of the best-selling book One Thousand Gifts. It's all about being grateful for the things in our lives...the big and the small. It's about finding God's blessings in everything. Even the bad times. So, every Monday you will find me counting.

131. Meeting friends for breakfast on a Sunday morning.

132. Having exactly what is needed, when there doesn't seem to be any way possible.

133. A life leisurely enough to allow for blogging.

134. Friends with skills and a willingness to help.

135. An older gentleman at the garden center who told of losing his wife 14 months ago and shared the story of their 65 years together.

136. A husband who shares my dreams.

137. Summer rain drumming on the roof.

138. The curious little dog who likes to play, play, play! And the big dog that likes to sleep, sleep, sleep!

139. The lush, green-ness after the rain.

140. A husband who may not have to work on July 4 after all.

Visit A Holy Experience

Sunday Social @ the Movies

2013-06-30T19:18:00.000-04:00

This week's questions are all about movies!
1. What is your favorite movie of all time? Dirty Dancing. Give me a rainy summer afternoon, a bowl of popcorn and DD on the DVR and I am one happy camper.

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2. What is your favorite quote?

Ha, ha....easy one!

"I carried a watermelon." - Baby, Dirty Dancing

My daughter and I adopted this one to say any time

we say or do something really dumb.

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3. What is the best movie to watch for girls' night in?

Depends on the mood. I like Dirty Dancing (d'uh), Sweet Home

Alabama, The Proposal, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, My Life in Ruins,

Grease, Hairspray, Hope Floats, and during the holidays

Home for the Holidays is a favorite.

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4. What is the best break up movie?

I have no idea. It's been years since I've been through one.

Maybe Hope Floats because she gets dumped but gets a

better guy in the end or something really funny to

take your mind off of things.

5. Who would you want to play in a movie about your life?

Sandra Bullock!

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6. Which movie star's closet would you want to raid?

Again, I have no idea. Probably Sandra's just because I

think she is gorgeous and elegant no matter what she wears.

Saturday Share - June 29, 2013

2013-06-29T09:15:00.001-04:00

Up bright and early again today...okay, maybe not so bright, but definitely early. Thanks dogs. They have no respect for my night owl-ness. And guess who is blissfully back to sleep...not me. The hound even has the gall to be snoring.

It was nice to wake up to sunshine this morning, though. We've had several days of rain and storms. The pool is full clear up to the top, the fish pond has probably overflowed more than once, the ground is squishy, and the grass and weeds are growing like gangbusters! Guess I know what I will be doing as soon as it dries out.

Tim is off today, but working on the church building. My day is going to consist of laundry, baking a cake to take to church, laundry, more work on my sermon topic, laundry, reading, laundry...are you sensing a theme here?

Well, before the mentioned laundry takes me hostage let's get to this week's links.

Plain Chicken is a food blog whose pictures will have your stomach growling. Check out the awesome recipes.

Reading List is a blog for readers and book lovers.

As an introvert, I found this article on how to handle introverts within the church to be interesting and spot on.

Is your church in line with God? 8 Signs of 'Hypergrace' Churches is a list of warning signs that should send you scrambling....either to find a new church or to change the one you're in.

And the Pinterest pin of the week:

Fragging @ the Speed of Light

2013-06-28T23:16:00.000-04:00

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The last Friday of June. All I can think is.....ALREADY???? This summer is certainly flying by at warp-speed, Mr. Spock. Is there no way in the space-time continuum to slow it down? It's been a little over 3 weeks since the last day of school and I don't feel like I've done much of anything...well, anything that can be counted as an accomplishment, anyway. July is just days away, though, and with it's arrival life is going to shift into high gear.

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The second week of the month I will be heading to Tennessee with some of the ladies from church. We are going to learn how to teach Kay Arthur's method of inductive Bible study at the Precepts Ministry campus. We had a class last night to introduce us to it so we aren't blind-sided when we get there. It was really good. I couldn't believe how much we saw in 14 little verses of the Bible that I'd never seen before. It's going to be a good experience. It's going to be fun, too, with the crew that's going....and I am the van driver. Buckle up!

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I'll have one week after that trip to get myself organized and repacked for V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N! I don't even have words for how excited I am about that. It's been seven, 7, SEVEN (!!!!) years since our last real vacation. There have been little weekends away but no real escapes from reality. We are heading to our favorite place, Chincoteague Island, VA, where we've rented a house along with one of Tim's sisters and her husband. This is going to be our first all grown-up, no riding herd on kids vacation. We are stoked!

Plus, we will be there for the famous pony swim when the Saltwater Cowboys (local firemen) round up and swim the wild ponies from Assateague across the channel to Chincoteague. I've wanted to see that since I read Misty of Chincoteague when I was 9 years old and found out it was true. It's one item I'll be able to cross off my bucket list.

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I've read Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson in the last week and I'm a little more than halfway through The Duck Commander Family by Willie & Korie Robertson. I am fascinated by the story of how Duck Commander came to be a multi-million dollar business. There is so much business genius floating around in that family. There is also a rock solid faith in God. This quote from Willie says it all, I think.

"...that's the only way you can ever be truly successful in this world. You have to acknowledge that it is from above. And you have to have the confidence that even if you lose it all, things will be okay. You have to be willing to fail, and all the while work your tail off to succeed. You have to continue doing the work, believing in what you are doing, and most important, keeping your faith in who you are. The faith of our family is not in the things we have. Our confidence is not in the monetary success we have gained. It is in the One who made us and who is there for us in good times and bad."

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Drove my sister-in-law and her husband to the VA hospital the other day. The husband is the same age as Tim, I think. He is probably 100 lbs. lighter, but smokes like a chimney. A couple of weeks ago he had a heart attack. He failed a stress test about as bad as you can fail one and they also discovered that the blockage in one leg is 100%! They are very worried that it (the leg) will start to die, but couldn't do anything until they took care of his heart. He had a heart cath done and is back home now. I don't know what they will do to his leg or when.

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My mentor started helping me lay the groundwork for my first sermon today. I had a rough idea of the subject and she helped me find scripture that dealt with it and to hone in on a passage/verse that will be my key. It ended up being James 4. Once I found it, she helped me start picking it apart with Precepts' inductive study method. There is so much yet to find, but basically, it shows everything a Christin shouldn't want to be.

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Well, I am coming to Friday Fragments really late due to a busy day and I am just about to the point of not being able to keep my eyes open so I think it's time to say goodnight!

Pondering Swing

2013-06-27T11:03:00.002-04:00

This week Brenda is asking us to ponder purposefully on "swing."

It's a rainy, miserable day here, which is playing havoc on my sinuses and giving me a nasty headache that will probably last all day, so....my ponderings are not that deep. In fact, I think I'm going to "cheat" and rely on videos.

Enjoy!

HOW do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,	5
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside—

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—	10
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down! ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

"Nerve-worthy" Hodgepodge?

2013-06-26T17:24:00.002-04:00

1. Summertime is a season of reunions, weddings, and other family celebrations and gatherings...are any of the above on your calendar in the next two months?

~ Nope, not a one....unless you count having one of Tim's sisters and her husband (who live several states away) joining us on our vacation. That's sort of a reunion.

2. June is National Iced Tea Month...are you an iced tea drinker? If so, how do you like yours (sweet, flavored, etc)?

~ I don't drink a lot of it, but when I do it's peach flavored.

3. When were you last nervous? Looking back, was the 'event' actually nerve-worthy?

~ Probably when I got the tests done to analyze my neuropathy. "Nerve-worthy?" Maybe not, but it wasn't exactly fun to have electric jolts fired through my nerves.

4. The bristle toothbrush was invented in China on June 26, 1498...not sure how that date was pinned down so precisely but, on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being sick to your stomach and 1 being not at all, how nervous do you feel when you're headed to the dentist? Do you see your dentist twice a year?

~ I used to HATE it. As a kid they had to gas me up with nitrous oxide. I'm a lot calmer these days, but I'm still not crazy about it. I guess maybe I'm about a 3 or 4....maybe with higher spikes depending on what's getting done.

5. What's making news in your town this week?

~ Nothing much in all honesty. I can't think of a thing. That's good, right? Oh...they are doing something with the whole "Birthplace of the Banana Split" thing in time for the Fourth and there are plenty of pre-Fourth activities happening (the Fourth of July is a HUGE deal here).

6. Curtains, drapes, blinds...your window treatment of choice? Are there any bare windows in your house? Is that by choice or because you haven't gotten around to covering them?

~ I don't really have a preference...just whatever I see that I like and looks good. No, no bare windows. I admit I would like to have shutters on some of my windows one day. I've always liked that look.

7. Summertime is officially here (in the Northern hemisphere anyway)...whatone song is a must-have on your summer playlist?

~ Only one??? Oh, you are a tough task master. Um......I guess if I have only one choice it would be.....All Summer Long by Kid Rock. I wanted to put the video in for you, but Kid's blocked all sharing.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

~ Do you have regrets about how you raised your children? I just finished reading Happy, Happy, Happy by Phil Robertson and have started The Duck Commander Family by Willie & Korie Robertson. Some (emphasis on SOME because those Robertson kids had a very unorthodox upbringing) of the things I'm reading in those, along with some things we've been talking about in Bible study kind of having me wishing for a do-over. I don't think I was a horrible mom, but there are things I think I'd do differently if I could and maybe avoid a lot of the problems we're facing today.

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday - June 25, 2013

2013-06-25T10:13:00.001-04:00

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday is a fun little meme hosted by Amber of Airing My Dirty Laundry, One Sock at a Time. She got the idea from Glamour Magazine, which has a section called Hey, It's Okay and lists a bunch of stuff it's okay to be okay about. Sort of a celebration of our quirky-ness.

Hey, It's Okay...

....to wonder why Pittsburgh is contemplating banning Kenny Chesney from performing in the city in the wake of extremely poor behavior by his tailgating fans in the parking lots. How about clamping down on the fans, instead? Why do they need to sit in the sun and drink for an entire day before the show?

....to think the whole Paula Deen thing has been blown waaaay out of proportion. Did she say a horrible thing? Yes, but it was a long time ago. She's admitted it and apologized for it. She is a white woman of a certain era, raised in the South....certain things that to us seem so wrong were accepted norm. She has said she doesn't believe the sentiment of the word. Things that were once a habit can still sneak up on us now and then. I understand we can't tolerate hate, but we also can't pick and choose what hate to tolerate. Did Bill Maher lose his livelyhood when he called Sarah Palin a c***? No, he didn't. Would the media and everyone else be in such a tailspin if, oh...say Oprah, had called a white woman a "cracker" or a "honkie"? I'm guessing not. I'm not condoning hate or discrimination. It's wrong. I'm just saying that what's happening to Deen is in the extreme and if we are going to punish her, then we need to go after everyone who ever speaks a disparaging word against another with the same vigor...especially if they are a public figure. Though I think a better route would be one of grace and forgiveness since she is repentant.

....to admit I liked reading Happy, Happy, Happy, Phil Robertson's autobiography. There's a lot more to the man than even I thought. He's quirky, yes (but...hey, it's okay), but he has solid down to earth values. What that family has been through and to have come out the other side so solid and grounded is amazing.

....to also admit I'm going to read Willie Robertson's book next.

....that all the books I bought at the used book sale this past Saturday are still sitting on the kitchen table. I probably should get on that today.

....to have gotten re-addicted to Pinterest and be pinning recipes like crazy. I made one on Sunday and it was so yummy! Definitely a keeper. If you'd like to try Maple & Brown Sugar Pork Tenderloin I've provided the link.

Recipe @ What's Cookin, Chicago?

....to have decided to postpone having a garage sale until August.

....to be over the heat and humidity already.

....to have had to turn away so my daughter wouldn't see my victorious grin when she moved back home after two days with a friend.

....to be trying to think up more stuff to be okay about so I don't have to get dressed and be a productive adult who washes dishes, cleans, does laundry, etc.

I guess that would be my cue to wrap it up. You all have a good day!

Change Is Brewing

2013-06-24T13:47:00.002-04:00

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So much is swirling through my mind these days, I hardly know where to pause and what to put into print. It feels like change is in the air, though I'm not really sure what kind of change and where it's going to take me.

The weekend began with heartache as a precious daughter still drifting and searching for her way in life, disagreed quite strongly, loudly, and tearfully with us over what should be expected of an adult child still living at home.

Before the dust had settled she packed up several bags of her belongs and "moved" down the street to stay with a friend. It was for a few days, she said, because living together was obviously stressing us all and it would be for the best. She wasn't wrong, but still a mother's heart cried out in pain.

With no nagging or condemnation, the prodigal returned two days later. The grass, it seemed, was not greener on the other side. Some lessons we have to learn for ourselves.

On the blogging front, I have signed up to take an online course next month to learn how to make money on my blog. Blogging has been a hobby and yes, even a passion, for over 10 years....it's time to try for the big time. Or at least the slightly bigger time. I never want to lose sight of what God wants me to do or the

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message he wants me to spread in the quest for followers. I continue to pray that any followers I have come to be fed by the words given to me. That said....there are changes brewing.

God seems to be speaking one message to me these days....over and over. That message is to be bold so that it will never be my fault that even one is lost. Scary stuff, boldness. In boldness there is testing, both spiritually and physically. Will I endure? Will I rest in Him who can give me strength? Or will I struggle on my own, learning the hard way that strength only comes through leaning?

So many swirling thoughts.....

On to the counting...in the counting is the calming and the peace.

121. A daughter who CHOSE to come home.

122. An honest business that has agreed to correct a mistake for free.

123. Cool water lapping at simmering, sun-soaked skin.

124. A child splashing happily in the pool, squealing "Look at me! Mommy, look at me!"

125. Time lost in a good book.

126. A sweet burst of juice as teeth break through the skin of a just ripe peach.

127. Fewer and fewer days until vacation.

128. Always managing to have just enough.

129. A quiet afternoon in an empty house to watch a much anticipated chick flick.

130. Toby tree blossoms falling to the ground like snow.

Dressing Up the Sunday Social

2013-06-23T08:46:00.000-04:00

Time to join in the Sunday Social with Ashley. This week's Social is all about shopping and style. Uh-oh....style may not be my thing, but I'll give it a go.

1. What is your favorite store to shop at?
~ M-mmm...bit of a touchy subject there. My absolute favorite clothing store was Fashion Bug and it had been that way since I was in high school...a really long time ago. They were bought out by the company that owns Dress Barn (among other stores) and even though they had promised the Fashion Bug stores would stay open, they closed them this past Christmas. Sigh. I'm working on finding a new store to shop at.

If we're talking housewares, I love Target, but end up at Wally World more often. I like the things at Pier 1, but they are kind of expensive.

One of my favorite places to shop is an antique/architectural salvage place we discovered a couple of years ago. They have several buildings full of treasures and get this....THEY HAVE LAYAWAY! By layaway I mean you put down any amount you want and pay whatever you want, when you want. The owner figures he still has the item so it's no skin off his back if you end up not paying. My hubby bought me the corner cupboard of my dreams that way a couple of years ago.

2. If you could afford anything and everything, which designer brand would you covet?

~ And this is where you discover I have no style. I'm really not into designer clothing and can't even think of more than a couple designers and those don't really design clothes for my lifestyle of the un-rich and un-famous.

3. What is your must have closet staple?
~ I am a closet preppy at heart, no matter how much I'd like to deny it. Back in the preppy hey-day of the 80s I was in my element with polos with the collars turned up, button down oxfords, corduroy pants with whales (yes, I actually owned a pair), sweaters, and duck shoes, and docksiders (worn sockless, off course).

I've lost the cords (especially the ones with whales), polos and oxfords, but my winter wardrobe is dominated by sweaters and turtlenecks. I pair most anything with jeans...boot cut, please.

4. What is your favorite kind of shoes (brand or type)?
~ This one makes me sad because I have a lot in common with Imelda Marcos....I LOVE shoes and there are some absolutely amazing shoes out there these days. Especially heels. I loved to wear a sharp pair of heels. They give you confidence like nothing else. However, due to a bad knee, two bone spurs and arthritis in my ankle....heels and I are not happening, so I've had to reevaluate.

These days it's flip-flops all summer long and sneakers or hikers for work and Fall thru Spring.

If I ever get to wear I can wear any shoe I want again, these are first on the list to buy.....

5. What is the best clothing deal you've ever gotten (sale or amazing find)?

~ Way back in 1981 at the end of a season, I snagged a sweet pair of leather Zodiac mules, western style for $5!!

My mules were this exact style but brown boot leather
and the stitching was done in rainbow thread.
It was the height of the Urban Cowboy craze
and I pretty much wore those babies into the ground.

6. What is a style you'd love to try?

~ Probably something like this....totally my style, but in a much smaller (and cuter) look.

Saturday Morning Life & Shared Links

2013-06-22T09:09:00.002-04:00

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Good morning, peeps! And what a glorious morning it is. The sun has been up and shining for nearly as long as I have. Ha! I've been up, but I've never been accused of "shining" in the morning. I am pretty pumped today, though, because it's sneak preview day of the library's used book sale. For a $5 fee I can get first crack at all those lovely books for a mere $1 for hardcover editions and 50 cents for paperbacks. Thursday I will revisit when books are sold for the amazing price of ....all you can cram in a bag for $1!!

**UPDATE: I'm back from the used book sale. This is today's haul.

Hardcover Fiction @ $1 each:

Patricia Cornwell - Scarpetta, The Scarpetta Factor

Vince Flynn - The Last Man

Kathy Reichs - Bones Are Forever

Nora Roberts - Chasing Fire

Valerie Block - None of Your Business

Jenna Blum - The Stormchasers

Jayne Ann Krentz - Light in Shadow

Paperback Fiction @ 50 cents each:

Janet Evanovich - Wife for Hire, Naughty Neighbor

Vince Flynn - Memorial Day, Consent to Kill

Rebecca M. Hale - Nine Lives Last Forever

Don Hoesel - Elisha's Bones

Hardcover Non-fiction @ FREE!:

Reader's Digest - Kitchen Cabinet Cures, Foods That Harm - Foods That Heal

McDougal Littell - The Writer's Craft

Gooseberry Patch - Christmas #2

Taste of Home - Contest Winning Annual Recipes 2004

O Magazine - O's Guide to Life, Live Your Best Life, O's Big Book of Happiness

I love the library's used book sale.

The Boss-man is working today. He worked yesterday. He's informed me he is working on July 4. Boo! Yes, work has finally picked up. Good thing. That probably means 6 days a week for the next few months...with the exception of our vacation. Not so good, but what can you do? We are just thankful there IS work when so many these days have none. We are blessed.

The Princess got a part-time job at the local amusement park. She is an attendant on the water slides. It will end with Labor Day, but at least it's something for now. She is also staying with a friend for a while....kind of putting a little distance between us to give us both time to de-stress. Two adult women in the same house when one is the queen bee and the other is chomping to leave the hive and test her own queenly-ness is NOT a good combination.

Had a great afternoon yesterday. A younger friend from work and her daughter came to swim....and by younger, I mean only a couple years older than the Princess and younger than my son. She is the one who pursued the friendship this winter at work, but she's a nice girl....little rough around the edges but fun and her daughter is a cutie. It was so nice to have a little one enjoying the pool! She also friended Princess on Facebook and was, I think, a little disappointed she wasn't around. I talked to my girl, though, and we're going to try to all be here to swim on Tuesday....if the weather cooperates. I think the two of them will hit it off and be friends. They like ALL the same things.

Okay, you didn't come to listen to me rattle on so let's get to the links I found for you this week!

This article hit close to the heart this week, but it's chock full of great advice for dealing with adult children so I thought you might find it useful.

My mom, the Princess and I planned on having a garage sale. It was the Princess's idea. Now she isn't so sure she wants to do it and Mom and I have decided to delay having one until the beginning of August....after our vacation and before Mom and her husband have to head to Florida for his annual check-in at the cancer center. Still, it was on my mind and I did a lot of scouting around for tips in the hope of having a successful one. So, just in case you are thinking of having one this year...

101 Garage Sale Tips for Sellers
Having a Successful Yard Sale.....by the Yard Sale Queen
How to Operate a Successful Garage Sale....from Consumer Reports

Maybe you don't want to sell. Maybe scouting for bargains to buy is more your thing. Got you covered, too.

How to Shop at Garage Sales....informative article from One Cent at a Time.
How to Shop for Furniture at Garage Sales

What do you do with the stuff that doesn't sell or the stuff you bought and now you have too much stuff?

Turning Garage Sale Junk Into eBay Gold

Today, my dear blogging friend, Dawn, has a wonderful post on how to walk with your man.

And I want to share Ann Voskamp's Letter to the North American Church because it blessed me so much. Ann is in Africa with Compassion International this week and she has been posting from there....sharing the things she is seeing....really seeing....with her heart....filtered through God's eyes.

Of course there is my favorite Pinterest pin of the week....

Lemon Blueberry Pudding Cookies! Blueberry season is nearly upon us and my mom and her husband have assured me it looks like it's going to be a bumper crop. These cookies sound absolutely scrumptious!

Click for original site and recipe.

And this little gem of an idea for using old ornate picture frames or mirrors. Simply paint the frame a lushious color then paint the glass with blackboard paint. Ta-da! Instant chic that will have your friends and family oohing and aahing.

Time to get ready to head out to the book sale so you all have a blessed weekend! Stop back tomorrow for the Sunday Social.

Slippery Pondering

2013-06-20T09:14:00.002-04:00

Pondering with a Purpose is the brain child of Brenda Youngerman, who each Thursday gives prompt for us to ponder on. Ponderings can be expressed with words, pictures, music or whatever the ponderer comes up with.

The rules are easy if you'd like to join in. Simply post your pondering, include Brenda's sweet PWAP button and then link up with the others on Brenda's blog.

This week's prompt: slip

Right away, being a girl (though not a girly-girl) and all, I thought of the undergarment. I don't wear dresses much and it's a toss up as to which is more responsible for that, pantyhose or slips. Slips, in my book, are uncomfortable and hot, especially in warmer weather. Static cling seems to be a natural partner and it's a pain to always be tugging at your dress and slip to keep from showing more than you intended.

Then I thought of a slip of the tongue. A slip of the tongue happens when you are talking away and feeling relaxed and then.....BAM! You realize you just said something you shouldn't have. Maybe you revealed a secret or ruined a surprise or just put your foot in your mouth by saying something that would be harmless or unoffensive to anyone but the person you are talking to.....and you knew that, but it still came out of your mouth.

The old slip and fall is something I'm very good at. One Friday afternoon in February we had a flash freeze. It really wasn't cold enough to freeze and yet, for just a few minutes, everything did. I happened to arrive at work during those few minutes and when I stepped out of my car.....whooosh!.....next thing I knew I was on my hands and knees in the parking lot with stars and little birdies circling my head. X-rays showed no serious damage, but still it hurt and I was finally getting past it when a couple of weeks ago we stopped by the medical office of a friend and I stepped on a carpet runner and it took off under my foot, sliding across the floor and halfway up the wall. I went down again. On the same knee. Back to square one.

The last slip I can think of is a pink slip. Those can be good or bad. You don't want to get one from your boss, but you do want one for your car.

"And if that ain't enough to make you flip your lid, there's one more thing....I got the pink slip, daddy!"

Now I'm just going to slip on out of here!

The Dream Team

2013-06-19T12:04:00.001-04:00

It seems the summer slump has begun. Bloggers all over the blogosphere are going on vacations or taking breaks to deal with the increased activity of summer living. Good for them, bad for me as my life slows down in the summer. I NEED your memes people! Without you I'm going to have to get creative and that may or may not be a good thing.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge is among the missing this week so I've put on my thinking cap and done some scrounging around and decided to throw a question out to all of you (that would be the 2 or 3 of you who actually read the drivel I produce) to answer....and I'll answer it, too.

In a fantasy world, forget spouses and loves, if you could fall in love with a movie or television character, name 5 you would choose. The characters, NOT the actors.

Me?

1. Johnny Castle from the movie Dirty Dancing. He had that whole bad-boy vibe going on while really being a good guy and let's face it....when Dirty Dancing hit the big screen, there was nobody hotter or more exciting.

Picture Source

2. Jase Robertson. Yeah, he's a real person, but he is on television and he is a character. I love the values he and his family have. I think he's hilarious and would be a lot of fun. And the beard doesn't bother me.

Picture Source

3. Leo from the movie The Vow. To have a man who loves you that much, who goes to such lengths, who even lets you go when it's what you ask for, even though it's breaking his heart......sigh.

Picture Source

4. Booth on the television show Bones. He's smart, funny, brave, devoted to the ones he loves and cares about, has great morals and values, carries a gun, and looks amazing in a suit.

Okay, it took me a minute to figure out how to fit him in to the list, but.....

Picture Source

5. Bo Price from the movie Broken Bridges. Bo is the hometown boy who made it big at the expense of people who loved him back home. When he goes home due to an event that has devastated the town, it's as a bit of a has-been. He finds out some things he never knew (like he has a nearly grown daughter) and he sets about making amends, doing right by people and turning his life around. All while singing like a champ and looking hot.

And there you have it....my dream team.

Sharing & Counting

2013-06-17T12:23:00.001-04:00

I had a bit of a busy weekend and didn't get my regular posts up on time (the Sunday Social is up right before this), which actually works out okay for me today. I don't have a thing in mind for a post so I'm going to go ahead and give you the links I had for my Saturday Share post. I'll be continuing to count blessings, too.

First up is a video of two friends that is sure to make you smile and maybe cry. Celebrate the selflessness of friendship as you watch a man give his friend a precious gift. Duct tape really can do anything.

When your mother says she's fat.....how a mother views herself affects her daughter's self-image.

I love Ann Voskamp's writing. I love that she is teaching women all over the world to find the blessings of heaven in the everyday things. I was blessed to have heard Ann speak and then to talk with her privately, a time in which we prayed and hugged. She speaks and feels as beautifully as she writes. That's why I am excited to share with you that you can now purchase One Thousand Gifts as an audio book read by Ann herself. The link will take you to a sample, where you can listen to Ann read the first chapter of the book. Go. If you click on no other link in this post....choose to click this one.

If you've spent any time here you probably know I am a fan of Phillip Phillips, last year's American Idol winner. His music and lyrics are beautiful and touch a deep place in my soul. Here is a cover of his song Home by The Piano Guys.

If, like so many these uncertain days, you are returning to the older ways, the simpler ways of self-sufficiency and making do or doing without....you might find this link interesting. It's a how-to on growing potatoes without actually planting them in the ground. I found it too late to try this year, but might give it a go next year.

Sometimes you hit a wall. We all have a day or a season when we just want to give up, when we feel like we just cannot do this even one more day. Money Saving Mom offers some suggestions on what to do when you've already given up.

Maybe you're a blogger. Maybe not. Either way there are some things you need to know about using Facebook, but especially if you are blogger who connects via Facebook, Twitter and the other social medias. We all know you want to grow your readership, but honestly....your efforts might just backfire on you because of how annoying the rest of us find them. This article suggests 11 things you need to stop doing right now!

The Pinterest pin of the week:

How has no one invented this before??? Or how have I never heard of it? This is one awesome kitchen gadget that I intend to buy. No more guessing if you've rolled the dough to the right thickness.

Buy it here.

Now on to the counting....

111. Waking up to the joyous chorus of birds greeting the day.

112. The swishing sound of the leaves as the breeze blows through them.

113. Making a child smile.

114. Biting into a ripe cherry.

115. A popsicle on the back step on a hot day.

116. That first, silken slide into cool pool water after an afternoon working in the sun.

117. The comforting sounds (clanking pots, running water, sizzling oil, the clatter of silverware) of a meal being prepared.

118. Good news concerning medical tests.

119. A concert with a friend.

120. Struggling with him for the covers then meeting in the middle to share.

Sunday Social - Peeved

2013-06-17T11:20:00.002-04:00

I'm a day late on posting this. Can I use the busy weekend excuse? Anyway, I didn't want to skip a week because I really do like this meme and look forward to meeting everyone who participates.

1. What is your biggest driving pet peeve?
~ That is an easy one. My job is driving so I am on the road a lot and to be honest, I have a LOT of driving-related peeves, but the number one peeve on my list is.....drivers in front of you who drive well below the speed limit....until you try to pass them, then they suddenly develop a lead foot and speed up so much you can't pass without going WAY over the speed limit. Then just to bug you more, the minute you drop back behind them....they slow way down again.

2. What is your biggest blogging pet peeve?
~ Word verification. I know it's necessary to thwart spammers, but it is soooo annoying.

3. What is your biggest general pet peeve?
~ Right now it's the over-use of the word "racist." The kids I work with are the worst, but I see it in adults, too. With these people it doesn't seem to matter what you're talking about, the minute your opinion doesn't match theirs...YOU'RE RACIST! I want to throttle the kids on my bus when I tell them to sit down or stop doing something because it's a safety issue or annoying and they fire back with "You're racist!"

4. What is your most irrational fear?
~ Irrational? Probably sharks. I have been absolutely terrified of them since I saw Jaws when I was 12. For months after that I wouldn't even let a hand or foot hang over the edge of the bed at night for fear a shark would get me. I got scared in swimming pools that a shark would get me. To this day I still don't like swimming pools at night for the same reason and though I absolutely love the beach I do not go in the water any deeper than my ankles.

5. Name 3 celebrities you'd want to have dinner with.
~ Toby Keith, any (or all) of the Robertson clan from Duck Dynasty, and either of my favorite authors, James Rollins or Janet Evanovich.

Healthy Fragging

2013-06-14T08:53:00.001-04:00

Good grief! Megan posted on Facebook that she was thinking about following a diet she saw in one of the magazines lying around here (have I ever mentioned my magazine addiction?) and the backlash was immediate. That it was promoted by Dr. Oz seemed to be everyone's biggest problem....even though it was not developed by him, but Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of Eat to Live.

I was surprised by the reaction since I was looking at it myself. Aside from the Dr. Oz connection that seemed to set people off, the big problem most had with it was the lack of carbs, meats, and fats. Well, that and the claim of losing 10 lbs. per week. I take that particular claim with a grain of salt, myself, but I've learned enough over the years to have a pretty good idea what's healthy and what isn't. Now, whether I do what I know....that's another story.

The basic idea is to eliminate processed foods and eat whole foods, with the added twist of nearly (but not quite) eliminating meats and dairy products, too. The plan calls for getting your proteins from green veggies and beans/legumes. It allows for a couple of small servings of meat and dairy per week as well. The idea is to eat veggies and fruit....as much as you want....no calorie counting. While the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle is not for me, I don't understand why this diet raised such a fuss. Vegetarians tend to be very healthy people.

One salad into it and Meg admitted it wasn't going to happen for her. My girl is too much of a carnivore...and she's not exactly a fan of veggies unless they are the starchy ones. I'm going to give it a go with a one modification. I'm all for the mass quantities of veggies, but I'm going to allow lean meat with dinner.

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Yesterday was my follow-up appointment with the neurologist for the neuropathy I've been having off and on in my hands and feet since Christmas. If you've been around for a while you know I went through a bunch of tests last month.

So, what did they learn? It's not caused by diabetes, MS or vitamin B-12 deficiency, which are the main culprits (when a culprit can be identified). In the majority of neuropathy cases the cause is never identified. That's where I am. For now all I am to do is continue taking the meds, which seem to be helping, drink more water and get more exercise to force blood flow into the extremities.

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Getting my hair done today. Yea! I get keratin treatments to straighten my super curly, frizz-prone hair. They last a fairly long time with proper care....using sulfate-free products and only washing every other day. I've been able to go 4-5 months with ease. This time, however, I'm at the 7 month mark and it takes a lot to make it look presentable. You know how a perm looks as it grows out....straight hair growing in with curl on the end? Reverse that and you've got what I'm dealing with....a good three inches of thick curl with straight after that. Ugh!

Going for color and a cut today, too. Can't wait to see what we come up with.

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This cool, wet weather leaves a lot to be desired. School's been done for over a week and I haven't been in the pool yet. I don't even have all my flowers planted or all the flower beds weeded. I am thrilled with tomorrow's forecast, though.....sunny and a high of 78 degrees. Absolutely perfect for a concert. And since I happen to be going to see my favorite, Toby Keith, tomorrow, that's good news! Every other year I've gone it's been August or September and the temperature's been 90 or above.

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The hubby is home today. It's probably his last Friday home. Work is finally picking up and next week he's going to another site before starting his own project the following week. So glad for that. Not that he won't be around as much, but for the overtime. It has been a lean winter. The company really struggled to keep all the employees working even though it was their worst winter ever.

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I have to share this recipe for a healthy (well...healthier) chicken burger I saw in Spry Magazine. You can find it and 29 more healthy burger variations at Spryliving.com

Peach BBQ Chicken Burgers

Spryliving.com

1 tbsp. vegetable or canola oil

1/4 cup onion, minced

1/2 tsp. kosher salt, divided

4 large, ripe peaches, peeled and chopped OR 2 cups frozen peaches, thawed and liquid reserved

2 tbsp. brown sugar

2 small tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar

1 tsp. minced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce

2 tbsp. cilantro, minced

2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 lb. ground chicken breast

Sauce: Heat oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Add onion and 1/4 tsp. kosher salt, cook until softened. Add peaches (and juice if using frozen peaches) and tomatoes, cook until peaches are mostly softened. Stir in vinegar, brown sugar and chipotle peppers, cook for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in cilantro, lemon juice and remaining salt, and allow to cool. Blend to desired consistency in blender or food processor. Return mixture to pan, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Burgers: Combine chicken with about 1/3 cup of the sauce and mix well. Divide evenly into 4 patties and cook using desired method. Cook until meat thermometer registers 165. Serve on whole grain buns, top with sauce, lettuce, and cheese.

Per serving: 310 calories, 10 g fat, 65 mg chol., 17 g protein, 27 carbs, 3 g fiber, 310 mg sodium

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Join in the fun @ Friday Fragments

A Real Pill

2013-06-13T13:32:00.001-04:00

Brenda in her never ending quest for words for us to ponder on has chosen the word "pill" this week. I looked at everyone else's posts first. I hope that's not against Pondering law! Everyone thought of pretty much the same things....pills that you swallow, pill-box hats, pills on a sweater, and someone who is a pill.

I didn't think of anything else, so I thought I'd solve a mystery. We all know how someone who's a pill acts, but not why they are called a pill. Hello, Google search!

The most reasonable answer I could find is that pill is short for the British slang word, pillock. A pillock is apparently Scandinavian for penis. The Brits use it to refer to any stupid or annoying person. So, not so different really from our not-so-nice American word for someone acting like a jerk. Makes me think I won't be referring to anyone as a pill any more.

Big Daddy Hodgepodge

2013-06-12T09:06:00.001-04:00

1. What do you think makes a good dad?
~ Someone who loves his children unconditionally (and shows it), keeps them safe (without coddling them), and teaches them the important lessons and values in life.

2. What's something you learned from your own father?
~ I learned a lot of valuable things from my dad, the two biggies would be...

If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well. Why bother doing a job at all if you're going to do it poorly? Not too many people seem to get this today.
If you want something, WORK for it. Nobody owes you anything. Again, something few seem to grasp in today's world.

3. It's your birthday-what kind of cake will we be having?

~ Either chocolate or marble...with whipped icing. Buttercream is just too sweet and heavy.

4. When you're faced with a big decision are you more of a go with your gut type of person, or are you someone who reasons it all out, weighing the pros and cons?
~ Most of the time I'm a go with the gut kind of person. Sometimes that's a good thing. Sometimes not so much.

5. June is National Dairy Month. What's your favorite dairy item? Most often purchased dairy item?
~ Cheese.....glorious cheese!

6. Explorer Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910....what's something you've recently discovered or something you'd like to explore?
~ We're going to Chincoteague in July. We've gone there on family vacations when the kids were younger. I'm looking forward to exploring the adult life of the island.

7. Are you typical of your generation?
~ I don't know. Probably not. I'm a devout Christian, politically conservative, anti-abortion, and pro-gun rights.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
~ Saw this on Pinterest this week and loved it. So very true.

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday

2013-06-11T10:19:00.001-04:00

Tuesdays mean it's time for Hey, It's Okay Tuesday with Amber from Airing My Dirty Laundry, One Sock at a Time. This is the meme where we get to celebrate our little quirks and the things that make us unique...and quite probably, find out we're not the only one. Amber got the idea from an article in Glamour magazine. If you'd like to participate or read other posts just click on her button.

Hey, it's okay....

....to use a Q-tip in your ear. Yeah, you're not supposed to, but if you're really careful.... Besides, what else are you going to use? I am not buying one of those Ear Vacs they advertise on TV. Besides, we all survived our moms digging in our ears. Have you ever seen a story on the news about somebody stabbing their brain with a Q-tip? Me neither.

....to be nearly a week into summer vacation and have done nothing particularly productive yet. The key word, after all, is v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n.

....to know you could be successful at this diet business if only you could afford to hire a dietician/cook and a personal trainer like the celebrities do.

....to question the weight-loss testimonials in magazines. Okay, they lost 100 pounds and they look great, but how can someone who is 5'2" and still weighs 140 pounds be wearing a size 0???? It's always something like that. Before I got married I only weighed 110 pounds and I was still in a size 9. Have sizes changed that much?

....to be excited that big summer activity #1 is coming up this weekend....Toby Keith concert in the 'Burgh! Always a good show and there is no people watching like people watching at an outdoor concert that has tailgating and serves alcohol.

Have a great Tuesday everyone!

Wedding Gift Ideas

2013-06-10T10:43:00.004-04:00

It's June, the month of graduations, Flag Day, Father's Day, and traditionally....of weddings. I thought just for fun (and because it's raining and I can't work outside) I'd share some ideas for unique or creative wedding gifts.

1. Christmas Decorations. Most young couples don't have much, if anything, in the way of Christmas decorations when they are starting out and decorations can be a big expense. Why not wrap up a few special ornaments, maybe ones commemorating the big day or their first Christmas together? Or grab one of those big boxes of inexpensive ornaments for more bang and throw in a few strings of lights or garland. If you're crafty you could even make some ornaments. When Tim and I got married a couple of older neighbors who had a limited budget made us a large box full of ornaments. We appreciated them so much and there was the bonus of thinking of those two dear ladies each time we hung the ornaments on the tree.

2. Gift Certificates. For restaurants or the movies or a spa day. Anything that encourages the couple to spend time playing together. It's so easy to lose track of each other in the busyness of day to day life and every couple begins marriage thinking it could never happen to them. Help them see that it doesn't.

3. Plastic Storage Containers. For a couple who hasn't been living together before the wedding and hasn't already established a household, this can be a much appreciated gift. To give it real bang....put a pantry item in each container....flour, sugar, tea bags, coffee, pasta, beans, etc.

4. Photographs. Are you good with a camera? How about one of those photo books. You could make one about them growing up separately, how they met and fell in love....the possibilities are as wide as your imagination. You could also make them a photo calendar or appointment book.

Photo Source

5. Family Heirlooms. Weddings are sentimental times and therefore the perfect time to pass on treasured family heirlooms....Grandma's china, great-aunt Bessie's silver, Dad's grandfather clock, the linens toiled over by long ago relatives, great-grandmother's box of recipes. You get the idea.

6. Feed their hobby. What do they like? Are they into wine? You could send them on a wine tasting tour or set them up with all they need for a small wine bar at home. Whatever the happy couple likes to do you can find some gift to reflect it.

7. Classes. Sign them up for classes at the local community college...most offer continuing education/adult interest classes. How about a cooking, photography, money management, ballroom dancing....

8. You. Do you have a talent that would be useful in setting up a new household? Construction, electrical, or plumbing skills? Are you a decorator or gifted with a paintbrush? Can you work magic in the garden? Do you sew? Are you an amazing cook or baker? Create your own gift certificate and be specific so it doesn't get out of hand. For example if baking is your talent, you could create a gift certificate good for one dessert a month for the first year of marriage.

9 Outside Entertaining Essentials. Like Christmas ornaments, picnic and grilling supplies are something most newly weds don't have yet. You could give all the tools and an array of barbecue sauces. Or cute, summer-themed unbreakable tableware and matching linens and throw in a cute string of patio lights.

10. Something Really Different. How about getting a star named after them? International Star Registry will do that for you. Or there is a company out there that will write the couple's name in a heart on a beautiful tropical beach and take a picture. There are a lot more things along this line you could do. Search the internet for ideas.

Now there's no excuse for giving a toaster at the next wedding you attend.

glitter-graphics.com

Now, on to the counting with Ann because I need to remember....

101. A little black poodle swimming in the pool...always her eyes on me.

102. The tang of barbecue sauce dripping from ribs grilled to perfection.

103. The satisfaction of hard work and a job done.

104. Ants working together to carry a morsel across the sidewalk and up over the hose without ever slowing down.

105. Progress with the church remodeling.

106. The lonesome song of a frog late in a summer night.

107. The sweet smell of summer on skin.....sunblock and coconut, sweat and dirt, chlorine and popsicles.

108. A rainy day, movie day.

109. Lightning bugs drifting in the evening darkness.

110. The whisper soft kiss of a cool breeze on summer hot skin.

My Introduction to the Sunday Social

2013-06-09T21:51:00.001-04:00

Saw this meme over on Beth's blog, Masterpiece and we all know I love a good meme.....goes back to high school and those notes my friends and I passed back and forth filled with questions and multiple answers and maybe the quizzes in Seventeen magazine. Anyhoo...the meme is courtesy of Ashley, whose blog is new to me. I am going to be a fan....bless her country music lovin' heart

1. How did you come up with your blog name?
I had gone through a spiritual drought following a really bad experience in a church. Closing out my old blog and starting this one was symbolic of the changes I wanted to make and was making. I wanted it to be a positive place, a reflection of my reawakened faith, the changes in my life and my appreciation of those things...of my desire to be able to look at my life and be content that I lived it well.

2. What is your favorite thing about blogging?
The people. I've made some good friends through blogging, some I've met in person and some I may never meet and yet they are among my closest friends. I also admit that I love the comments and feel sad when a post doesn't get any. It's like you don't love me!

3. What is one thing you have discovered because of blogging and now can't live without?
Facebook. It's true. A blogging friend led me to the dark side and I've never looked back. So many of my classmates from high school are on there and my sorority sisters from college and complete strangers, who are now friends. And the instant responses are my addiction....so much so that I refer to Facebook as Crackbook. I have connected with family I otherwise wouldn't be in touch with. I manage our church's page and one for my blog in addition to my personal page. I can't imagine life without it!

4. Facebook or Twitter? and why?
Uh, I think I just answered that one in the previous question. Why? I just don't get Twitter. I have an account and I tweet my blog posts and something else once in a while, but trying to keep up with what other people are tweeting could be a full time job. I don't enjoy it.

5. If one celeb read your blog who would you want it to be?
I would absolutely SWOON if Toby Keith read it and left a comment! It would be pretty cool, too, if one of my favorite authors or a major blogger noticed my little corner of the blogosphere. Or any of the guys from Duck Dynasty. Love them.

6. What is something you want people to know about your blog?
I guess that what you see is what you get. It's just me sharing what's on my mind, what I find interesting, what God's saying to me....so there really isn't a theme or anything going on and everyone is welcome as long as they aren't rude or threatening.

Saturday Share - June 8, 2013

2013-06-07T23:07:00.001-04:00

There's nothing much going on around here today. Tim is, as usual, working on the church building. I've got taco salad to make for the dinner after church services tonight, but other than that.... Love it!

Before I put up this week's shares, I've got a question for you. I'm getting my hair straightened and colored again next Friday. I'm thinking about getting it cut, too. Right now I'm not sure what's going to happen with the color...they lost my card so we get to "reformulate." Could be fun...I'm open to change. As far as cuts go, I've got two styles in mind right now.

My hair is a little longer than the blonde's, but currently without all the layers. Thoughts? Opinions?

Okay on with this week's links. I've got some good ones for you this week, but then I say that every week.

The Barnyard Bistro is a new food blog launched just this week. It's author is none other than Krystal Keith, daughter of my favorite country crooner, Toby Keith. So far it is looking delish!

Mary Anne blogs at Forever 51. The tag line is You think it. I say it. Life in a hormonal household. I honestly LOL'ed as I read. This lady is FUNNY.

Melanie at Only a Breath shares how to make money with your blog....and it sounds so much easier than other advice I've heard or read. I like that. I am all about easy.

Crystal, the Money Saving Mom, shares why she thinks you should break the blogging rules. A great read for anyone thinking of starting a blog or for those with smaller blogs.

Do you want to get free books? Do you know a lot publishers will give you books for free in exchange for reviews on your blog? If you have the time to read and do the reviews it's a sweet deal. There are a lot of publishers and distributors out there so do a search and see what you can find. To get you started, check out Tyndale House.

Amy Henry talks of finding peace during the Oklahoma storms by focusing on her eternal home.

Pinterest pin(s) of the week:

Click here to see the recipe for these amazing blackberry pie bars.

Okay, this one's just for fun. I am a shameless
fan of Grumpy Cat's cute grumpiness.

Have a blessed weekend!

Supercali-FRAG-ilisticexpialidocious!

2013-06-07T16:04:00.000-04:00

It's Friday and that means it's time to get my frag on with Mrs. 4444 and the rest of the ladies who participate in Friday Fragments...the meme that gives us a place to share life's bits and pieces (or fragments) that need to be shared, but aren't big enough to stand alone. You are welcome, by the way, for the above earworm....you know you're going to be singing it the rest of the day. Bahahahahaha!

I finished driving for the 2012-13 school year on Wednesday. I am free until August 26, but that could change. I'm a bit unsure if I'm just suffering from end of the year burnout or if I really don't like my job any more. Hopefully, something will make it clear over the summer or a job will turn up that I can't say no to.

Yesterday was a bad day around here. Both of Meg's guinea pigs died. It was horrible. We think they must have had a respiratory infection (we're told they're prone to them). Meg of course was weepy all day and doing nothing but holding them. I could not believe it, but they died within 15 minutes of each other. Then when poor Tim got home to dig the hole it was pouring down rain.

I met with my friends from church this morning (they are both pastors) to look at the church building. We are getting close to being ready to paint and put down flooring so we went to check it out and then we went to Lowe's. We've not been a traditional church so far and it's going to continue...the sanctuary is going to be sage green with a creamy ceiling. The young adults had shared that a lot of people their age are turned off by the sterile, white, unwelcomeness of most churches. It's going to be beautiful, but not what you'd expect inside a little old one room white church.

Megan has convinced me to have a garage sale later this month. Ugh. I hate having those things and the last several we've had have not been successful...as in hardly anyone even showed up to look, let alone buy. I pinned a site last night that has all kinds of hints and tips....maybe I will find something there that will help. I don't know. My family had them all the time when I was growing up and they were hugely successful. I don't know what's changed. I just know I'm not going to be happy if I haul everything out only to have to haul it all back in.

Well, as I've been sitting here typing, the sinus headache I've been nursing has exploded into an ice pick sensation in my left eye and sinus so I think I'll go see what medicine might be around that will work on it and take a little nap.

Hello Summer...Let the Ponderings Roll

2013-06-06T10:18:00.000-04:00

Well, it's day one of my summer vacation...which is sort of like New Years for me, in that it's time to make some resolutions. With my days mainly free and uninterrupted by a pesky (but necessary) job, I can focus more on things that need doing. On the top of the list is me. I have gotten into the lazy habit of eating foods that are not so healthy over this past school year and the bum knee (I've fallen and twisted it TWICE in the last 4 months) has put a crimp in any kind of exercise.

I was going to post this in my poor neglected health blog, but after a lot of consideration I've decided I'm going to delete both it and my book blog. It's too much to expect people to keep up with more than one blog, I think. Pfffft! It's too much for me to keep up three blogs. Anyway, any diet, exercise or book posts will be on the main blog. I'm going to be doing some rearranging and housekeeping around here in the coming days.

Getting back to those "resolutions"....

For starters, I got up this morning and spent some time reading the Bible and praying, which always makes the day go better. It's unfortunate that on work days it's hard to fit it in until after the morning run. After that I drug out and dusted off my Perfect Planner. I was so excited to start the year off with it back in January, but just like the prayer time...it was hard to squeeze in first thing in the day and if it didn't get done then it didn't seem to get done at all. Getting just those two things done makes me feel so accomplished. Not to mention...Intentional, which you'll remember is my One Word for 2013.

With my To-Do List written out in my planner...I have a plan for the day. It's already out of order because of rain (I wanted to weed the flower beds and plant some flowers) and my daughter getting in late (or rather early this morning) and still being in bed. I want her help in totally emptying out the frig and freezer, scrubbing them and putting everything back in an organized fashion...which, yes, I am aware will last only until the first person goes looking for something, but I will feel better. It's been making me feel stressed. Blogging wasn't to come until later in the day, but hey, lists are adaptable and not written in stone. Just so I actually accomplish some of the things on it, I'll be good with that.

Diet is next on my list of resolutions. We've been doing a lot of eating out. That's going to stop. For two reasons. Health and finances. The best part of summer is the abundance of fresh fruits and veggies. I'm determined to whip our diets into shape. My daughter has lost 40 pounds. I'm not sure how she's done it. She does not eat healthy and other than a few walks here and there I don't see her exercise. Sigh...I wish it would melt off of me that easily. It doesn't, so my plan aside from not eating out as much, is to shop the perimeter of the store (dairy, produce, meats) and skip as much of the interior aisles (processed foods) as possible, cut waaaay back on my daily Coke (the soda not the drug) habit and drink water and tea instead, find healthier ways to prepare favorite dishes and of course....

Exercise. With the weather warming up our pool is now open...and as soon as the water warms up, too, I will be in there daily swimming and doing some other exercises that will be kind to my knee. I'm going to give the exercise bike a go this morning. Not sure if the knee is up to it, but I won't know till I try. As soon as it's healed enough I'm dragging out the Fluidity Bar and getting back into that. It's very gentle, but really works you out. I'm hoping the knee heals quickly.

So, there's my summer plan. I just wish I had gotten motivated sooner. Next weekend is the Toby Keith concert...at least I'm not seeing him face to face this year...and I have two trips coming up next month. One to Tennessee for training to teach Kay Arthur's Precept Bible Studies and the second to the beach. There's no way I'm going to be a beach babe by then, but I can at least jiggle less.

I'm keeping in mind the words of Romans 12:1 -

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.

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Before I go hit that list there's time for a little Pondering with Brenda.

This week's prompt: roll

In our house, the most important roll.....is the toilet paper roll. Not much attention is paid to the lowly TP roll, until it's not there when needed. Fear of just such a situation has made me a TP hoarder. There is always a stockpile in this house. And be honest, if the zombie apocalypse strikes tomorrow you know we're all going to be making a run to the grocery store for milk, bread, eggs, and toilet paper. It's the American way of coping with disaster!

There's no arguing here about the over or under question. We all agree that over is the way to go. Not that it would matter since I seem to be the only person in the house with an understanding of how to work the holder and put a new roll on. If I have to do it, it obviously goes my way.

My pet peeve these days is that the price of the rolls continues to climb, while the size of the rolls is shrinking...though they've renamed many of the sizes to make them sound bigger. I'm sorry. I don't care if you call it Double, Mega, or Jumbo....250 sheets is still 250 sheets. The shrinking size and rising cost have me wondering if Sears has any plans to bring back its catalog?

A slightly lesser peeve is the rolls found in public restrooms. I understand they do not want to have "clogging" issues, but the thinness of the paper combined with the locked security dispensers that make it difficult, if not impossible to find the end of the paper, usually means a pile of confetti on the floor before 3 usable squares are pulled off the roll. And the minute those square are pulled the end of the paper sucks back to the roll and disappears. Grrrrr!

And that's how I roll!

Don't Sweat the Hodgepodge

2013-06-05T16:05:00.001-04:00

1. Have you learned more from success or failure? Explain.
~ Success is sweet, but well, it's success so there's nothing more to do...you move on. Failure, on the other hand, tends to suck and most people don't want to repeat the sucky-ness, so that means you go back to the drawing board, the books, or whatever and study the problem, figure out what went wrong, and fix it if you can. Not that there aren't lessons in success, but there are more lessons in failure.

2. What did you call your grandparents when you were growing up? If you have children, what do they call your parents? If you have grandchildren, what do they call you?
~ I called my grandparents Pappy, Nana, and Grandma. My kids called theirs Old Nana, Nanny, Amma, and Pap Pap. My granddaughter calls us Pappy and Nanny.

3. You're invited to a luau. In keeping with that theme, what dish will you bring to share?
~ Probably this chicken recipe I have for tenderloins cooked with pineapple, soy sauce, and brown sugar in the crock pot.

4. Besides Jesus, what one person's life story do you think everyone should know about?
~ Just one? Wow. I don't think I can narrow it to one. I think everyone should be a student of history, because it does tend to repeat itself and we should understand the lessons of the past to perhaps avoid troubles today. I think early history of the United States is filled with important people to know about from the Pilgrims through the patriots and framers of the Constitution...but then the Civil War and Lincoln are so important. Everyone should know the evil perpetrated by Hitler. Can you believe there are those who believe it never happened? The Cold War and its players. Yeah....I can't pick just one.

5. "Don't sweat the small stuff." Agree or Disagree? Why?
~ If by sweat, you mean worry...then I agree. Worry doesn't change anything. If you mean don't bother with the small things then I might disagree. Some small things are important...like saying please and thank you, showing respect to your elders, being nice to others, etc.

6. June is National Rivers Month. When were you last on a river? What's the prettiest river you've ever seen? What's a river you'd like to see?
~ Actually on a river? It's been over 10 years. Tim and I took a dinner cruise on a paddle boat in Pittsburgh for one of our anniversaries. Other than that, I go over them all the time. We have lots around here. Prettiest I've ever seen? I don't know. One I'd like to see? The Nile, the Amazon, or the Yangtze.

7. Speaking of rivers-paddling, fishing, swimming, or bird watching safely from the shore? Which activity would you choose? Yes-you have to choose.
~ Probably, I'd choose canoeing. I spent some time on the Delaware River the summer before my senior year of high school when I worked for the Youth Conservation Corps. I loved every minute of it. I swam in it, too, but I'd probably pass on that these days. East Coast rivers are not usually the cleanest.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
~ Today was the last day for the last school I drive for. As of 12:30 this afternoon, I am a free woman until August 26. Bring on summer!