I've been tagged by upsidedown B!

1. What were you doing 10 years ago?
I had just brought home my new baby, so I was "adjusting" and learning to breast feed (sorry for all you guys who are reading this). I was tired from lack of sleep but so in LOVE. My arms were finally full and not empty! Biz is such an answer to prayer. She was my promise from God! What a great memory of God's faithfulness! I needed to be reminded of that!
2. Five Items on Your To Do List Today: 1)Submit grades for the summer, 2) Take Khi to the orthodontist( poor boy's teeth are all crowded up), 3) Figure out what to cook for dinner, 4) Cook dinner, and 5) Exercise at least 30 minutes for health benefits because the weight issue doesn't respond! LOL!
3. Snacks I enjoy: Ice Cream (any), popcorn.... I know I have the salty and sweet thing going on!
4. What would you do if you were a billionaire? Quit my full time job and work only part-time.. no, come to think of it.... I would just volunteer for fun. I would build my mom a new house. One that she could get around in. Travel, not just for fun but to spread the good news.
5. Places you would live. Cary NC, an oceanfront house probably Wilmington, NC.
6. Bloggers I am tagging. I'll do Julie @ life under our roof. Let's just say I have a small circle of blogging buddies!

Thanks upsidedown b for tagging me. I needed to look back at God's faithfulness and be reminded of his faithfulness for the future! :o)

Pictures

My husband and I like to take pictures. There have been several pictures on my blog that we have taken. The beach picture at the top is one of my favorite. The one in this post was taken at Seneca Rock in West Virginia. This little chipmunk was cute. It would come out and stuff the bread we had in its mouth. I will continue to post pictures that we have taken. I enjoy sharing them.

I pray your day is filled with joy! We are about to end the first half of the year. And I must say, "It has been a wild half!". I know God has GREAT plans for the last half for me and my family. Wow... that sounds really upbeat!

Blessings for you and yours today!

One Word

Here is a picture of the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia. A beautiful sight! I thought the One word game would be fun. Anybody who wants to play along can do so! Have fun.... if you do play along, let me know!


All of the answers must be just one word.


1. Where is your cell phone? Charging


2. Your significant other? Anchor


3. Your hair? Colored


4. Your mother? Lonely


5. Your father? Gone


6. Your favorite thing? Life


7. Your dream last night? None



8. Your favorite drink? Coffee


9. Your dream/goal? Heaven


10. The room you’re in? Family


11. Your church? Comfortable


12. Your fear? loneliness


13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Happy


14. Where were you last night? Home


15. What you’re not? Energetic


16. Muffins? Yummy


17. One of your wish list items? House


18. Where you grew up? West Virginia (does that count as one word?)


19. The last thing you did? Read


20. What are you wearing? clothes


21. Your TV? New


22. Your pets? Unusual


23. Your computer? Mac


24. Your life? Fair


25. Your mood? Okay



26. Missing someone? Dad


27. Your car? Blue


28. Something you’re not wearing? shoes


29. Favorite store? Kohls


30. Your summer? Weird


31. Like(love) someone? Family


32. Your favorite color? Yellow


33. Last time you laughed? Today


34. Last time you cried? Today


35. Who will re post this? No one

Okay I feel like I need to clarify some of those one word answers. I am sure they are a little confusing! Oh well, you will have to be confused. :o)

Happy 10th Birthday

Has it really been ten years??? Wow, where does the time go?

I love you Biz!

The blows just keep coming

Life just keeps happening and the blows just keep coming!
Work and home both have been too much this week!

Hang in there! What's next is about to happen! (refer to previous post "feeling of the week" for more information!) I'll post more later!

I'm going to laugh to keep from crying! I am laughing as I post. Blogging is such a great stress reliever!

My "new" recommendation

I haven't tried this product, but would recommend it for the patient who doesn't like to floss! LOL! YUCKY!

Tell me what you think....Would you like to try this product? Comments please.

Where I am from challenge by upside down B

I am from a holler a mile and half long in the mountains of West Virginia, from Sunbeam bread and Oscar Mayer Bologna.
I am from the house my dad built with his own two hands.
I am from the summers full of rhubarb with sugar and crab apples eaten with salt.
I am from Thanksgiving with Turkey raised on our farm and a strong work ethic, from the Raynard and Geneva Newhouse homestead.
I am from the most giving and kind family.
From a family who counts their blessings and not their sorrows.
I am from Christian parents who always blesses others and does without themselves. From parents who never thought of themselves.
I'm from hot summer days without air conditioning, a dad who cooked and washed laundry.
From the mother who was an orphan, the father who worked hard but never played, and the family that sticks together no matter what!
I am from the family with no monetary worth on earth, but mansions in heaven!


Gosh this took some thought! It doesn't flow that great, but it is all true! The picture is my home "Three Mile Holler"

My anchor

I know Christ is my anchor, but as I have been going through my emotionally flat time Joel told me he would wants to be my anchor, but I had to hold onto him. I told him my rope is frayed LOL!

I am so appreciative of a husband who is willing to be so supportive of me.

Stress has been great, but I know God will not allow anything I can not withstand. That is what his word says!

I continue to hold onto God's word and my anchor (Christ and Joel). :o)

Feeling of the week

Do you ever feel like everyone is doing this to you?




Or you have one these pointed at you?

Good grief! It is only Wednesday! I have 3 more days left in this semester and when the fall out occurs I am sure I will feel even more like this!

Pray for a peaceful ending to this summer semester of 5 weeks. This week has not held any peace. I am afraid of what comes after the end!

I love some aspects of teaching and hate other aspects of teaching!

BIG SIGH

Tell Daddy "Happy Father's Day"

I have asked God to tell my Daddy "Happy Father's Day" for me today. This is the first year in all my 37 that I can't tell him that myself. It has been a hard day. I sat at the table at lunch and cried in the restaurant as I looked around and saw all the families celebrating with their own fathers. My son volunteered some information during my cry.... "Mom, you aren't embarrassing me." Boy, that is a sure sign that I am embarrassing him! Today is the first Father's day without my dad. Maybe next year will be better.

I also told God "Happy Father's Day" too. He is my Father! For that I am Thankful! He is my kinsman redeemer. If you don't understand the role of a kinsman redeemer I suggest you research it. Boaz was Ruth's kinsman redeemer. Ruth is a beautiful book in the bible. Beth Moore did a great study on this book at one of her conferences I attended. This morning Pastor Chad preached out of the book of Ruth. He is doing a series on that book right now. Thank you God for reminding me that you are my redeemer!

Baby Octopus

We went out to eat today and saw this lovely dish on the buffet. Who would eat these? Why would anyone want to eat them?

Comments please!

Crown of Life

James 1:12 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society


12Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Lord, help me to stand the test!

Busy as a bee

Picture taken by Joel :o)

My heart

I miss you terribly!

The cartoon above says "I wish granddad could be seein these fireworks too" as the other child comments "Yeah, he always liked to find the very best spot to watch."

I was looking at pictures last night. I really didn't plan it, but since we got the new computer and I am trying to learn to use it I stumbled across the pictures. I saw pictures of my dad. Pictures of him at each of the kids graduation from pre-school, pictures of him eating oat meal at the table with the kids.

I have finally cried. I know not enough, but a little.

Don't get me wrong... I am still THANKFUL that my kids have these memories, but sad that there will not be any new memories. Maybe daddy is like the granddad in this cartoon and looking down from heaven. What a nice thought.

I would really love to talk to daddy about everything that has happened since his death. I would like to have just a touch of his wisdom applied to my life right now.

I am a spaghetti squash

Wikipedia.org
When raw, the flesh is solid and similar to other raw squash; when cooked, the flesh falls away from the fruit in ribbons or strands like spaghetti. Spaghetti squash can be baked, boiled or steamed.

I know it is a far cry from the iphone, but as much as I want to be an iphone... I, in good conscience, can not be :o(. Although I am always busy and on the go trying to multi-task am not as organized as an iphone. Easy to use and never resting! Instead, I am a spaghetti squash. On the inside: I am a mushy mess right now. Maybe I will move past that, but for now... this is me. On the outside I look like I have good form and am able to hold it together. But in order to be used this squash has to be cooked. Well, right now I feel like God is cooking me. I have not decided which method he is using to cook me.... bake, boiled or steamed. Maybe a variety. Kind of like the silver smith and the purifying of silver. I could not be the precious metal yet. But some day I will be.

Philippians 1:6: (NLT)
6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Thanks to all of you who responded to the question of the day... I loved the washing machine! I could relate completely. :o)

Tantrum

I had a tantrum this morning. I am so overwhelmed with LIFE

Without being specific there are several things going on in my life. I have just a few weeks left in this crazy five week semester. I must say, in the five summers I have coordinated clinic this is the best of them all. I know you wonder how? All I can say is it has been. I talked with my one co-worker today about the issues yesterday. It was a huge misunderstanding. I will say this co-worker has been difficult to deal with. Like I said yesterday... stress in the personal life.

I sent an e-mail last week about an occurrence that bothered Joel (not that I haven't been bothered by it in the past). I was blown off in a sense. Well, we are back to the next time we need to be in the situation. I don't think a single thing has changed. I know you don't understand this round about writing. Just know it is a stressful situation. I don't think I have shared this particular situation with anyone. Joel will follow up with a call tonight. I don't think the lady who blew me off realized Joel would step in. I hate it when he feels strongly about something (although I like it too, because he is leading and protecting his family. And that is a wonderful thing). He is a fairly easy man to get along with, but he is also a man of few words. If he speaks.... whew, all I can say is I am glad it isn't me. He is going above the lady to the next step.

I can't help but wonder if I would handle all these stressors differently if I wasn't grieving. I don't feel like I have had the time or opportunity to really grieve. And do I even know how to grieve? When I think about crying.... I blow it off and say.... I don't have time for that.

I appreciate my husband. He is a good leader and provider. I know we have our shortcomings as people but he is more than I could have ever hoped for in a spouse. In some ways he reminds me of my dad. It is those strengths I will focus on.

After my tantrum this morning a patient in clinic was a messenger and told me "God has it all under control and you are going to be alright. " I told him... I needed to hear that. Wow, God cares enough to send a messenger. Boy, does that make me feel really small? You can't imagine how that makes me feel.

Question of the day?

I must say it was a busy day. Problem after problem at work today. One person wants to argue about everything and the other wants to blame someone else for everything. I was told the one is dealing with some outside issues. I want to feel for them, but aren't we all dealing?

I have been doing a new study. One of the questions was... what inanimate object best describes your life? I have thought and thought about this question.

Give me your thoughts on what object describes your life. Leave it under comments.

I thought about and tire on a car because I am always on the go. I also thought about an iphone because I am always multi-tasking and have so much to do. I will give it some more thought and post what I think describes my life.

Not a Tantrum

After reading the comments to my post "Bread not Stones" I realized the prayer at the end was misunderstood. I feel like I need to clarify that I was not having a NOW moment with God demanding my way when I asked him to sell this house. I was only making my request known as the word says to ask. I was thanking him because I want him to be aware I am thankful. I do not for one single minute want to be ahead of God. I do not want this house to sell prior to his timing. I want to be in the center of his will. I have been thinking a lot about the "timing" of not selling this house.

1-I can not imagine trying to move in the middle of my dad's illness and death.

2- Nor can I imagine trying to move during the holidays and my gall bladder surgery.

3- It was completely necessary for Biz to have Mrs. Penny this year in school. God worked some great things in her because of her trials with the other teachers who referred to her as "snotty". She and Mrs. Penny have a great re-pore and she needed to grow under Mrs. Penny's loving acceptance of her reserved personality and not be misunderstood as snotty. Biz also was not given the chance to join the "academically gifted program" under any other teacher in spite of her great scores. Wow! What a great year for Biz that would have been missed had our house sold and she had to attend another school.

Those are only three of the many reasons I know there are! I know when the house sells we will see God's complete wisdom in his timing. I do not doubt for one solitary minute that God is OMNIPOTENT! Yes, I am frustrated because the negative talk about our community. On all the feedback the house is always seen as "clean and well kept in a bad neighborhood". I know I can not change the neighborhood so I get frustrated because I can't be my MARTHA self and fix it. However, I know God can overcome!

16 years later

Sixteen years and two children after the "I do". Where have the years gone? Our marriage fits like an old comfy shoe. We are just comfortable. Thursday evening Joel was in a foul mood so I just avoided him and went to bed. Fourteen years ago it would have been a fight. Maturity is amazing. Not that I am always able to act so. I would have taken his mood personally, now I just let him have his mood. I know he does the same for me. I guess that is why I think of this marriage as a comfy shoe.

A dear friend offered to keep the kids, but we had a baseball game and by the end of the game we knew Khi was not feeling well. I think he has a sinus infection. We had initially set up a sitter to go on a date, but... life with kids happened. We ended up doing nothing for our anniversary. Khi has just needed to be home resting.

I shopped with Sonderella and the girls. That was fun. I always enjoy spending time together.

I watch my kids grow. It makes me a little sad. My Biz is turing into a young lady. I didn't expect it so soon. We are seeing signs of puberty... full fledged puberty! Wow, already.

Lord, help me to stay focused on the important things in life. Help me to trust in you and wait on you.

Amen