'Have You Ever' Meme

In your entire life have you?

Gone on a blind date NO
Skipped school YES (sorry mom & dad)
Watched someone die YES
Been to Canada NO
Been to Mexico YES...2 weeks ago
Been to Florida YES
Been on a plane YES
Been lost YES
Been on the opposite side of the country NO...the middle is as far as I've been
Gone to Washington , DC YES
Swam in the ocean YES
Lettered in a high school sport ARE YOU KIDDING?!
Cried yourself to sleep YES
Played cops and robbers NO
Played dolls YES...that's more like it!
Recently colored with crayons YES
Sang Karaoke YES
Paid for a meal with coins only YES...also for gas when I was in high school
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't YES
Cheated on an exam DON'T KNOW
Made prank phone calls YES
Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose YES...haha
Caught a snowflake on your tongue NO...I live in Georgia
Danced in the rain DOES RUNNING COUNT?
Written a letter to Santa Claus YES
Been kissed under the mistletoe YES
Watched the sunrise with someone you care about YES...well, sunset at least
Been arrested NO
Blown bubbles YES, very often
Gone ice-skating YES
Been skinny dipping outdoors NO!!
Any nickname? YES (Tooky, Kermit, Scooter, Stace)
Mother's name? Cheryl
Favorite drink that I'm allowed to have on a regular basis? Coffee!! I know I bet my friends are shocked!
Body Piercings? YES, Ears only
Birthplace? Columbus, Georgia
Favorite vacation spot? Any cruise at this point
Been to Africa NO, but I want to go on an African safari - for the photography aspect!
Eaten cookies for dinner YES! Yum!
Ever been on TV NO
Ever steal any traffic signs NO
Ever been in a car accident? YES...nothing but "fender benders"
Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door
Favorite salad dressing? Ranch
Favorite Pie? Chocolate Chess warmed up with vanilla ice cream
Favorite number? NO, but I have a thing for even numbers unless it is a 7. Don't ask.
Favorite movie? The Notebook?
Favorite holiday? Christmas Eve...I love the anticipation of Christmas Day :o)
Favorite food? Country cookin'
Favorite day of the week? Friday
Favorite brand of body wash? Not Body Wash - Bella Bars are amazing!!
Favorite toothpaste? Crest (mint flavored)
Favorite smells - Emma's freshly washed hair
What do you do to relax? What is that? I have a 3 year old.
How do you see yourself in 10 years? Happy, with my family complete. Honestly, hopefully in Heaven.

A fun meme, if anyone would like to join in, feel free to grab it and paste it into your own blog.

Celebrate Good Times...Come On!!

This thing......has FINALLY be conquered. At least I think it has.

Mama's, you feelin' me? You and I know that this is a reason to CELEBRATE!!

Names of God

I've always heard the "common" names of God, but there is so much more to Him. I am very excited to share several of them with you.

Please let the following Names of our God be an encouragement to you. Pick one and stand on that name each day. Whatever name you stand on, be confident that it is for you. He is your Magen, your El Shaddai, your Advocate, your Dayspring. Just as He is mine.

MAGEN

Psalms 3:3, 18:30

God is your Shield.

~~~~~

You are guarded on every side.

He is actively at work defending you!

You don't have to become weary protecting yourself.

You can hide in the safety He brings.

EL SHADDAI

Genesis 49:25

God is more than enough.

~~~~~

He is completely nourishing and satisfying.

You can rest knowing He will meet your spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.

He is your constant sustainer.

ADVOCATE

1 John 2:1

God is your Advocate.

~~~~~

You don't have to defend yourself.

Rest and know that He is taking up for you!

Turn your anxious and fearful thoughts to Him.

He will reveal the truth in His time.

Trust Him.

DAYSPRING

Luke 1:78

God is your Dayspring.

~~~~~

You can be revived moment by moment.

He is refreshing, invigorating, and satisfying!

Open your neediness up to Him.

Experience the mystery of Living Water flowing through you.

J.R.

We are gonna miss you Boogy! You were the best dog that anyone could ask for.

You brought so much joy and life into our home and without you, there will be a void that you left behind. Your daddy and I will miss your curling up beside us at night. I will miss tripping over you with every step because you just wanted to be near your mommy at all times. Daddy is going to miss that wagging tail and hyper greet at the door when he comes in from work each day.

I could go on and on, but none of this will bring you back. I am glad that you won't have to suffer anymore, yes. But, this house will never be the same without your four little legs pouncing around in it.

If there are truly doggies in Heaven, go find Rakki & Charkie and please set up camp at the gates. You'll see us there before long.

We love you J.R.! Always and forever...

"Mommy"

I'm Gonna Miss This

Please go here and watch this video... Then, come back.

Dear SnickelFritz (a.k.a. "E"),

This week has been so trying. It is only Wednesday and it has felt like the longest week. You have been one moody little girl the past few days.

I feel like I can't please you and it's been hard to keep you calm. Everyone has always mentioned the "terrible two's" and I have to admit that any mention of them quite frankly -scared me. Well, you will be 3, yes a "Big Gull!" in less than 3 weeks. The two's have really been a breeze. Nothing terrible about them I would say. Little mood swings here and there. But then again, you are a female and well, that comes natural, as you will find out.

However, the closer to the Big 3 that we get, you seem to act like you are going on 15. Now, I am shakin' in my boots.

I've wondered this week and said to myself and your daddy, "What's gotten into her?" I've been at the point of tears and not feeling like a strong mommy at all. Much less a good one. See, your cute lil' sassy mouth has begun to get the best of me at times. Okay I'll be honest...all of the time.
You are learning how far you can go with me; what buttons to push - and you not only push those buttons, you hold them down. If I ask something of you, you tend to do the opposite. If I tell you to grab your white shoes, you'll grab black. If I ask you to turn the t.v. off, you'll turn it up louder. Ya know, the normal things that you little one's learn to do.

Does it sound like mommy is complaining a bit? Well, I'm not...Just statin' the facts. You drive me silly sometimes, but that is life. At the same time, you bring so much joy and excitement to our world and I know that I will miss these days.

I have to take a moment during these difficult parenting times to remember that.

It hurts my heart to know that one day when you are heading out the front door to meet up with friends - I will close my eyes and wish I could go back to the days of arguing over which bow matches your outfit better or which cartoon I'll let you watch.

They're hard, but I'll take right now...right now.

I love you lil' butter bean and I'd honestly have you no other way.

It's THAT Time!!

We are leaving momentarily for our CRUISE...Have I mentioned that we are taking a cruise lately?

Well, we are and I am...so EXCITED!!

Please pray for our safety and that we do well being away from E for a whole 6 days!

I will post as soon as I can when we return. Can't wait to share the pics!

Have a great week friends!

Don't Rush

Well, it's been a few days huh? All 4 or 5 of you that check my blog (smile) must have been on your toes awaiting my next post. Right!

It's been an interesting week. I can't believe it's already Thursday. Did I mention we are going on a cruise? Oh and that we leave this weekend? Oh my goodness I am stoked!

So, the past few days...well, forget that...the past few months, I've been struggling off and on with just feeling overwhelmed. Some people would say, "With what?" since I don't work a "real" job. But, just with life and the things that come with it. I've constantly felt like I can't catch my breath and get a handle on my emotions, my worries, frustration. And it's begun to show. I catch myself aggravated so often and that is not what the Lord is pleased to see I know. And as I've said before, add a soon-to-be 3 year old to the mix and you've got a real situation. Nuff said?

I have heard of so many people dealing with depression, oppression, discouragement, feelings of failure, etc. lately that it is ridiculous. Some of these people you would never suspect it either. They hide it well. Then, the bottom falls out. People drop out of the choir at church, marriages are struggling, friends don't return phone calls, they just show up sporatically at church. I can't take it anymore! I've had it.

In the midst of all of our struggles, we tend to rush things. "God, why can't you hurry up and get me out of this mess?" "Hurry it up won't you!" "I've dealt with this long enough." "Gimme a break." I know I've been guilty of this.

I was reading my devotion today and it was talking about treading and trusting. Keep trusting in your Father and keep treading those waters, regardless of how troubled or rough they become. In that little devotion, I read such a powerful statement.

"To rush the process is to produce something of lesser value." Our lives are a collection of "processes" and as one ends, another process begins...better known as challenge or trial. There is so much value in our struggles. They occur for a profound purpose in our lives.

Here are a couple examples: If I put a frozen pizza in the oven for dinner and the instruction are to cook it for 14 minutes at 400 degrees. What will happen if I rush the process and cook it for 8 minutes? It will decrease in value because - ha - I won't be eating it. It won't be done.

If I rent a movie that I've been waiting to see and it is a full 2 hours long. I watch the first half and then get an invitation to go shopping, cut it off and return it on my way to meet a friend. How did it end? I rushed the process, decreased the value and I'll never find out. The money and time spent on it will mean nothing if I don't know the ending.

Oh here's a scary one: If I get up late in the morning and have to hurry to get out the door in time - I do only parts of my makeup and leave off all eye makeup and no lipstick. I rush the process and if you only saw how I would look - um yup...I would certainly decrease in value in your eyes. But, my girlfriends know that I would never leave like that right?

Get it by now? Sure you do. There is a purpose in a process. Say that 10 times fast. If you rush it and don't just tread and trust, some steps will indeed be missed and 1)You may not get to feast on the full blessings of God; 2) You may not find out how the ending was "supposed" to be; or 3) (like me w/o makeup) you may just find yourself in a scary situation.

I saw a quote today, "God won't give you more than you can handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much."

He does trust you. He knows you can handle whatever process you are beginning or are already in. Keep treading those waters. They certainly will get rough. They may even suck you under here and there, but reach up your hand and hold onto His.

No need to rush things. He's by your side anyway.

Pomegranate

This...would be our brand new scent for our Candle of the Month.

Pomegranate

"Everyone will love this sweet, fruity aroma of fresh pomegranate seeds. A perfect spring fragrance for every room in your home."

You can go here to request a free scent sample of this new scent to see what you think. Or, if you'd like to place an order, you can shop online and have it shipped directly to your door.

If you know anyone that may be interested in making money with these great candles, you can email their contact info. to me or send them my way. I would love to speak with them.