Standing on Good Soil

Blackberry Seeds

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:42:00 +0000

I have had a great bear hug from God. He gives us hugs and encouragement when we don't even see it coming. He sends people to love on us and lead us when we need it the most. I have needed it. But I am not the only one.

I stood in the Amway Arena this past weekend with I don't even know how many other women worshiping the Lord at a Deeper Still Event. We sat on the edge of our seats as we heard that God goes beyond our expectations and then he will go beyond, beyond. We heard that we can rest in our faith even in a bad season. We rallied as we learned how to discern what was from God so that we would not get PUNKED! We laughed until we cried as we heard the banter between the ladies that led us deeper still into the word with God. We left with a challenge to go deeper still in our relationship with Jesus and expect him to go beyond, beyond and way past, way past as we rested in our faith of the one true God!

I was exhausted when I got home. I had the chance before driving home to have one of the best conversations and discussions with my new friends. I thank God for my sisters in Christ.

I had to go to work yesterday, on the Sabbath. I have to work every third weekend and this was my weekend to work. God blessed me when someone switched a day with me so that I could attend the conference on Saturday. I still had to work Sunday, so the blast of the conference was over and off to work I go, tired!

I momentarily forgot that I was expecting God to go beyond, beyond. I mean, I was going to be stuck at work(which has been really hard for me this year.)

I ended up meeting someone that was experiencing grief of a loved one. Hmmmm. I sure can relate to that.

He brought up his grief and we talked about grief and how hard it is. I shared that I was struggling with my own grief currently and I found myself offering to call a minister.

"No."

"Would you like a Bible?" (the limit of my expectation at the time)

"Yes. I have been seeing John 3:16 all over the place today, and I can't remember what it says."

" I can get you a Bible, but I can tell you what John 3:16 says. `For God so loved the world, that he sent his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.' " (okay, God just got me way past the limit of my expectation, I realized later that this is the first person that has ever asked me what John 3:16 says that didn't already know it or was in the process of memorizing it!)

I brought this person a Bible and told him it was a New Testament, but it did have the Psalms in it. Somehow, during this encounter, I got to share the plan of salvation with him. He was asking~ I was telling. Since he was anxious I asked him what story he like in the Bible. He wasn't really sure, so I told him when I am anxious, I like to read about Jesus calming the storm. He didn't know this story, but he wanted to read it. So I went to look it up, and I couldn't remember the book. I can always go right to it in my Bible, but I was having a moment of panic and it dawned on me...use your Blackberry.

Into my pocket as fast as could be, I used my new nifty Blackberry and googled `Jesus calms the storm.' I had flipped to the reference quick as could be and left him reading about the Prince of Peace.
(Now, by this time God took me beyond, beyond! Way past, way past! Did I see it coming? No, but I liked it. Thank you Jesus!)

He liked the story. He was smiling, yet he was still anxious. He struggles you see. He was taught as a child, that only 144,000 get into heaven.

Strange... he could remember that number of 144,000 and that learning heaven wasn't for him, but he couldn't recall John 3:16 at all.

A few seeds dropped, and one was even a Blackberry seed. Isn't God Awesome??????

This is what standing on good soil is all about:)

Now glory be to God who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of- infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes. May He be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master plan of salvation for the church through Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3: 20-21.

Hunting a little treasure on a Monday!

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:18:00 +0000

Webster. Webster. Webster. From now on, when I say Webster, you say treasures. Let's try it.

I say, "Webster." You say, "Treasures."

Webster has it all. Plants, veggies, furniture, antiques, collectibles,linens, golf balls and clubs, honey and jam, hats, socks, jewelry, bread and bagels, kittens, books and comic books, they were even cleaning and whitening teeth.

Popsaroo, BubbaLou, Mums, and I loaded up in the car today and went off down the interstate to Webster. A grand flea market full of treasures for us to find. Popsaroo and BubbaLou went in one direction. Mums and I went in another direction.

Mums and I looked at all sorts of treasures in the hot, hot, hot sun. We trudged along picking things up and seeking the special treasures that we were meant to find. Did I mention it was hot? By the time we had our hands full and realized that we should have brought a cart to place our treasures in, we were about to have a heat stroke. We found some ice cold bottled water and tried to check in with Popsaroo and BubbaLou. We couldn't get a signal. Now how is that even possible??

Finally, leaving Mums in a cool spot, I went out with the cell phone trying to find a spot with a signal. Emergency calls only. Hmmm. Walked a little further over and finally found a hot spot. I got a hold of BubbaLou as she demands..."Where are you, I am hot and ready to go."

OK, it had only been an hour and a half. There is no way it was time to go. She must be thirsty.

After we finally found each other and they were sitting with us in our cool spot, we tried to reason with them. It really had not been that long and they just needed some water. Somehow, Mums and I coaxed them to carry our heavy packages to the car as we swung through a way we had not been to look on the way out. We snagged an extra hour of treasure hunting with this tactic. I got a big sack of kettle corn on the way out as a peace offering for giving us more time. It was well received!

A few of my treasures....

my cake plate and server-pretty!my Pyrex refrigerator bowls with lids

my Pyrex double casserole dish

Pyrex is my weakness and if you cut me a good deal, then it is MINE!

Mums got a bedspread or is it a tablecloth. We are not really sure right now. She also got a pig spoon rest, and a basket of fruit that is ceramic and it stands like a plate. She bought it so the guys who ran the booth wouldn't use it as target practice later this evening. BubbaLou got all sorts of odds and ends; jewelry, body glitter, boxing glove punching pens(don't ask) and some sort of glass jewel for good luck. Popsaroo found some comics and a pocket knife(ooh, and I really hope BubbaLou doesn't cut her finger off with his new knife.) We had a great day at the flea market. Well, at least Mums and I did. Popsaroo and BubbaLou deny any pleasure since it was so hot. Next time we will leave them at home!

My Chewie Action Shot!

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:08:00 +0000

Chewie in Action

Star Wars Weekends at Disney Hollywood Studios 2009....I was there!

Exploring Mt. Dora

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:03:00 +0000

BubbaLou and Popsaroo set out for a comic book convention Saturday in the hopes of meeting Star Trek's one and only "Spock." This of course left me out, so Popsaroo handed me $40 dollars and instructed me to take Mums to lunch. This made him feel better.

I called Mums, and laughingly told her our instructions and she came up with a better idea. She wanted to go exploring. Now, back at Christmas, I told her that I wanted to take her to Mount Dora as one of her Christmas presents. Mums decided that this was the day to take me up on it.

But, seeing as I only had $40 dollars in hand, and had not really budgeted to have a bunch of spending money, we decided to window shop. Plus, there was much to see in Mount Dora, they even have a lighthouse.

With map in hand, Mums and I headed out to this little town north of Orlando with high hopes of what we might find. We found it to be a beautiful day for a drive, and the terrain even changed as we turned off the interstate in a northerly direction. The land became downright hilly, which for Florida is strange. We couldn't decide if the land was really hilly, or it was really low with fake hills. Whatever it was, it was pretty. Looking at beautiful scenery proved to be a perk since we had to keep handing out money for tolls.

We finally arrived, and found that the hills were real, we even parked on one. Mount Dora is at an elevation of about 154 feet if I remember correctly. It was also adorable. Mums and I were very taken with it as we walked around exploring shops and sites of really neat houses.

As we made our way down to the docks by the yacht club, we heard real live church bells. It was beautiful. That by itself, was reason enough to drive 2 hours to experience. I miss that so much!
I truly believe, that if more churches had bells that rang through out the day, their would be more happy people in the world and less crime. Kind of a reminder from God that all is in His care and that He is watching over all of us all of the time. Peace.

Mums and I saw a couple of paintings as we entered the first shop of the day. Mums commented immediately, "I love that painting, it reminds me of a church up in Tennessee." I said, "I love this one! Look at the old mill with the dogwood blooms in it." They both were framed in farm wood type frames with a trim of rusty barbed-wire. They had price tags of $90. Too bad we were window shopping. Mums kept going on and on about that painting. She decided it must be one that AuntyDot had shown her in Cheathum county. Then the store owner announced that he was having a cash only sale and everything was 50% off. Sale of the day. Mums looked at me with a twinkle in her eye, and said," I am going to get this one, do you want that one as an early birthday present?" -"Well, Yeah, are you sure?!"

Needless to say, we had the guy wrap them up. The church and the mill turned out to be one that we had seen many times in Tennessee. In Cades Cove. Wow, talk about a flash back to many a vacation in Gatlinburg. We had the man hold on to them until we finished shopping and would be heading back to the car.

We continued to walk up and down the streets going in and out of shops. There were little alley ways with little nooks and crannies, fountains, and shops. We stopped and ate lunch at The Gables restaurant. The food was good and we ate plenty. We sat outside and watched as people walked by. We watched some people board the train for a ride while others rode by in horse and buggy. It was a busy place perfect for relaxing, watching, and talking. It was a beautiful day.

Mount Dora seems to be a haven for dogs. Both big and small. Shop owners had the resident dog sprawled in the floor sleeping the day away or padding around checking all the shoppers out. Many people were walking their dogs. I even saw a lady come around with a baby stroller, I looked down to see the baby, and there were two little dogs in that stroller. "What a cute..what cute little dogs!"I said, a little stunned that I was looking at dogs and not a baby.

We met Oscar down by the water. He was quite the jolly fat dog who wanted to be my friend. I kinda thinks he wants to be everyone's friend.

All in all, we had a great day. Mums and I did well to see and do as much as we did. We even stopped by the little park with the lighthouse. We saw an alligator, a turtle, and some geese. By no means did we do it all. There is a huge antiques and flea market that we have yet to hit. It is in slightly a different location from where we were. We are saving that for another day.

Popsaroo had the gall to ask,

"What could you have possibly done that took you that long?"

Tears and Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:36:00 +0000

I have been thinking much about time and loved ones recently. Memories of loved ones are crowding my mind as I remember the time that I spent with them. I have come to discover how much their personality's have shaped my own. I have discovered how much I miss the presence of their laughter and humor in the day to day of my life. Things are just never the same.

Mary and Martha's lives changed when they knew Lazarus lay sick and dying. Their dear brother was suffering and they wanted Jesus to heal him, but he was away. Their hearts were breaking. Memories swept through their minds as they wept. Thoughts of memories never to be surely flashed by as well. Lazarus died as his family wept for him and for themselves. Their hearts broke.

Jesus knew that Lazarus had died and he knew what he was going to do about it. He went to the grave 4 days after Lazarus had been there. Jesus wept with Lazarus' family and then preceded to tell Lazarus to come out.

Lazarus lived again, yet his life was changed.

Mary and Martha would never be the same.

Those who witnessed it were changed and made choices because of it. Some placed their faith in Jesus, others reported his deed to the Pharisees who in turn met with the Sanhedrin. A plot to kill Jesus had begun.

Lazarus lived, but Jesus would die. Jesus would overcome death, rising on the 3rd day, so that each and everyone of us would live again and things would never be the same again.

We so want our loved ones not to suffer, but yet we don't want to part with them either. It is a strange mix of emotions as you sit and weep for a loved one as they pass from this earthly world. We long for them to be their old self, yet it can never happen in this world. As much as we want it, things will never be the same and we can only hope.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain...

Revelation 21:4

Mummy Iris is home

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 22:37:00 +0000

It seems it has been a long time since I posted last. Much has happened in our lives since then. That night, of my last post, the call came that Mummy Iris had stopped breathing and they had taken measures to get her to the hospital. When we arrived, Mummy Iris was unresponsive, and we lost her by noon the next day. From there, we found ourselves making arrangements to take her back to Tennessee, to the county in which she was born, and bury her next to her husband.

We took her back to a little town in west Tennessee. I had not been to this part of Tennessee since I was a child, not much older than BubbaLou. I had gone when my Granddaddy passed away. I remembered the funeral home, and I remembered the cemetery once I saw it. Mummy Iris and Big Daddy have a beautiful view on top of a hill looking down into a valley and onto several other hills. It was BubbaLou's first time to visit this cemetery which held so many of her ancestors.

My BubbaLou, she has a kind heart, and it did nothing less than show what it is during this trip. We were looking at grave stones as we were walking up to check the spot where Mummy Iris was to be buried. We wanted to make sure they were placing her beside my Big Daddy. BubbaLou got to reading small grave stones. Some were marked just "Baby." There were no names, just two little stones. She noticed this and it wore on her.

A little later, as we were coming down the hill, we pointed out the stones of Mums siblings, though born before her, they never lived but a few days. There names were on their stones. BubbaLou looked around and found some stray silk flowers that had been blown around. She picked them up and poked them in the ground in front of the stones of her baby great aunt and uncle. She looked at me and asked if she could run back up the hill and place some flowers on those of the unnamed babies. Of course I said yes, and she ran up the hill to do this. She came down, and saw another stone that had weathered so much you couldn't read it. She looked around for more stray flowers and poked them in the ground in front of the stone.

I have to tell you that my eyes were full of tears, and my heart full of love for this little girl who showed so much love to those who have gone on to heaven before her. She would have made Mummy Iris so very proud. Decorating graves was very important to her. She felt is was very important to treat those graves with respect and love.

After we went to check out the grave site, cousin Carl drove us out to pick buttercups on cousin Laverne's orders. BubbaLou is a flower picker, and she picked her little heart out.

Look at us, said the violets blooming at her feet, all last winter we slept in the seeming death but at the right time God awakened us, and here we are to comfort you.

~Edward Payson Rod

Cupid

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:44:00 +0000

Valentine's day is coming up quick. We've much to do, because living with BubbaLou is always a challenge in one way or another. See, she has such a kind heart, so Valentine's Day is an especially busy time for her. I think sometimes that she is in the same league as Santa. She has elected me head elf...or for Valentine's day, I guess I will be "Head Arrow Maker."

See, the story goes something like this....

Mummy Iris has had a stroke. She is doing well, and she is in rehab-getting about okay with help, but her memory isn't the greatest. Anyhoo, BubbaLou goes to visit her and plays cards (go fish with bible characters) and draws her pictures and writes her notes to read. She sometimes plays speech therapist with Mummy Iris, which is Mummy Iris's least favorite part of therapy. Mummy Iris does enjoy BubbaLou's visits.

The little wheels in BubbaLou's heart start turning when she is at the rehab center. So she stops ands asks a person at the desk how many people(residents) are in the rehab center. 170 was the answer.

What do you think BubbaLou wants to do?

I was informed by Popsaroo that BubbaLou had to get 170 Valentine's day cards ready .
"What? 170 cards, for who?" I asked.

Don't ya know that my heart just melted into complete mush when I found out what my wee little one had in mind.

"Purity is best demonstrated by generosity"~Jesus

Luke 11:41

Now, for a little entertainment from BubbaLou....

Momsaroo, I made you a surprise!

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 00:49:00 +0000

BubbaLou called me on the way home from work the other day and she was excited to tell me that she was making me a gift. She said that I could use it often. Then she asked me where I kept the hammer. Hmmm. "Get Popsaroo if your going to get the hammer, you need an adult for the hammer" I said. My interest was peaked. This is what I got when I got home, in a gift bag and everything!

Guess she wants me to mop more often!

Happy New Year 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:42:00 +0000

This past year has had a lot of bumps, and I am looking forward to many good things in 2009. I am going to make sure I eat black-eyed peas tomorrow-We are need of as much luck and as many blessings as we can get this new year. We have a had a year of Murphy's Law and I have just about had enough! We have had plenty of good laughs and joy in our hearts as well.

So, in an effort to look back at 2008 to laugh and find the joy, I have picked through my blog posts for highlights....

Friday, January 25, 2008

Too much JOY in her heart

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Something Great!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

A Seahorse and a lawyer

Saturday, April 12, 2008

High Tea

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Music Appreciation-the 80's

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Happy Father's Day!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

A stained glass beauty

Sunday, August 3, 2008

So they loaded up the truck...

Monday, September 8, 2008

BubbaLou for President!

Saturday, October 4, 2008

The Chalk Artist meets New Turtle

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Lucky Lizards!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Marshmallows

May your family be blessed this new year!

Someone's in the kitchen

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 00:55:00 +0000

Popsaroo and BubbaLou were in the kitchen again. This time they didn't steal my new cookie sheets for home base. This time they were cooking. Or, at least, attempting to cook. No, maybe they were really melting, trying to melt caramels. Notice that I wrote trying. He had found the sack of caramels that were left over from the caramel apple night a few months ago and suddenly thought he was Ronald McDonald. McDonald's is there for a reason Popsaroo!

I got a call on my way home from work, it was Popsaroo warning me that he had been trying to make apple dippers for BubbaLou. He told me that he sorta burned some caramel in one of my little dishes. I was in the midst of driving into a bit of traffic so I said, "Okay, it's all right." I hung up and worked my way through the construction and traffic.

I got home and found a ramekin dish covered in dried caramel. This isn't so bad I thought, a little soak and this will be good as new. It was at that moment that BubbaLou came into the kitchen telling me that "Popsaroo ruined one of your dishes! He burned the caramels when he was trying to make me apple dippers. Let me show you." So she turns around and went out into the GARAGE, and came back in with a ramekin dish with what looked like a piece of lava attached to it. Burned was an understatement. I grabbed a knife, and just about bent it. I decided that to go on chipping away would only leave me with a dull or bent knife and possibly a missing appendage.

It is only a ramekin dish, I guess the easy thing to do would have been to throw it away. But you see, it came from a yard sale, it was a bargain-I got 3 for 1.50, and I like the stupid little thing-so many uses. I was determined to save it. A large squirt of dish washer detergent and hot water with a three day soak worked. I didn't even have to scrub, it just slid right out. I didn't even have to ask Heloise!

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:05:00 +0000

Now with your best English accent....

What we need now is a little holly! The prickly leaves remind us of the thorns our dear Lamb of God suffered with silent fortitude, and the red berries remind us of the drops of healing blood he shed for us. The tree remains green all the year round, and the leaves never die- which shows us the way of eternal life for those who love the Savior.

Friar Tuck

Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead

Angels, from the realms of glory,

Wing your flight o'er all the earth;

Ye, who sang creation's story,

Now proclaim Messiah's birth:

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King.

~Angels, from the Realms of Glory by James Montgomery

Merry Christmas from me to you!

I'll be home for Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:43:00 +0000

I have fond memories of putting up the Christmas tree with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Santa had the uncanny patience to put up the tree and string the lights perfectly, winding them around each limb so that you could barely see the cords. To this day, I have not figured out how he did it.

He also had the talent that only elves and Santa have, he could string the lights back into the box perfectly when Christmas was over. He enjoyed it. I on the other hand do well to get them off the tree and throw them in a plastic sack until next year.

Mrs. Claus and I would then decorate the tree. The ornaments were packed safely away in boxes. Each year, we would pick each one up and place it on the tree while talking and laughing together about this or that. The elf below is one from that time so long ago. He still is shiny and bright and looking towards Christmas with happiness. The moose is one that I painted after Popsaroo and I got married. The penguin is one of two, part of a wooden collection of Noah's animals given to me by my Mums-in-law.

This is one of Mum's ornaments that she painted. She was painting lots of pictures on canvas during this time and took her talent to Christmas balls. Unfortunately, this is all I have left of this ornament. BubbaLou accidentally knocked this one off the tree and it shattered. This has been the Christmas of broken ornaments, and Erith Sappy hasn't fallen over once like Fat Charley.

Mum's also painted these Christmas mice. I love Christmas mice. The goose is one that I painted, and the lamb is one of my collection.( I collected sheep once upon a time-but my pasture is full.)

I placed tinsel on the tree this year too. Santa would keep the tinsel packed away very neat and tidy each year, he treated each piece with respect. He must of used the same pack for over a decade.

Memories of my Santa are sweet and dear to Mrs. Claus and me.

Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:42:00 +0000

When Popsaroo and I first got married, I decided that I was going to make some ornaments for our tree. I can not tell you how I threw myself into this. I had been cross-stitching during the winter we were married, but do you know that although I finished them, I never made them into an ornament. They are still at the bottom of my cross-stitching basket-safe and sound. I have good intentions.

The ornaments that I did finish, were the ones that I painted. They have been put on our tree every year since. I have several favorites from that group that I painted. A gingerbread house, a sleepy mouse in a cup, and a church with a red door. The gingerbread house takes me back to Hansel and Gretel. I loved that tale as a child and every time I see a gingerbread house, I have to think of them pulling treats off the witch's house to fill their hungry tummies. This mouse was probably my first Christmas mouse of my very own. Mum's had made several mice for the tree while I was growing up- I always loved Christmas mice. I think churches can be so beautiful at Christmas-and even though my church doesn't have a red door, I love the vesper service on Christmas Eve.

I just love unwrapping these ornaments every year, ahhh...memories. This year, BubbaLou has been more interested in the ones that I made and the ones that Mums made. It is always fun when BubbaLou actually wants to listen for the answer and hear about our traditions of Christmas.

Mum's ornaments will be the next post. Mums let me raid the ornament box at her house and I brought home some of my all time favorites from my childhood.

Last year, BubbaLou and I made snow flakes. We wrote prayer requests on them last year. We placed them on a piece of red yarn and strung them around the tree. I really love the snowflakes and the memories of the prayers that we said. We checked the names twice to make sure everyone was accounted for this year and celebrated those prayers that had been answered.

I have also had silver bells hanging on the tree for many years. They are the inexpensive ones, but I sure like to see them on the tree. The carol silver bells always runs through my head when I untangle them and put them on the tree.

Silver bells, silver bells

it's Christmas time in the city

ring-a-ling, hear them ring

soon it will be Christmas day!

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
dressed in holiday style
in the air there's a feeling of Christmas!

Children laughing, people passing
meeting smile after smile

and on every street corner you'll hear . . .

Silver bells ( silver bells! ) silver bells
( silver bells! )it's Christmas time in the city

ring-a-ling ( ring-a-ling! ) hear them ring
( hear them ring!! )soon it will be Christmas day!
~Silver Bells Carol

Cookies and Home

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:38:00 +0000

BubbaLou had a brownie party to attend not to long ago, and I needed to send cookies for her to decorate. I was short on time and planned to run by Publix and pick up some sugar cookies from their bakery. This turned out to be the one and only time Publix let me down, they didn't have any made. In their defense, they offered to make me some but it would take about twenty minutes. I couldn't wait, I figured I would just pick up some of those Pillsbury sugar cookies-you know, the ones that are already cut and you just have to plop them on the cookie sheet. I picked up 3 packs since they were on sale and headed home. Popsaroo had tagged along, so I asked him on the way home, "Have you by any chance seen my cookie sheets?"
"Yeah, they are in the back yard, " he said.
"In the back yard?!"
"Yeah, we were using them as home plate." He said this like this was an everyday occurrence to have your wife's cookie sheets out in the back yard for softball practice!
"What am I supposed to make cookies on?" I asked. I knew at that point what the answer was, Mum's cookie sheets!

I took those cookies over to Mum's house and baked them up and sent BubbaLou off to her Brownie party just in the nick of time. She had fun decorating them with her friend, Bubbles who had fun decorating the cookies that she brought(I don't know the story behind her cookies.)

Now, I am still without cookie sheets. I am not bringing those things back in the house! So, I was looking in the fridge this morning, and noticed that one of the packets of Pillsbury cookies was not lying just right, so I picked it up, and it was EMPTY, except for one unbaked cookie! BubbaLou and Popsaroo(I don't think either one of them was in it alone) had eaten up a whole package of cookie dough! c'est la vie....I popped the last one in my mouth and laughed!

It's Christmas time...

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:32:00 +0000

Christmas time has come to our wee family's house. I have been working hard the last week to get our decorations up and boxes put away. Our tree this year is not Fat Charley, but Ereth Sappy, named after Ereth the Porcupine from the book Poppy. Ereth is sappy, we got sap all over us on the way home, and Ereth is prickly-but not dry. Mums, BubbaLou, and I decided on his name on the way home from finding him.

We thought that finding a new tree would be a chore. I mean, we all came to have a special place in our hearts for Fat Charley. It turned out to be really easy and quick. BubbaLou picked him out in about five minutes and bonded with him right away.

We got Ereth home and couldn't find the stand. So he stood out on the carport in a bucket of water until Popsaroo got home and found the stand. We stood him up, buckled him in, and filled up his water trough. Then we didn't get back to him except to water him for a couple of days-we were busy celebrating BubbaLou's birthday.

Finally, we got around to decorating him. I have a strange sort of theme, I don't really have one. I have a mix of ornaments that I painted when Popsaroo and I got married back almost 19 years ago, most of them or assorted little woodland critters. I also have a collection of ornaments that I have found in antique stores and at yard sales and then I have ones that have been given to me.

The santas on the bell is one that I painted after Popsaroo and I got married. The vintage angel is one of four instrument playing angels(I even have the original box) I found at an estate sale-I think.

The Mary and baby Jesus are part of an entire Nativity set that is hanging around the tree. I got them from our Global Impact Conference at Church. A missionary was selling these as part of World Crafts. The money goes to help support the women that made them.

This was one of my finds last year at a Christmas store or sorts. Every thing was on sale and it was just exciting:) He is my Irish Leprechaun Santa.

What usually happens when you uncover your real past to strangers? You show, for instance, to your neighbor a photograph of the old farmhouse where you were born. When you look at it you can smell the clover in the fields, you hear the cows lowing, you know that your mother is weeding in the garden yonder. You see yourself and Jack-two big, freckled boys, leaning from that attic window at night planning your lives out in the world, full of fighting and glory...

...All of these things are in that photograph for you. But your neighbor sees in it only a common frame house and barn that need repair badly....

~Some Old-Time Christmases

by Rebecca Harding Davis

Family Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:23:00 +0000

BubbaLou called a family meeting the other day. She made sure that both Popsaroo and I were both seated before she would tell us what it was about. She had her music stand in the living room with construction paper posters. She had graphs and everything. She announced that she was going to discuss "Going Green" and " Eating Better." It was classic!

She had a couple of graphs that showed that Momsaroo and BubbaLou were doing pretty good when it came to eating right and going green. Popsaroo, not so good. She lectured him a bit and asked him ways he could improve. He needed some suggestions so she provided them.

I will have to let you know how her next poster presentation goes. You never know, we may just see some improvements. Well, maybe not until after Christmas on the "Eating Better" one, cause right now, I am on the Santa diet! I just got my season stash of Bob's Christmas Candy canes! They are all mine! No one else likes peppermint except me and Santa! Hahaha, I mean, HoHoHoHo!

~Momsaroo, why do you like Peppermint?~

~BubbaLou

Happy Birthday BubbaLou!

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:48:00 +0000

BubbaLou is 9 years young! I can't believe it. Popsaroo and I spent the first 9 years of our marriage with a twinkle in our eye, the second 9 years we have had the most wonderful little girl we could have ever imagined!

BubbaLou is full of personality and spice! We always look forward to celebrating her birthday with gusto. What other way could their possibly be when you have a BubbaLou???

This year we started off with a present or two leading up to her birthday. We like to have birthday week in our family! She made out with a Taylor Swift CD and an Idog named Icey.
She was thrilled!

Since school must go on whether it is your birthday or not, we celebrated with cupcakes during lunch. Mmmm...vanilla! We even slipped one to her best friend that isn't in her class. The other kids were so jealous! Hey, there are perks when you are friends with BubbaLou!

After school, we went to Mum's for a cookies and cocoa sidewalk gala. I brought the cookie and Mum's made the cocoa-spicy! We had to cut it down a few times because BubbaLou and her two taste testers where running around saying, "My throat is burning..." It had a dash of cayenne pepper in it.

We wanted to keep the gala simple-no gifts. Mum's had a great idea- the kids could bring food donations for the homeless and she could fill her basket to take to church. BubbaLou was all for it. She delivered her flyer invitations Sunday afternoon(nothing like last minute)-almost everyone came. She ended up collecting two grocery bags full of food! She was quite impressed with her friends food cans!

BubbaLou's Party Hints

Party hint Number 1 - Have the party guests blow up the balloons!

Party hint Number 2 - Include chocolate, whipped cream, and marshmallows:)

Party hint Number 3 - Have lots of napkins, you are gonna need them!

After the party when all the sugar had peaked and the meltdown was taking over, it was necessary for Popsaroo and me to take BubbaLou to a steakhouse for a birthday steak and some version of a cow-poke birthday song to be loudly sung to her in front of lots of strangers. She loved it! It is one of the things she has wanted to do for a long time.

Her final gift was the Littlest Petshop -she has been wanting one so bad!!!!

Believe it or not, she doesn't know what to ask Santa for. She is going to ask for Santa to bring her a surprise, just like she has every single year she has been willing to talk to him!

Happy Birthday BubbaLou-you live in a zoo!

Thank you God for my BubbaLou!

Hay Dog!

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 02:28:00 +0000

Thomas the dog has officially lost his mind. We think that he believes himself to be a rabbit. Before the rabbit- Patrick Poopers the lop eared rabbit came into our lives, Thomas the dog would eat just about anything. He liked any meat-still does, loves apples, bananas, tangerines, green beans, steamed broccoli, peanut butter and just about any sort of yummy kids cereal(although he wasn't supposed to eat any.) He would snub raw carrots and broccoli.

Guess who begs, I mean begs for raw carrots and broccoli now? I have even given him some kale at his insistence. I had to hold it and it would tear away at it bit by bit because it would fall out of his mouth-but he was certainly making an effort.

Now look who I caught gobbling up Timothy hay from under the rabbits cage. That's right, Thomas the dog who thinks he is a rabbit. Hay. The dog is eating hay. We caught a pic with it sticking out of his mouth. We had a good laugh over this one!

On Green Acres this would be considered normal!

Marshmallows

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:03:00 +0000

No food speaks of holidays as strongly as the marshmallow. It is one of my favorite foods. Of course it belongs in that very tiny portion of the food pyramid that you can barely see. One big marshmallow is bigger than that little allowable sweet tip of the pyramid. Oh, I forgot, I was never that good at geometry or fractions. I think I will just move the marshmallow down to the base of the food pyramid for the time being-it is Christmas time ya know!

BubbaLou and I just watched Rudolph on t.v. We have the movie, but there is nothing like watching Christmas specials on t.v. We enjoyed cocoa, whipped cream , marshmallows, and of course some green Christmas sugar sprinkles. Magical!

It was the second time this week that we enjoyed marshmallows. Thomas the dog only got them the first time. Popsaroo built a bon fire the other night when I got home from work. Nothing says "Welcome Home" like a warm toasted marshmallow and hugs and kisses from the dog, the daughter, and the big hunk of man that built that roaring fire!

Okay, so he had a little trouble getting it started, but he succeeded and came through with hot dogs and marshmallows. Did I mention that Popsaroo had to scour several grocery stores earlier in the evening to find the big marshmallows. BubbaLou blamed it on the Thanksgiving rush and Popsaroo went along with it.

Mmmmm. Toasted Marshmallowy goodness! You better watch out, Thomas the dog will eat them right off the stick when you aren't looking. However, he does spit them out because he burns his mouth and then gobbles them all up! A burned mouth is no excuse for not eating a marshmallow.

I love the fact that God gave man the idea for fire, and then for marshmallows, and finally the common sense to put them together.

~me

It's Christmas time and I have been goofin off

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:52:00 +0000

I have decided that I have been goofing off. Mesmerized by games on the internet, I have gotten behind in my encouragement blog.

I write this blog, not because I am a writer, I'm not, but because I am an Encourager. I have just gotten lazy and run down. Life has thrown me some real curve balls lately, and I have zoned out in my efforts to cope with them. No more, I vow to limit my search for words amongst scrabble tiles-my vocabulary is quite limited so it has been pretty useless anyway.

I need to be encouraged and writing this blog encourages me and some other members of my family and a few friends. When I write a post, I try to look for the silver lining, the part that God intends for me to either learn from or to cherish.

That said, it's Christmas time- my favorite time of year! I laid in bed yesterday watching Santa Claus movies and eating Chex mix. BubbaLou and I sang Christmas songs in the car today and tonight, it is Rudolph.

"Mom, it's 8:00pm, Rudolph is on, Come on!!!

~ BubbaLou

Growing up

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:03:00 +0000

BubbaLou is growing up! Once upon a time, she wasn't this tall, she was a wee babe that walked around theme parks that had rides for the little people. She is spoiled! I admit it. It is not all children that get to know theme parks like Disney, Universal, and Busch Gardens like the back of their hand.

Being an only child has its advantages when you live only a hop, a skip, and a jump away from Orlando. We rotate the seasonal and annual passes for the parks and enjoy just about every minute of it. We occassionaly take advantage of the hotels in the area-wait, maybe they take advantage of us. Hmmmm. Anyhoo, most times, we just drive up for the day or afternoon. Popsaroo has even been known to pick her up from school on Fridays(while I am at work) and take her to ride some roller-coasters. I think he is the biggest kid-maybe she isn't an only child.

Last Christmas, we went up to Universal for the afternoon. We had spent the morning with Mums and Mummy Iris, but decided to venture out and about. I know it is a little different, but it was better than sitting around with nothing to do. It was very Christmasy. They were playing carols that included Jesus and they were wishing people a Merry Christmas. We totally enjoyed it. The employees, though working on Christmas seemed to enjoy it too. Popsaroo and BubbaLou horsed around and it made for a not so bloated, sleepy afternoon. It also distracted my mind, because I was missing my Santa. They make me laugh, they are a good team!

Humor helps us to think out of the box. The average child laughs about 400 times per day, the average adult laughs only 15 times per day. What happened to the other 385 laughs?Anonymous

Lucky Lizards!

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 02:23:00 +0000

I have decided that I never have my camera when I need it. I had it in my purse yesterday and forgot I had it. I didn't really need it at the yard sale that we went to on the way to BubbaLou's softball game, but I could have used it later. I missed out on some good shots, like BubbaLou hitting the ball and getting to first base and when she stepped down on home triumphantly as she scored a run! I loved the look on her face-all smiles:)

I changed purses this morning and left the camera at home. I wished I had it, because we could have gotten some great pics of the last supper musical dramatization. BubbaLou noticed the men dressed in the funny looking costumes(biblical dress) right away as we walked into the worship center this morning. We were looking forward to the Lord's supper, I mean, who doesn't get excited to sup with the Lord in rememberance for all that he is, and all that he has done? But the costumes were creating even more excitement for us.

BubbaLou marched into the worship center and led me to a seat in the nose bleed section. She settled down with her bag of goodies-a book, a journal, and her rubber lizard. The rubber lizard was her Saturday treasure from the yard sale, and her new best friend-Ray. BubbaLou happily led Ray through song and prayer, and he looked on while we partook of the Lord's Supper. Soon, church was over and we all filed out and headed to the car.

Reenactment

We went home for a bite of lunch and then headed over to Mums. BubbaLou took Ray outside in search of her friends and soon got busy. Not wanting to leave her lizard in the grass, she placed him on the bumper of Mum's van.

Mum's had church business, so she took off and said she would see us later. The next thing I know, BubbaLou is coming through the door in a panic. Ray is gone. Once I finally had the story straight, I assured her that I would drive down the road to see if we could find Ray-the lizard. Her two buddies were all about going with us to hunt for Ray. Everyone loaded up, and off we went-down the road in the subdivision, down the highway, and finally turned into the church parking lot. Guess who was still on the back of the bumper?...Ray! Cheers! Ray had gone to church again. I don't know if rubber lizard can be lucky, but I think BubbaLou is blessed.

I thought, "I wish I had my camera!"

Psalms 127:3

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a real blessing.

Bloggy Christmas Ornaments

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:49:00 +0000

My bloggy friend Kate has issued forth an invitation to participate in a bloggy Christmas of sorts! Announcing!!!

The Accidental Travelers

first annual

Great Ornament Exchange!

The best part, is that you are invited and real ornaments and new friends are involved! It sounds like a great way to celebrate the season and encourage our bloggy friends with Good Tidings! You know me, all about the encouragement! Just hop on over to her site and sign up! While you are there, read some of her posts, like her wonderful post election post!

Speaking of post election, I am so glad the election is over and I only want to hear good positive things from all Americans! :) I have very good friends who range from the center on out to left and the right and they are all good Americans! I am proud of all their votes! So I am ready to celebrate the Season of our Lord's birth!

Cause no matter who ya are,

the Good Lord has plans

and He is in control-

whether you believe it, or not!

BubbaLou Wisdom

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:48:00 +0000

"Momsaroo, your vote could make all the difference in the election!"

It has been fun teaching BubbaLou about voting and what our freedom allows. She has been learning about voting in school and even got to cast her own vote. She was quite pleased with it. She has picked a candidate and is quite open about her choice. I however, have had a much tougher time deciding. I followed her advice, and cast my vote. To tell you the truth, I voted along with BubbaLou's choice.

This morning in the car, we had a good conversation about Democracy and how our leaders were elected. Mind you, it will require much more teaching and reinforcement before she gets the whole popular and electoral college concepts. What is so neat, is that she brings up these topics in such interesting ways.

See, BubbaLou has been listening to a book with a mean owl. His name is Mr. Arkaxe and he has informed Poppy's family of mice, that he is ruler. He will protect them from porcupines, but they must ask permission to travel and move from place to place, or they get eaten. So, BubbaLou brings up Mr. Arkaxe and refers to him being like the President.

"No,"I say, " Mr. Arkaxe was a dictator. He used power and intimidation to rule over the mice. The mice didn't get a vote. They were just told what they could do or Mr. Arkaxe got a mouse lunch. That is what is so wonderful about a Democracy, we each get a vote. We can have our say, our freedom. We can vote for the person that we each think will represent our interests the best."

This conversation then led into the whole popular vote and electoral vote thing and I sorta lost her. But this is one more reason why it is so important to read to your child. You just never know what they will walk away with!

Recommended listening-it is fantastic as the audio book. We checked it out from the local library.

Poppy by Avi

Fall Festival Fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Carmen) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:46:00 +0000

Mum's is a Saint! If you only knew the kindness and loveliness of her heart, especially when many children regularly run amok in her house, you would completely agree. She looks forward to her church's Fall Festival, and so do we! BubbaLou has brought home many a fish from this festival before, and they live quite a long time. I think those fish must be blessed!

They didn't have fish that we found this year, but they did have fish bowls. BubbaLou tried her hand at this game for quite a while. She walked away with much candy for her efforts.

She also fished for toys and candy. She did this one a couple of times. BubbaLou is a great fisher girl!

The ball rolling through all these nails got her another five pieces of candy. Plus, it had an added bonus of reminding her that Jesus loves her!She tried her hand at darts and was actually pretty good aiming for the bulls eye on the ground.

She flung hula hoops around unsuspecting pumpkins. How fun is that?

She even got to meet a couple of horses. She took Lady for a ride and gave Georgia a pet. Georgia was being mischievous-she has a lot of personality!
Last, but not least, BubbaLou competed in the Pie Eating Contest. Really it was a dig the five gummie worms out of the pie with your mouth contest. She was a mess!