A Picture Mosaic

Hey there! Check out my "Picture Mosaic!" Isn't it cute? God has blessed me with the MOST wonderful friends and family. Hey! Doesn't the girl in the middle, on the bottom row look like a lot like "Cousin Itt?" Yep, I sure do see the resemblance!

Wordless Wednesday...Sort Of!

Presenting "Bunion" Barbie! Girl, it's about time you FINALLY got off your tiptoes and wore some REAL shoes! Be proud of who you are and start acting your age...Ken doesn't need to be impressed anymore! By the way, I don't really know why you chose him to begin with, I always thought that G.I. Joe was more your type!

Tackle It Tuesday...

I find it depressing to realize that "Piglet" has a more exciting life than I do! You go "Piglet!" You sure do know how to "Tackle It!"

P.S. Is Piglet a boy or a girl? Just wondering...The same goes for "Tweety"...

Yes, I know it is time for my vacation to end and for me to go back to work!

Please Pray...

I currently have a prayer request for little 8 week old Stellan. He is the miracle baby of MckMama, My Charming Kids (See the MckMiracle button on my blog) and he has just been diagnosed with RSV and is very sick in the hospital. He has already been through so much but I know that we serve a mighty God and that with Him, ALL things are possible.

I also, ask for prayer for my dear friend Amanda who is currently fighting kidney cancer and will have to undergo radiation and chemotherapy. This is all so hard to comprehend and I am at a loss for words. However, when I look at the picture above, I realize that I don't need to say anything for God is right there beside each and everyone of us and knows our thought and hears our prayers even before they are spoken. Sometimes we just need reminders of that. Prayer is so powerful and I am always comforted by the knowledge that God will NEVER leave us nor forsake us. Thank you Lord for ALWAYS being there and for ALL that you do. Give my friends healing, comfort and peace tonight. Amen.

Wordless Wednesday

I have a new job this Christmas! Jealous?

"The Friendship Tree"

Martha Stewart I am not but I have a friend who got in touch with her "inner Martha" and made the most adorable Christmas tree. It is called a "Friendship Tree" and she decorated it with copies of photos of her with her friends taken throughout the year. To add a little bit of holiday "glitz," she embellished the photos with a little bit of glitter and then clipped them onto various tree branches using decorated clothes pins. The clothes pins were decorated with glitter and an assortment of jewels. Very simple, yet very elegant as well! I not only think that it is absoulutely adorable but what a clever idea especially when you have your friends over for the holidays. It is ideal as a centerpiece and I for one was very honored to see my photo up on the "Friendship Tree!"

Not Me Monday!

Today I did NOT do the cardinal sin of Christmas and become one of those horrid "re-gifters!" "No! Not me!" How could I do something like that? Really now...

I did NOT get one of those annoying Christmas cards where family members try to outdo their lists of accomplishments and draft up a phony one about my incarceration...I wouldn't do such a thing would I? "No! Not Me!"

I do NOT have a terrible cold and I won't get anybody in my family sick for Christmas...no, no, NO!

I did not flush one of my aggressive tropical fish that I had in my fish tank down the toilet because he was becoming Hannibal Lechter who was trying to eat all of my other fish. Really, how could I do such a thing? I know that the Bible says "Thou Shall NOT Kill" but I'd like to think that Mr. Tiger Barb is swimming out to sea where he can attack algae and fish his own size like the Great White Shark! I am praying as we speak that someone from PETA won't read this post! If there is a protest outside my house my response will be "No! THAT wasn't me!"

You know that I wouldn't do something dumb like do a load of laundry and realize that I forgot to put soap in the washer and have to do the load ALL over again! "No, THAT wasn't me!"

I'm also NOT going to tell you that when I stepped out briefly to go get some breakfast that I didn't wear two completely different pairs of slip on shoes! One blue and one brown...I would NEVER do something like that! "No! Not Me!"

I still don't believe in "Santa Clause." "No! Not Me"...but if you should have an encounter with him, please let him know that I have been a very good girl! PLEASE!

Happy Monday my dear friends...it is only three days until Christmas! Yikes I have to go get my Christmas shopping done! Gotta Go! You didn't think that I was one of those organized types that got my shopping all done and my gifts all wrapped did you, THAT IS SO NOT ME! (However I do wish that it were true...sigh)

Verse For the Day...

So many times I get caught up with the mistakes of the past that I miss out on the blessings that God so wants to bestow on me. I need to keep reminding myself that if God can forgive me for my past mistakes, then why can't I forgive myself? That isn't freedom, that is bondage and my goal for the new year starting NOW is to let go of the past and remind myself that HIS mercies are NEW every morning. I know that with total faith and belief that can only come from my Heavenly Father, that I will finally be able to be free from the bondage of my past and be able to be ALL that God wants me to be...Amen!

"Oh Come Let Us Adore Him!"

This week we at school, we had a special holiday chapel. It is one of our favorite chapels of the year where each classroom gets a chance to share their favorite Christmas Carol with the whole school. It was also announced that our class won the School Scrip Contest! My students each got a Baskin Robbin's Certificate and I won $100 Dollars! I was so excited...so like any good steward of one's money I saved it right? Nope...I bought an ipod nano!


Aren't they pretty? I got a blue one and I am excited not only to be able to listen to music but be able to upload some of my very favorite photos. Sometimes a girl just needs to be able to splurge on herself without any guilt! As for my sweet class pictured above, aren't they adorable. This was a picture that we took prior to our annual Christmas Holiday program. We had a multicultural theme and as always they were a hit. Then we ended our fun week with a "Happy Birthday Jesus Party." One of my students wanted to know just how old Jesus was...I got a variety of answers from 1 to 1000...I actually know that he is WAY older than that but kids you gotta love em' and I do! So come let us adore HIM and have a blessed holiday season!

Wordless Wednesday

"Hey! Don't YOU dare bring that ketchup over here!" Okay...I know that it's Wordless Wednesday but how could I not comment on this one? I just couldn't resist...this is what I want for Christmas minus the bun!

I am Thankful!

Reasons to be Thankful...

I am Thankful for ALL the blessings that God has bestowed on me...

I am Thankful for a wonderful family that taught me to love the Lord with all my heart!

I am Thankful for loyal and faithful friends that love me for me! Faults and all!

I am Thankful for a wonderful job with amazing people who inspire and motivate me everyday.

I am Thankful for my new apartment....a new home, a new beginning!

I am Thankful that God's mercies are new EVERY morning and I need to continue to remind myself of that!

I am Thankful for good health.

I am Thankful for ALL that I do have and need to stop myself when I find myself saying, "Yeah, but I still wish...

Finally, I am Thankful that God has given us ALL the gift of today and if anyone should come upon reading this blog, I pray that God not only blesses you but that it also inspires you to reflect on what you have to be Thankful for in your own life!

P.S. Don't you love the picture? It is a photo that I took with my little buddy, Blaze who was a student in my class last year. It was the only photo that I had that beautifully captures the Season of Harvest and Thanksgiving. (Okay, I must confess that it was taken around Halloween time but I won't tell if you won't! "Wink! Wink!")

Not Me Monday!

Today I did not start the day off checking out websites instead of getting ready for work like I really needed to. "No! Not Me!"

I did not attempt to glue 21 turkeys with orange fork feet just so that my kids could get take them home in time for Thanksgiving thus burning my fingers off in the process by using a hot glue gun! "No! Not Me!"

I am not addicted to hot glue guns and think that they are one of man's greatest inventions next to the wheel! "No! Not Me!"

I did not rush out of work and fail to tell my friend "good-bye" because I didn't want to stay any longer than I had to so that I could go to Wal Mart and buy some jeans. "No! Not Me!"

I did not eat three cupcakes today and justify it by stating it was because I was sick on Saturday and Sunday, that I needed to make up for lost time! "No! Not Me!"

I did not lose it when I saw my tire pressure light go out for the third time and run the car to Les Schwab Tires only to have them tell me that was nothing wrong thus making me feel stupid in the process. "No! Not Me!"

I did NOT steal the gossip magazine from the waiting area of Les Schwab Tires so that I could have something to read when I took my Calgon "Take Me Away" bath! "No! Not Me!"

I did not think the Les Schwab tire guy was adorable and wish for a minute that he could wisk me off into the sunset in a car that actually works! "No! Not Me!"

I did not order a McDonald's Happy Meal on the way home because even at 42 I still like to play with toys! "No! Not Me!"

I did not lose it when my wireless connection on my computer didn't work forcing me to call my Dad in a panic asking him "What in the &*%# is wrong with it!" "No Not Me!"

I am not addicted to "Celebrity Rehab" and have a major crush on Dr. Drew "No! Not Me!"

I am greatful I made it through the day and ended it with a cheerful conversation from my friend Amanda. She made me laugh and didn't make me feel guilty about taking the magazine from Les Schwab as a matter of fact she wants to "borrow" it! Spread the love around right!? (Don't you love how I justify my crime?) Happy Monday everybody!

A Good Cause -" A Fryday Contest!"

I am posting for a good cause...If you go to My Charming Kids, you will find the most wonderful and uplifting blog about a family who almost lost their youngest child at birth due to a heart ailment. However, God through His amazing power and through the prayers of many blog readers, like myself, allowed for baby Stellan pulled through and he is a the most adorable living, breathing miracle! His family wants to give back to the community at large and one of the charities that they want to give back to is called "String of Pearls." Click on the link above and be blessed by this beautiful family's story and if you feel it impressed upon your heart to make a donation may God bless you richly but please if anything just read this family's story and be blessed by your very own family during this wonderful Thanksgiving season! I can promise you once you read about this family, you will be hooked and when you see sweet little "Small Fry" you will understand why it is called a "Fryday" Contest!

Why?

Why?

I have been in the process of setting up my first blog entry and became ill this weekend when one of my very best friends named Amanda called me to tell me that she has kidney cancer. She is very young, in her early 30's and this news has shaken me to the core. It is hard to understand why these things happen but she said that as long as she knows that the Lord is with her, she will sustain this and I stand in agreement with her and believe that this will happen. I believe that we have a "Mighty God" and that what man says is impossible, that "with God ALL things are possible" for it even says so in his word. It is ironic however, that this is the week of Thanksgiving but my amazing friend said that she doesn't ask God for a list of wants, which would be so very easy to do, but offers nothing but praises to HIM for all that he has given her. Wow...that pretty much so sums it all to me. I am thankful to have such an amazing friend who in her time of great need speaks to me and motivates me to not only be a better person but a better friend, daughter and the person that God wants me to be for His Kingdom Glory...If anybody reads this blog please offer a small prayer for my dear friend. I would be most thankful and may God bless you!