After a very short, but extremely needed and fun visit with my bestest bud, Tamara, which included Cirque du Soleil's Cortoe, a night out at the Hard Rock, a day of shopping and one episode of Gray's, I came down with the sickness that left me in the bed for the better part of 4 days. Lucky me had a mixture of the stomach bug that is going around, as well as a sinus cold that is still lingering.
Mom and Dad will be here Wednesday afternoon for Thanksgiving, so I have two and a half days to get back on top of work. And that means that I will have to buckle down and not read any blogs for those two and a half days. Oh, my heart, it is hurting. I miss you guys. I will try to sneak a few minutes at night if I can wrestle the computer from Larry and the boys. Right now though, I have a date on the couch with the third book of the Twilight series while the boys watch Shark Boy and Lava Girl for the upteenth time.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Veteran's Day
The older I become, the sappier I am when it comes to honoring the military. Even seeing a man in uniform pass me in the grocery store brings tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat.
Sunday, we took the boys to the Dolphins' game and before kick-off, they brought out brave men and women from the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard to honor their dedication to this country. 60 other men and women also came out onto the field to be inducted. I think I cried through the whole thing.
I'm not sure if it is the knowledge of what these soldiers must endure to protect our freedom, or that one day my boys may make the same decision, but the emotion just bubbles up and I was thankful for the loud applause and sunglasses hiding my red rimmed eyes.
I think it may be mostly Pride. So proud of this country and the dedication of these often too young people who represent us.
On Veteran's Day, be sure to offer a prayer for those who are away from their families, as well as for the families who worry over them.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Pimping Carrie
Carrie hasn't been around much the past month or so, but for good reason . . . they have a new precious baby boy, Jackson, in the house. It's amazing how a little one that can't do much of anything yet can keep you so incredible busy. :)
Add Carrie to the list of friends that I've reconnected with from high school. Carrie has such a sweet and gentle spirit with a great sense of humor. Her whole family, mom, dad and brother, are all genuine people and my mom and her mom have remained friends through e-mail even after they moved away from Montgomery. How my mom wished that I would date her older brother! It's funny to think about now and how different my life would be had she gotten her wish.
Unfortunately since we live so far apart, I've not had the chance to meet Carrie's husband and two boys, but I can only imagine that they are as sweet and giving as Carrie. Carrie is one of those people that if you ever needed anything, she would jump to help.
Go say hello to Carrie and oohh and ahhh over that cute little boy!
Add Carrie to the list of friends that I've reconnected with from high school. Carrie has such a sweet and gentle spirit with a great sense of humor. Her whole family, mom, dad and brother, are all genuine people and my mom and her mom have remained friends through e-mail even after they moved away from Montgomery. How my mom wished that I would date her older brother! It's funny to think about now and how different my life would be had she gotten her wish.
Unfortunately since we live so far apart, I've not had the chance to meet Carrie's husband and two boys, but I can only imagine that they are as sweet and giving as Carrie. Carrie is one of those people that if you ever needed anything, she would jump to help.
Go say hello to Carrie and oohh and ahhh over that cute little boy!
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Walking the Line
I go in to Peyton's classroom on Thursday mornings to help the kids take their Accelerated Reading (AR) tests. There's one little boy that is so far beyond the other kids it's just amazing. Most of the kids read on a 1.0-1.7 reading level and their tests are 5 questions long, multiple choice and count .5 points. The group of students I generally help on Thursdays normally score between a 3-5 out of 5, but this little boy ALWAYS scores a 5 and he flies through his tests.
Over the last couple of weeks, his reading level has just gone up and up. The book he read today was a 2.7 and he actually had 10 questions for his test. When he finished, he had scored an 8 out of 10 and he was absolutely devastated. So much, that he started to cry a little. His poor little face was red, and his nose was runny. I squatted down beside him and asked what was wrong and he said, "I told my mom it was going to be a bad day." My heart broke for him. While most of the kids have accumulated 5 points total, he has at least 20.
I tried to comfort him as best I could, but he just didn't want to hear it. I told him how hard the test was he took and how many questions he had to answer. Then I pointed to the points board and said, "Look how many points you have!" He walked back to his desk and I gave him a tissue. I could just tell that he would start to be ok and then think about it again and start to cry again.
When I took Peyton's teacher the tests, I told her how upset he was, so when she got to his, she made a big deal about how well he had done, telling him that she didn't think she could even do that good. When I left, he looked like he felt a little better, but I just wanted to cry along with him.
Poor little guy. He's only in first grade and already upset about missing two questions on a test that is almost 2 grades above his level. I'm going to send his mom an e-mail to let her know and hopefully, she will do a little something special with him tonight.
I have to brag on Peyton too. Even though he's still stumbling over some words and he gets frustrated when he doesn't know a word, he used some great deductive reasoning today while taking his test. It would figure that the word he couldn't read was the right answer, but he was able to read all the wrong answers. In doing so, he told me, "I know these three aren't right, so it has to be this one." and it was. I think that skill is just as important as always knowing the right answers.
Over the last couple of weeks, his reading level has just gone up and up. The book he read today was a 2.7 and he actually had 10 questions for his test. When he finished, he had scored an 8 out of 10 and he was absolutely devastated. So much, that he started to cry a little. His poor little face was red, and his nose was runny. I squatted down beside him and asked what was wrong and he said, "I told my mom it was going to be a bad day." My heart broke for him. While most of the kids have accumulated 5 points total, he has at least 20.
I tried to comfort him as best I could, but he just didn't want to hear it. I told him how hard the test was he took and how many questions he had to answer. Then I pointed to the points board and said, "Look how many points you have!" He walked back to his desk and I gave him a tissue. I could just tell that he would start to be ok and then think about it again and start to cry again.
When I took Peyton's teacher the tests, I told her how upset he was, so when she got to his, she made a big deal about how well he had done, telling him that she didn't think she could even do that good. When I left, he looked like he felt a little better, but I just wanted to cry along with him.
Poor little guy. He's only in first grade and already upset about missing two questions on a test that is almost 2 grades above his level. I'm going to send his mom an e-mail to let her know and hopefully, she will do a little something special with him tonight.
I have to brag on Peyton too. Even though he's still stumbling over some words and he gets frustrated when he doesn't know a word, he used some great deductive reasoning today while taking his test. It would figure that the word he couldn't read was the right answer, but he was able to read all the wrong answers. In doing so, he told me, "I know these three aren't right, so it has to be this one." and it was. I think that skill is just as important as always knowing the right answers.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Some Halloween Pics
I voted! I voted! I waited almost 3 hours in the chilliness, but I still did it. And now, can the commercials please END! Anyhoo, on to Halloween pics.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Pimping Kristin
On this day after her 32nd Birthday, let's pimp Kristin, shall we?
Kristin and I have known each other since way back in 7th grade. Can I just interject again that I am so thankful to have reconnected with my high school and before friends. While I have made some great friends in Florida, there's just something about the relationships you have with people who have known you for years and years that does a heart and soul good.
When I was searching through old photos for our reunion, I found a story that Kristin and I written together about Pea Pod the Pocket Squirrel. That still makes me laugh. Remember Bob Ross, the painter on, I think, PBS? He was a great personality and always talked in such a calming, funny way and Pea Pod was his creation. I would write a section and pass it to Kristin and a few days later she would produce a chapter. This went on for a while and we partially filled a 3-ring binder.
Although it might not have been as obvious with that short story, Kristin has an amazing talent for capturing her emotion in the written word. Her entries often make me want to cry, especially the heart felt ones she writes about her father, who passed away a couple of years ago. Their love for each other shines through every word and the knowledge that she will be with him again in Heaven gives me hope and the determination to keep persevering in this often difficult life.
I'm so thankful that Kristin overcame her fear that I was a bully way back during cheerleading tryouts our 7th grade year and took a chance on our friendship. :)
Kristin and I have known each other since way back in 7th grade. Can I just interject again that I am so thankful to have reconnected with my high school and before friends. While I have made some great friends in Florida, there's just something about the relationships you have with people who have known you for years and years that does a heart and soul good.
When I was searching through old photos for our reunion, I found a story that Kristin and I written together about Pea Pod the Pocket Squirrel. That still makes me laugh. Remember Bob Ross, the painter on, I think, PBS? He was a great personality and always talked in such a calming, funny way and Pea Pod was his creation. I would write a section and pass it to Kristin and a few days later she would produce a chapter. This went on for a while and we partially filled a 3-ring binder.
Although it might not have been as obvious with that short story, Kristin has an amazing talent for capturing her emotion in the written word. Her entries often make me want to cry, especially the heart felt ones she writes about her father, who passed away a couple of years ago. Their love for each other shines through every word and the knowledge that she will be with him again in Heaven gives me hope and the determination to keep persevering in this often difficult life.
I'm so thankful that Kristin overcame her fear that I was a bully way back during cheerleading tryouts our 7th grade year and took a chance on our friendship. :)
Friday, October 31, 2008
Pimping Amy
Chubby Girl Running aka Amy is exactly the kind of blog I was looking for when I had the idea for pimping blogs. I stumbled upon her as I did a Blog Crawl yesterday, and now I am going to work my way through her archives.
Not only is she a highly entertaining writer, but she just completed her first half-marathon, which is a huge inspiration to me! I am not a runner, yet, well, maybe I am, but I still don't feel like it sometimes. ReadingAmy's blog is just the encouragement I need.
While I love the friends I am training with, I feel like they are just speeding right along and I'm going to keel over at any minute. I think Amy and I could have a good run together, then kick back and drink a beer afterwards.
Even if you aren't into running, Amy's writing is fun and full of real life. I look forward to going through all her archives and I'm excited that there aren't years and years of them so I may actually be able to get through them all!
Not only is she a highly entertaining writer, but she just completed her first half-marathon, which is a huge inspiration to me! I am not a runner, yet, well, maybe I am, but I still don't feel like it sometimes. ReadingAmy's blog is just the encouragement I need.
While I love the friends I am training with, I feel like they are just speeding right along and I'm going to keel over at any minute. I think Amy and I could have a good run together, then kick back and drink a beer afterwards.
Even if you aren't into running, Amy's writing is fun and full of real life. I look forward to going through all her archives and I'm excited that there aren't years and years of them so I may actually be able to get through them all!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Pimping Rebecca
Rebecca and I have known each other since first grade when we were both in Ms. Cockerham's class (trying learning that name as a 6 year old). Throughout the 12 years we attended school together, we shared classes, went to the same church and had a lot of the same friends. I think, though, it was chorus that really brought us closer and bonded our friendship.
Starting in 9th grade, there was a group of us in chorus that hung out and had tons of fun. A couple of the guys were older than us and I was "in love" with the one who Rebecca dated. Everyone knew it though and we all laughed about it. I remember asking one of the other guys, Jason, how everyone knew and he said it was because I was nice to Rebecca's boyfriend and so mean to him (Jason). Jason was so crazy and annoying though, it was hard not to be mean to him. ha ha
This was the group of friends who kept me honest when my boyfriend, who didn't attend our school, was pulling me in the wrong direction.
Rebecca is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet, but she can be feisty if need be. During our 10th year reunion, her little boy, Brooks, started to toddle away from her, but one sharp, "Brooks!" made him scurry back. I marveled at her parenting, as Peyton was already running me ragged. And then the baby, Reese, every time I see his picture, I see Rebecca as a little girl with her perfect ponytails and ribbons.
I'm so glad we found each other again!
Starting in 9th grade, there was a group of us in chorus that hung out and had tons of fun. A couple of the guys were older than us and I was "in love" with the one who Rebecca dated. Everyone knew it though and we all laughed about it. I remember asking one of the other guys, Jason, how everyone knew and he said it was because I was nice to Rebecca's boyfriend and so mean to him (Jason). Jason was so crazy and annoying though, it was hard not to be mean to him. ha ha
This was the group of friends who kept me honest when my boyfriend, who didn't attend our school, was pulling me in the wrong direction.
Rebecca is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet, but she can be feisty if need be. During our 10th year reunion, her little boy, Brooks, started to toddle away from her, but one sharp, "Brooks!" made him scurry back. I marveled at her parenting, as Peyton was already running me ragged. And then the baby, Reese, every time I see his picture, I see Rebecca as a little girl with her perfect ponytails and ribbons.
I'm so glad we found each other again!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Pimping Tamara
What can I say about Tamara without filling an entire blog? She is my sister, if not in blood, spirit. She is my bestest friend in the whole wide world. She is the one that even though we may disagree and piss each other off, I know she will always be there for me.
We met when we were 7 years old and became fast friends being that we were the quickest in the class and generally had extra time on our hands. We're survived her moving away and coming back, me moving away and staying, one divorce, two husbands, 4 children, cancer, death and the everyday hum drum of life.
She's coming to visit in a couple weeks for our annual get together and I couldn't be more excited. I wish I could steal her away for a whole month.
ok, guys, that's all in my queue. If you want your blog pimped, shoot me an e-mail. Tell your friends, neighbors and enemies.
We met when we were 7 years old and became fast friends being that we were the quickest in the class and generally had extra time on our hands. We're survived her moving away and coming back, me moving away and staying, one divorce, two husbands, 4 children, cancer, death and the everyday hum drum of life.
She's coming to visit in a couple weeks for our annual get together and I couldn't be more excited. I wish I could steal her away for a whole month.
ok, guys, that's all in my queue. If you want your blog pimped, shoot me an e-mail. Tell your friends, neighbors and enemies.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Pimping Suz
Aside from Larry, Suz is the very first friend from the Internet that I met in person. Gosh, Suz and I have known each other for years. We met, ha ha, on a Dawson's Creek message board. We were both HUGE fans and wrote Fan Fic about the show. Before Suz had little Roo and she worked outside of the home, we e-mailed about 100 times a day. No lie. At that time, we kept a running commentary all day long. Even today when she has a spare moment and is on the computer, we will catch up through 5, 10, 15 e-mails before her attention is needed by her precious little girl.
Suz is great because she is not afraid to speak her mind and as per her tag line she is "Not Your Typical Mommy." Her husband is an amazing photographer and the family of three lives on a farm shared by his parents surrounded by huge space and lots and lots of animals.
I am often in awe and admittedly slightly jealous of their non-traditional lifestyle that doesn't include 9-5 jobs or keeping up with the Jones. Recently, Suz was contacted by a local magazine and asked to share some of her entries with their readers. I couldn't be more proud and I know she has longed for an opportunity like this for a long time!
Although we don't get to see each other very often, Suz is one of my dearest friends and I couldn't imagine not having her burning bright spirit in my life.
Suz is great because she is not afraid to speak her mind and as per her tag line she is "Not Your Typical Mommy." Her husband is an amazing photographer and the family of three lives on a farm shared by his parents surrounded by huge space and lots and lots of animals.
I am often in awe and admittedly slightly jealous of their non-traditional lifestyle that doesn't include 9-5 jobs or keeping up with the Jones. Recently, Suz was contacted by a local magazine and asked to share some of her entries with their readers. I couldn't be more proud and I know she has longed for an opportunity like this for a long time!
Although we don't get to see each other very often, Suz is one of my dearest friends and I couldn't imagine not having her burning bright spirit in my life.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Pimping Chelle
If you ever need a really creative, fun activity to do with your children Chelle, or Ms. Congeniality is the woman you want to call, or e-mail, or comment on her blog. This woman has boundless energy and ideas and I am always amazed by the wonderful ways she handles holidays, birthdays, and really just any weekend with her family.
The stories she tells about her Man-cub and The Girl show what an awesome mom she is and I know her kids are so very lucky to have her. Also, Chelle is just someone I would love to sit down and have a glass of wine with on a cool fall day under the roof of her huge wrap around porch.
It's funny how well I feel that I know Chell even though we've never met in person. I really don't even know how long we've been reading each other's blog, except that it's been a few years. Chell is a prime example of how you can be friends with someone that lives a thousand miles away.
The stories she tells about her Man-cub and The Girl show what an awesome mom she is and I know her kids are so very lucky to have her. Also, Chelle is just someone I would love to sit down and have a glass of wine with on a cool fall day under the roof of her huge wrap around porch.
It's funny how well I feel that I know Chell even though we've never met in person. I really don't even know how long we've been reading each other's blog, except that it's been a few years. Chell is a prime example of how you can be friends with someone that lives a thousand miles away.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Pimping Summer
Summer aka Marie, has been one of my very good friends since the 6th grade when she moved to Montgomery and began attended my elementary school. After high school graduation, she and her high school sweetheart were married and moved to Hawaii as Jay was a Marine Man.
A few years later, they moved to Tampa and we were able to get together a couple of times. Wild fun was had by all!
Now they have settled in North Carolina and have two boys, Brantley, who is now 13 (!!!) (I remember holding him not a week after he was born) and Parker, who is fast approaching 2.
Summer recently traveled to Malawi to mission and her blog Look Out shares these adventures as well as many other awesome thoughts, good causes and provoking posts.
Funny story: Up until she and Jay were married, Summer was known as Marie, her middle name, and actually, that's still how I think of her. When I went to visit her in Tampa, Summer, one of her friends and I were talking and I kept saying, "Marie this and Marie that." Finally, her friend stopped me and asked, "Who is Marie?"
A few years later, they moved to Tampa and we were able to get together a couple of times. Wild fun was had by all!
Now they have settled in North Carolina and have two boys, Brantley, who is now 13 (!!!) (I remember holding him not a week after he was born) and Parker, who is fast approaching 2.
Summer recently traveled to Malawi to mission and her blog Look Out shares these adventures as well as many other awesome thoughts, good causes and provoking posts.
Funny story: Up until she and Jay were married, Summer was known as Marie, her middle name, and actually, that's still how I think of her. When I went to visit her in Tampa, Summer, one of her friends and I were talking and I kept saying, "Marie this and Marie that." Finally, her friend stopped me and asked, "Who is Marie?"
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Pimp Your Blog
While I love reading my very popular bloggers, I'm in the mood for some new blood. I decided, just now, that I should host a Pimp My Blog on this site. So, if you want to Pimp Your Blog, shoot me over an e-mail eldk0404 at gmail.com with the subject line Pimp My Blog and I will post a new entry a day until I run out. Tell your friends, pimp this idea on your own blog, send them here! Let's get some lesser known blogs known!
(Please send me e-mails! I will feel so very unloved if no one sends me a request!)
Also, if anyone is good at making widgets and stuff and wants to create one for this idea, feel free and I will share them here.
(Please send me e-mails! I will feel so very unloved if no one sends me a request!)
Also, if anyone is good at making widgets and stuff and wants to create one for this idea, feel free and I will share them here.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Injured!
Two friends and I are running a half marathon in Miami on January 25. We've been seriously training for about 6 weeks now and I have my first injury. Saturday night we ran/walked 6 miles and by Saturday night, the bottom of my foot hurt ever time I stepped down. I went to the chiropractor yesterday and about jumped off the table.
My hips and pelvis are so knotted up that it felt like he was grabbing the muscles and trying to manually untie them, which in a way, I guess he was. He said that because I was so out of whack that the pain manifested itself in my arch. As long as I stay off of it, it's ok, but as soon as I walk for longer than 5 minutes, it feels like I am walking on a very large and nasty bruise.
Not so good when I need to run 3 miles today and Thursday and then 7 this weekend.
I'm so frustrated because this has not been easy for me. I am not a runner. My friends just seem to be coasting along and I am clawing my way through every practice. I can't afford to miss a week at this point.
I'm going to "run" in the pool tonight and be grateful that I live in a city where it is still warm enough to do that. I have to go back to the chiro on Thursday for him to torture me some more and hopefully these kinks will work themselves out.
Larry and I are also going to Key West this weekend for his birthday and I have to be able to walk then too or Larry is going to get awfully tired of carrying me. ha
My hips and pelvis are so knotted up that it felt like he was grabbing the muscles and trying to manually untie them, which in a way, I guess he was. He said that because I was so out of whack that the pain manifested itself in my arch. As long as I stay off of it, it's ok, but as soon as I walk for longer than 5 minutes, it feels like I am walking on a very large and nasty bruise.
Not so good when I need to run 3 miles today and Thursday and then 7 this weekend.
I'm so frustrated because this has not been easy for me. I am not a runner. My friends just seem to be coasting along and I am clawing my way through every practice. I can't afford to miss a week at this point.
I'm going to "run" in the pool tonight and be grateful that I live in a city where it is still warm enough to do that. I have to go back to the chiro on Thursday for him to torture me some more and hopefully these kinks will work themselves out.
Larry and I are also going to Key West this weekend for his birthday and I have to be able to walk then too or Larry is going to get awfully tired of carrying me. ha
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Family
My younger cousin and I are exactly 18 months and five minutes apart. I have a clear picture of the two of us in my mind, dressed in my grandmother's play clothes, and standing in front of a huge tree in the side yard. Two little girls, one dark like the night and one bright as the sun. At that time in our lives, our personalities conformed to the genetic coloring. I was quieter and I've been told prone to crying or pouting. My cousin, Kelsey, was a sunny little girl, at least at that young age. Divorce and possible feelings of abandonment darkened her light over the years.
My aunt painted portraits of us. I was a nymph sneaking in a broken or raised window, the night behind me. Kelsey was with a rooster, I think, and the sun was coming up in the background. Unfortunately, due to a fire, these paintings were lost a few years ago.
We shared ice cream with sprinkles using my Grandmother's long silver sundae spoons. Stayed up late into the night whispering, giggling, just being little girls.
Kelsey moved to Atlanta, oh about 15 years ago now, I guess. She gave birth to two little girls at an early age, out of wedlock, a shame to our deeply rooted southern family. I've never met those little girls, who aren't so little anymore.
I haven't even seen my cousin in 10 years; don't even know where she is.
I look for her sometimes on MySpace or FaceBook. I think it would be nice to talk to her again. Sometimes I just get sad that we're no longer a part of each other's lives. You would think that with my dad having 5 brothers and 1 sister there would be a ton of cousins running around, but not so much. The few I have are younger than me and we've never been close.
Sometimes it just hits me and I get a little melancholy.
My aunt painted portraits of us. I was a nymph sneaking in a broken or raised window, the night behind me. Kelsey was with a rooster, I think, and the sun was coming up in the background. Unfortunately, due to a fire, these paintings were lost a few years ago.
We shared ice cream with sprinkles using my Grandmother's long silver sundae spoons. Stayed up late into the night whispering, giggling, just being little girls.
Kelsey moved to Atlanta, oh about 15 years ago now, I guess. She gave birth to two little girls at an early age, out of wedlock, a shame to our deeply rooted southern family. I've never met those little girls, who aren't so little anymore.
I haven't even seen my cousin in 10 years; don't even know where she is.
I look for her sometimes on MySpace or FaceBook. I think it would be nice to talk to her again. Sometimes I just get sad that we're no longer a part of each other's lives. You would think that with my dad having 5 brothers and 1 sister there would be a ton of cousins running around, but not so much. The few I have are younger than me and we've never been close.
Sometimes it just hits me and I get a little melancholy.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Something to Think About
While I won't go into a political rampage on this site, I do want to offer this fact that I read in light of last night's vice-presidential debates.
There is a 32% rate throughout our presidential history that the vice-president has taken over for the president. Broken down, that is 14 of the last 44 vice-presidents.
Just something to think about.
There is a 32% rate throughout our presidential history that the vice-president has taken over for the president. Broken down, that is 14 of the last 44 vice-presidents.
Just something to think about.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Greater Things
25 years ago, in the home of a Coral Springs couple, Coral Baptist Church started with a few dozen people. Today, Church by the Glades hosts almost 4,000 members, has 6 services a weekend, celebrated almost 1,000 baptisms in the last two years and is ready for a bigger building! We are literally busting out of our auditorium.
I'm not sure I can really explain how amazing the growth of our church has been without having you live in South Florida for even a month. People, we are not in the Bible Belt here. We're more the stinky feet. But the pure excitement reverberating from our little corner of the world is awesome.
A couple of weeks ago, we started a new series, "Greater Things" to gear us up for the hard work ahead. The building we are shooting for will take 15 to 17 million to build. It will take 8 million just to get started. We are asking for a miracle and I am asking for your prayers.
Last night, we held a special song and prayer service to lift our request to God and thank Him in advance for the blessings He is going to rain down upon us. There were hands raising all over the place and the Holy Spirit was among us. For the last prayer, we went outside where the footprint of the new building was waiting for us in candles.
You can barely go anywhere in our town without seeing a Church by the Glades window decal and now we all have yellow bracelets as well to remind us to pray. Pray we will.
I'm not sure I can really explain how amazing the growth of our church has been without having you live in South Florida for even a month. People, we are not in the Bible Belt here. We're more the stinky feet. But the pure excitement reverberating from our little corner of the world is awesome.
A couple of weeks ago, we started a new series, "Greater Things" to gear us up for the hard work ahead. The building we are shooting for will take 15 to 17 million to build. It will take 8 million just to get started. We are asking for a miracle and I am asking for your prayers.
Last night, we held a special song and prayer service to lift our request to God and thank Him in advance for the blessings He is going to rain down upon us. There were hands raising all over the place and the Holy Spirit was among us. For the last prayer, we went outside where the footprint of the new building was waiting for us in candles.
You can barely go anywhere in our town without seeing a Church by the Glades window decal and now we all have yellow bracelets as well to remind us to pray. Pray we will.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Babies, Babies Everywhere
Because everyone expressed such great interest in our baby fish (ie. Tamara), I attempted to take some photos of them the other day.
See! Look! That little, bitty blur?
How about here? See it?
Ok, well, here are the two, what I suppose to be the parents. Very protective.
Eh, well here's the duck sitting on her nest.
Can't see that either, huh. Here's a close up. See the white? That's her head.
Science lesson done for the day.
**Edited to add: Actually, if you click on the second pic and make it big, if you scroll down a bit, you can see one of the babies. Just about the size of one of the pebbles in the tank.
See! Look! That little, bitty blur?
How about here? See it?
Ok, well, here are the two, what I suppose to be the parents. Very protective.
Eh, well here's the duck sitting on her nest.
Can't see that either, huh. Here's a close up. See the white? That's her head.
Science lesson done for the day.
**Edited to add: Actually, if you click on the second pic and make it big, if you scroll down a bit, you can see one of the babies. Just about the size of one of the pebbles in the tank.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Did You Know?
Kristin tagged me for a meme, so here it goes.
List 6 things about yourself that most people probably don't know.
I'm not sure if I can come up with 6 things, but I will give it a whirl.
1. I never took a typing class, however, after almost 9 years of working in an office and typing dictation, I am pretty fast. I don't always have to look at my fingers and I don't use the right ones by any means, but it gets the job done.
2. On a similar note, I cannot spell deterioration unless I am typing it. For some reason my fingers know where to go even if my brain does not.
3. I am a consultant for a scrapbooking company called Close to My Heart. I don't hold parties for people, but I do have a group of women that meet every month at my house and complete 2 pages. I really like it and it's a great creative outlet for me. If I had time, I would like to branch out eventually and maybe actually make some money off of it.
4. Our house is fertile grounds lately. We have a duck nest in our front bushes and although the adult ducks in Florida are UGLY, you can't help but love the little ones. I'm excited about the babies. Also, one of our fish had babies and we have about 15-20 little, bitty baby fish swimming in our tank. I hope they don't get eaten. I think I know who the parents are because our two Convicts are hanging around them and I'd like to think they are protecting them. Hopefully, they aren't protecting them just to snack on later.
5. I really like working with my hands and I am definitely the handy one around the house. I would love to learn to work with power tools and make things, like furniture and stuff. Just one more thing to thing about when the kids leave the house.
6. I'm really glad that we had the boys as young as we did. By the time we are 50, they should be out of the house, at least in college. I would love to sell the house, maybe buy a little condo as a home base and then see the country in an RV. Our neighbor has one and I am a little bit jealous.
Hey, I did better than I thought I would.
List 6 things about yourself that most people probably don't know.
I'm not sure if I can come up with 6 things, but I will give it a whirl.
1. I never took a typing class, however, after almost 9 years of working in an office and typing dictation, I am pretty fast. I don't always have to look at my fingers and I don't use the right ones by any means, but it gets the job done.
2. On a similar note, I cannot spell deterioration unless I am typing it. For some reason my fingers know where to go even if my brain does not.
3. I am a consultant for a scrapbooking company called Close to My Heart. I don't hold parties for people, but I do have a group of women that meet every month at my house and complete 2 pages. I really like it and it's a great creative outlet for me. If I had time, I would like to branch out eventually and maybe actually make some money off of it.
4. Our house is fertile grounds lately. We have a duck nest in our front bushes and although the adult ducks in Florida are UGLY, you can't help but love the little ones. I'm excited about the babies. Also, one of our fish had babies and we have about 15-20 little, bitty baby fish swimming in our tank. I hope they don't get eaten. I think I know who the parents are because our two Convicts are hanging around them and I'd like to think they are protecting them. Hopefully, they aren't protecting them just to snack on later.
5. I really like working with my hands and I am definitely the handy one around the house. I would love to learn to work with power tools and make things, like furniture and stuff. Just one more thing to thing about when the kids leave the house.
6. I'm really glad that we had the boys as young as we did. By the time we are 50, they should be out of the house, at least in college. I would love to sell the house, maybe buy a little condo as a home base and then see the country in an RV. Our neighbor has one and I am a little bit jealous.
Hey, I did better than I thought I would.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Decorating
With Larry out of town, I've been taking care of some miscellaneous decorating stuff that I had been putting off. When we were in Nashville a couple of months ago, my parents took the boys to the museum and they painted with watercolors. I really liked the end result, so I had them matted and then framed them.
Here is Peyton's. I think he made a mistake and was going to color it all black, but I'm glad he stopped. That would have made for a very dark picture. He says Grandmommy and Poppy took the good one home. I told him it looks like a water scene and the dark is a rock. He agreed that that explanation would work.
Shey had a long explantation explaining his picture, but when he rambles like that, sometimes it is hard to understand him. The side of his picture was torn purposefully, and I hate that that didn't show after I had them mounted.
I also took picures of Peyton's walls. The boy will hang anything and everything on them. I use painter's tape, so it comes off easily. It's actually pretty cool and he groups his different items together so well. I took these last night while he was sleeping.
Here is Peyton's. I think he made a mistake and was going to color it all black, but I'm glad he stopped. That would have made for a very dark picture. He says Grandmommy and Poppy took the good one home. I told him it looks like a water scene and the dark is a rock. He agreed that that explanation would work. 
Shey had a long explantation explaining his picture, but when he rambles like that, sometimes it is hard to understand him. The side of his picture was torn purposefully, and I hate that that didn't show after I had them mounted. I also took picures of Peyton's walls. The boy will hang anything and everything on them. I use painter's tape, so it comes off easily. It's actually pretty cool and he groups his different items together so well. I took these last night while he was sleeping.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)