Friday's Facts

With my love of candy, Halloween provides me with a great way to buy candy without feeling the guilt. Of course, I always buy too much. There is nothing like the thrill of coming home on Trick-or-Treat to set down and go through your stash to see what you got. Here are some fun facts about candy for Halloween:

Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped penny candy in America.

Halloween candy sales average about 2 billion dollars annually in the United States.

Chocolate candy bars top the list as the most popular candy for trick-or-treaters with Snickers #1.

Candy corn was invented in the 1880s by George Renninger of the Wunderlee Candy and is produced today by the Jelly Belly Candy Company.

M&Ms were introduced to American GIs during WWII in 1941.

Snickers bars have topped the charts for years as the #1 Halloween candy bar.

76% percent of households will include bite-size chocolate candies in their Halloween activities and 26% percent will go for full-size candy (chocolate and non-chocolate).

One cup of Candy Corn has fewer calories than that of a cup of raisins.



Giving Thanks

1 Chronicles 16:34 - O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 106:1 - Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 107:1 - O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 118:1 - O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 118:29 - O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 136:1 - O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Do you see a pattern here? Do you get the impression that God loves for us to give thanks to Him. Our bible tells us so many times in so many ways. We are instructed to give thanks and praise God throughout the entire bible. We are told over and over and over about His grace and mercy. We are supposed to praise His name and worship Him with joy and thanksgiving.

We hear daily about the miracles He is still performing. We fall to our knees, pouring out our hearts with tears of anguish when we suffer. We beg His forgiveness when we fail.

He is there with us through everything. He is 100% beside us and supporting us in everything we do. But do we stop every time to thank Him for pulling us through yet another fire?

When night time comes and our cares have been addressed for the day; when into a peaceful slumber we fall, do we thank him? Do we praise His name? Or do we just assume it is His job to handle our crisis. Once the crisis passes, do we even remember what He did for us.

As November comes upon us and we are all reminded to be thankful, will we remember who to thank? Will we stop and daily praise His name. Or will our thanks be in a quick prayer before we enjoy our Thanksgiving meal and then soon forget what He has done for us?

I challenge each of you to daily thank Him and praise His name. And I don't mean a "thank you Lord for all you do" generic type thank you. I mean a real heart to heart thank you. Find one thing each day that He does for you and thank Him for it. For His mercy DOES indeed endureth forever.

Karen

When I was in the 8th grade, I read a booked simply titled, Karen. It was written by Marie Killilea, Karen's mother. It was a true story about the first 10 years of Karen's life. It was written in the early 50's.

Karen Ann Killilea was born three months prematurely at a time when such babies rarely survived. As a result of her prematurity, she developed cerebral palsy. After she was diagnosed, Karen's parents decided to raise her at home, contrary to the advice of doctors to commit her to an asylum and forget her.

After visiting at least 23 doctors, they found one who taught them to use physical therapy with Karen (then a radical concept). They did so, spending six hours daily on her therapy for more than 10 years. Karen learned to walk with crutches, write, and use her arms and legs.

The book is simply the day to day struggles that they faced as a family. I laughed, I cried. It was the best book I ever read and I read it every summer for 6 years.

Back in 1992, I wanted to find a copy of it. None of the local libraries had it and that was before I was even aware of the internet and things like e-bay and Amazon. I scoured book sections in every antique store I could find. I was joking around that Christmas and told Allen I gave up. I was just going to ask Santa Claus to bring it to me. He was always telling me "If you believe, you will receive." So I tested his theory.

Well, my dear precious "Santa" set himself to work and found an original hardback copy of the second printing from 1952 with the original dust jacket still on it. He found it without the aid of the internet at Prentice Hall Publishers in New York City. We won't even discuss what he ended up paying for it.

But he was able to sneak it in and hide it from me. I was completely unaware that he even remembered me wanting it.

On Christmas morning, we were done opening presents and were cleaning up the wrapping debris from the floor. Allen calmly says, "What's that under the secretary? Did a present get shoved there by mistake?" I went over and looked and there was a package wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with a string. Since I handle all the kids gifts, I didn't know what was going on. I looked at him with a "what's this" look and he told me to open it. You guessed it...it was my book. I cried.

I still own the book and I still read it once a year. It is the ONLY book I own that I never loan out for others to share. It's too precious to me to take a chance. Karen and her families bravery to face everything that comes their way is such an inspiring story and touches my heart every time I read it. And every time I read it, I'm reminded of the love my husband shows me by going out of his way to make sure my wishes are granted.

If you want to read a funny, humorous, inspiring book, find a copy of Karen and read it. You will be very glad you did.

Homemade Halloween



I remember with fondness many years of dressing up and heading out for trick or treat. Back then, we didn't have a lot of money for extras like store bought costumes or trick-or-treat bags. We simply dressed in things Mom found around the house and we carried pillow cases for our treat bags.

Each year, I went as either a gypsy or a housewife. The gypsy always had big gold hoop earrings. We would take the rings from Ball or Mason jars and tie yarn on them. Then we would loop the yarn around our ears. Wah Lah....instant earrings. We would also wear extra jar lids as "jangle" bracelets on both arms. When we dressed like a housewife, we would wear one of Mom's house dresses and stick a pillow in the top to give us bosoms. We would put a belt under the pillow to hold it up. By the end of the evening, everything was slipping and we just sagged. We always put a head scarf on and tied it under the back of our hair. Either costume was so much fun because we got to wear rouge (never even hear that word anymore) and bright red lipstick.

Back in WV, late October was so cold, you usually had on layers of clothing under your costume to keep you warm. But by the end of the evening, you were so hot and sweaty, you couldn't wait to get home and out of the costume.

We would have to wash and get our PJ's on when we got home. Then we were allowed to lay in the floor and dump our goodies out and "trade" with one another. Some things my siblings liked that I didn't so we would swap and deal.

Those were some good times and some wonderful memories. Gladys and Walter across the road always gave apples and Orvel Marcum always gave the big size Snickers and Milky Ways.

I polled some of my friends and the majority of them also grew up using homemade costumes. They went as ghosts, princesses, boys dressed as women and one guy even dressed up like Aunt Jemimah. What fond memories. Many of them remember their grandmothers always making popcorn balls for Halloween. Have things changed that much over the years or have we? Do we now take the easy way out because it is faster and we live life at a higher speed. I don't know, but I know I miss those simpler times.

My cousin Connie said it best " I think our homemade ones were better and more creative than store bought ones. And we had just as much, if not more, fun with our costumes."

Some weird things going on out back....

There are some weird happenings in my back yard. Not sure if it the after effects of a full moon or the prelim to a strange Halloween. Either way, check this out.

This was early morning yesterday and I think it made the river look down right eerie. Made me think of Madame Rue (Love Potion #9) and Witchy Woman (by the Eagles). 'Course I also thought of a little CCR with "Bad Moon Rising". Anyway, it was just a tad spooky when I went out to get the newspaper.

Now, I just can't explain this next one. I love tea roses. So I bought one in the spring. It was my favorite rose. A pale yellow with peach tips. So I've had beautiful yellow/peach roses all summer. As summer ended, it started dying off. But it still kept some green leaves.

About a week ago, I noticed some buds coming back. But now, when they bloomed, I had one pink rose and one pure yellow rose. Where did that all come from? There was no pink on this plant all summer. But now I get one single pink rose and the one that is yellow, has no peach. But I only planted one plant. Strange.

Miscellany Monday

..... Why do we lay in bed tossing and turning and when we give in and get up, we are so sleepy we can't focus. I wake up every morning around 4:30 and can't go back to sleep. After staring at my clock until 5:00, I break down and get up only to yawn and stumble around for the next 30 minutes.

..... I'm not anti-sports or anything, but sometimes I think we are going over board with it. My Saturday paper had the first THREE section headlines relating to sports stories. My 11:00 news wasn't on until 12:00 because the sports commentators hashed over a call in a pro football game and discussed details of things that I could not have cared less about.

..... An exciting week coming up. Baby shower on Wednesday night for little Colby James. Visiting with family on Friday night at my son's house. Playing tourist Saturday and visiting the unique craft and antique shops in Wears Valley with family who will be down from out of town. Eating at Apple Barn Saturday night.

..... Then Disney Princesses on Ice on Sunday with my two granddaughters.

..... Need to decide what kind and how many cakes to bake for the cake walk at Trunk or Treat. Also need to figure out how to get them to the church when I'll be in Wears Valley that day.

Hope everybody has a blessed week!

God's Coloring Book

Dolly Parton sang a song many years ago called God's Coloring Book. The song ends with the words:

He is all around me

He's everywhere I look

And each new day is but a new page

In God's coloring book.

If you drive through the Great Smoky Mountains, her birthplace, it is easy to see where the inspiration for that song comes from. Friday, Allen and I took a journey through our mountains in Tennessee and words cannot describe the pure beauty and grandeur that we saw. Today, I hope you enjoy these photos of God's coloring book.

Rest in Peace....

A couple at our church lost a daughter and her husband this week in a tragic accident. They have been left with shattered lives and a small granddaughter who is almost four and has lost both her parents. My heart grieves for them and what all they must face. My post today is to ask all of you to remember this family in their time of need.

In Loving Memory

Amanda Rebekah Adams

November 17, 1983 - October 19, 2010

Birthplace: Knoxville, Tennessee

Resided In: Sevierville Tennessee

Amanda Rebekah Adams, age 26 of Sevierville, along with her husband Jeffrey Lynn Adams, Jr., passed away Tuesday, October 19, 2010 as result of an accident. She was preceded in death by her father Gary Standifer. Amanda is survived by her daughter Amber Renee Adams; mother and step-father Jeri and Cary Clark; brothers Brad Standifer and wife Carrie, Andrew Standifer; nieces Sarah and Madison Standifer.

Jeffrey Lynn Adams, Jr.

January 18, 1984 - October 19, 2010

Birthplace: Bluefield, WV

Resided In: Sevierville Tennessee USA

Jeffrey Lynn Adams, Jr., age 26 of Sevierville, along with his wife Amanda Rebekah Adams, passed away Tuesday, October 19, 2010 as result of an accident. He is survived by his daughter Amber Renee Adams; son Joshua Adams; parents Jeffrey and Lena Adams; sister Constance Adams; nephews Parker Adams and Nathanial Tall; grandparents George and Lula Smith.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Amber Renee Adams Educational Fund to the Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union, P.O. Box 15994, Knoxville, Tennessee 37901 and/or the Joshua Adams College Fund, at any branch of Sevier County Bank.

Funeral service 2 PM Sunday in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home with Rev. Richard Compton officiating. Interment will follow in Beech Springs Cemetery. The family will receive friends 2-5 PM Saturday at Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)



Fun-filled Friday

Twenty-nine years ago around this same time, my husband and I visited the Great Smoky Mountains with his parents. That was my first trip there. I was enthralled. The majestic grandeur that surrounded me just took my breath away. The leaves in their fall beauty was a site to behold. We drove to Cherokee, went out to Cades Cove, walked around the streets of the quaint little town nestled at the foothills of the Smokies. We went to Oconaluftee as well as Mingus Mill. We took the scenic drive through Roaring Fork Motor Trail. I saw my first bear and walked through the clouds on top Ski Mountain.

In the evenings, my in-laws would retire to their room at The Alpine shortly after supper, leaving us free to roam the streets of Gatlinburg on our own. We would take the trolley from the hotel into town and walk up and down the streets, visiting the many shops. I remember having to have Karmel Korn and buying Stick Candy and Orange Creams from McCutcheon's Candy store.

I fell in love with the area. It was so hard to leave and go back home. For the next 7 years, we would visit here for little short weekend jaunts about 2-3 times a year. In 1988, we made the decision to move here and have never regretted it.

Living in The Mountains is like having your own little piece of heaven. We have been here 22 years now and the one drawback is the fact that we don't get the pleasure of "going on vacation" to the mountains. So we occasionally take day trips in the area to do the things that brought us such pleasure.

Today will be one of those days. We are playing hookie from work. (Can you play hookie if you own the business?) We are going over into the mountains and enjoy our day together. I'm so excited. It is always a wonderful day when you get to play hookie and have an all day date with your husband.

I hope you all have a fun-filled Friday and a blessed weekend.

Just wait till He stands up....

We are learning a new song in choir. It's full of excitement and joy. The words really touched a place in my heart that makes me want to shout and sing. Just wait till He stands up. What a thought. Imagine what it will be like when God tells Jesus it's time to gather His people home.

When we get ready to take a trip here, we scurry around and pack our bags. We make lists to make sure we don't forget anything. We lay out our clothes to decide what we want to pack and what will best serve our purpose. Then we have to pack jewelry to match. And all our toiletries. By the time we are packed for our little trip, we are too worn out to take the trip. We can't sleep the night before because we are so excited to be leaving.

But I don't think it will be like that for Jesus. When God says, it's time to go. I think He will be heading out heaven's door with no notice. He'll have a band of heavenly angels on His heels shouting and praising and singing. "Road trip!" will be announced to one and all when the King comes to collect His people.

I for one want to be ready. I want my heavenly bags packed and ready to leave at a moments notice. I don't want to linger. I won't double check the lights or make sure the oven is off. I'll be standing at the door waiting to jump in His open arms and say "Let's go!"

Oh, what a trip that will be. Clean up the baggage in your life and don't have anything lingering that will hold you back. When He arrives, be prepared. If you think you have had excitement or joy in your life before, well, Just wait till HE stands up!!

Happy birthday, Sis

My blog is dedicated today to my older sister, Rachel Elizabeth Ashworth. Happy birthday, Sis. Being so close in age, we have shared so many secrets over the years and so many good times. We have laughed together and cried together. We rejoiced together at the births of our children and our nieces and nephews. And we have mourned the death of our dad, our grandmothers and our aunts and uncles.

Growing up, we shared a room. She was the neat one and I was the messy one. She was the "a place for everything and everything in it's place" type and I was the "Why put it up, I'll use it again in a day or two." I'm sure I drove her crazy a lot. As a matter of fact, I know I did because she tells me so all the time.

I had zillion stuffed animals and couldn't sleep unless each one of them was snuggled against me. Which meant when we had a full size bed, she had to sleep with stuffed animals lined up down the middle of the bed all the way to my feet.

I was so impressed with her that I let her talk me into things. I'll never forget when we had a little bit of money to spend and she would talk me into not buying what I wanted, but to pool our money and get a new rug for our room or a Supreme's album.

Of course having an older sister had a lot of benefits. She got a job while I was still in high school and spent her money on nice clothes...which she let me borrow (usually as a way to pay for my silence about something).

I was her maid of honor and she was my matron of honor.

As we have grown, we have grown even closer if it is possible. She is the one I turn to when I need to vent or brag. She is always there for me and I hope she knows that I'm always there for her. When we are together, there is so much laughter and joy that it is like losing an arm or a leg when she leaves to go back home.

I love you, Rachel. Have a wonderful birthday.

The queen of the tote bag...

What is up with me and tote bags. I can't seem to get enough. I have small ones, medium ones and large ones. I have them with grandchildren's names on them. I have them in plaid and solid and with little whimsical birds and trees. I have the shopping totes from Pampered Chef, Walmart, Food Lion, Food City and Joanne's. I have them from Longaberger, 31 Gifts and Donna Sharp. I've bought them at Dollar Tree and on E-bay. I just love my totes.

Why do I feel this need to buy totes to haul my "stuff" around. I have totes for books and junk food when I go on trips, totes for when I teach children's church, totes for my craft when I go on vacation, totes to carry in my trunk to put packages in to keep them from sliding around in trunk. Here are a few of my favorites:

My Donna Sharp Quilted Craft Bag

This is my 31 Gifts tote for my books and snacks to ride up front with me on long trips.

My new Cindy Tote from 31 Gifts. I won this when I had my party. It is so soft and padded and perfect for my laptop when I travel.

My Mamaw bag. I tote this when I have the grandkids so we can stuff whatever we need to take with us when we run around.

As if I don't already have enough, I still looking for one more in a particular size that I'm going to order in the next couple of weeks. If I don't stop soon, I'm going to be looking for a tote to store all my totes in.

Miscellany Monday

First

Had a busy weekend with two of the grandchildren. They came over while their parents went on a haul to Alabama. The litle one rolled off her toddler mattress and somehow ended up under my bed. The bigger one played "office" at my desk most of the weekend.

Second

Been lovin' the weather. Beautiful days and cool evenings. It's playing havoc with my A/C though. Can't decide if I need heat or air. So we just compromise and do a mixture of both. I did find that with the new arrangement of my office, my hallogen desk lamp now sets in such a way that it not only lights up the dark area of the desk, but puts off just enough heat to know the chill off the early morning.

Third

Had a wonderful Sunday School lesson yesterday followed by an awesome sermon. Went back to church last night and really enjoyed the sermon again. Our new pastor is very inspiring.

Fourth

Spent Saturday evening baking 3 dozen chocolate cinnamon cookie cakes with chocolate icing. I modify a recipe from a magazine for red velvet cookies to make this one. They were a hit. I have 101 new cookie recipes so I'll be experimenting for a while. Lots of friends will be receiving cookies this year for Christmas.

Armchair traveler

There are so many places I long to see. But my fear of flying will prevent me from ever actually going to some of them in person. The best I can do is visit them in books and watch for them on National Geographic. But there are some in the U.S. that are very doable. Here is my wish list for trips in the order I would take them if I could go anywhere I wanted to go.

The Jordan River

Cattleranch in Texas

The Grand Tetons in Wyoming

The Assateague Island to see the wild horses on the beach in Virginia/Maryland

A whale watching cruise at Virginia Beach (The himpback whale migrates there in the winter. January & February is the best time to go here.)

The City of Lights, Paris France

The Ancient Ruins of Corinth

The Highlands and Moors of Scotland



Ireland





The Wine Country in France

Bon Voyage!

When a good idea goes bad......

It was a good idea at the time. In fact, I was impressed with my own brilliance. But, apparently, I didn't think it through.

I have a pack and play I bought with my first grandchild to have as a spare bed when they visit. My two year old granddaughter, Shelby, is getting to that age where it is hard to lay her down inside it when she is asleep. But I'm afraid to put her in the spare bedroom with her brother because it is a sleeper sofa and I'm afraid if she fall out of bed, she would hurt herself on the metal frame that holds the mattress. Plus she still wakes up at night and is a little disoriented and I like her being close by for me to comfort her.

So, I had this wonderful brainstorm. I would borrow her mattress from her toddler bed and put it in the floor beside my bed. I fixed it up with her favorite blankies and a nice soft pillow. I tucked my spare pillows around the mattress so if she rolled off, she would just roll onto a pillow. Pretty good idea....or so I thought.

Around 4:00, as usual, I hear a little sobbing and wimpering as she wakes up and is in need of some Mamaw comfort. I don't want to turn a light on and wake her completely up, so I step off the bed and kneel on the spare pillow to lift her up off the mattress. She's not there. So I feel further down in the bed. No Shelby. I start patting the pillow around the bed and tell my husband, I can't find her. "Shelby where are you?" And I hear this precious little voice wimper the words "I stuck under you bed".

I freaked. Papaw jumped up and turned the light on and there she was half way under my bed with her binkie and blankie laying on her belly. I said "Shelby, what are you doing." And she looks around at me and says "I try to get out."

How not to chuckle at the situation. I tell her to back up and she does so I get her feet and gently slide her out the rest of the way. She grabs me and hugs me and says "Mamaw B, I stuck."

What is the first thing that goes through a grandmother's mind at a time like this. Well, for me it was, "Oh my gosh, how am I going to tell her mom she got stuck under my bed in the middle of the night."

So the next morning, I text her Mom and Dad about it. They are on the way to Alabama. They didn't respond immediately. My text message beeps and with trepidation in my heart, I prepare myself for the lecture I know is coming. When they finally respond, my daughter has written:

"Oh my gosh!! We are both laughing so hard we have tears in our eyes." So much for my worry that she will be worried.

Are we a warped family or what??

I think the next time I have a good idea, I won't be so fast to act on it.

Going Batty

I have been seeing on several blogs lately where they are posting mantels and houses which display Halloween decorations. I have a couple of jack-o-lanterns, a cute little ghost cookie jar, a cloth witch with an apron that holds candy. All tastefully done and cute as can be.

When the kids were little and had friends over, we would go the fake cobweb route with a few plastic spiders. We had the skeleton and black cats.

But one thing I've seen in home decor this year that I never used was Bats. Decorating with bats? Not a-gonna happen with this old gal. I can handle a lot of things and can chase a mouse or kill a spider. But I cannot and will not ever be attracted to bats.

When I was a little girl and Daddy wanted to get us to come in at dusk in the summertime, he would tell us about bats and what attracted them. One thing he would tell us (because we were out there playing ball) was that if we threw the ball too high, the bats radar would detect it and it might swoop down toward the ball. Of course, then Jack and Andy had to throw the ball in the air to see if it worked. Well, that was all I needed to hear. Bath time here I come.

Then when I was 20 and pregnant with my twins, I lived in the 3rd floor attic of an old house that had been converted into three apartments. We had an outside entrance and climbed 2 flights of stairs to get to our apartment. The stairwell was lit by one small bulb. We came home late one night and when we opened the door and started into the stairwell, a bat flew out and zoomed low over our heads. I freaked out. I'll never know what kept me from going into labor or why my kids weren't scarred for life.

So I guess you can see why I do not have any fondness whatsoever for bats. I will not ever consider buying a bat for a decoration for anything. Too freaky for me.

O My Glory!

Sometimes mere words cannot express the happiness we feel inside. I love this song that was sang by Candy Christmas. The words really touch my heart since they remind me of my children's godfather. He would get so blessed at church that he would would just stand up and cry and wave his hands and say Glory. I still have such fond memories of that little country church, sitting on top the hill up the hollow where I grew up. Junior, this one's for you.......

O MY GLORY!

Charlie was a man about 69, he went to our church back in the Georgia pines

He lost his wife and his kids were gone but every Sunday night after the special song

The preacher’d ask the people to testify Charlie’d stand up with a gleam in his eye

He never was a man of very many words, most the time all that we heard was

O my glory, glory, glory that was all that he said that was his story

O my glory, glory, glory, glory, glory, glory, o my!

Well he looked kinda funny with that big old grin.

I said “hey, hey momma what’s the matter with him”

She pulled me up close and then she took my hand

She said someday, baby you will understand.

Sunday after Sunday during prayer meetin’ night

Charlie’d stand up when the feelin’ was right,

He’d raise both his hands and he’d start to cry

Then he’d open up and testify…and he’d say

O my, glory, glory, glory that was all that he said that was his story

O my, glory, glory, glory, glory, glory, glory, o my

Many years later I went back to see if that little country church was how it used to be

Momma and daddy and Charlie were gone

But when the preacher got up after the special song

Something very strange began to happen to me

I was shakin’ all over I was weak in the knees

I stood there cryin’ and I tried to explain

But Charlie’s words were all I could say and I said

O my glory glory glory that was all I could say that was my story

O my glory glory glory glory, glory,glory o my

Do Not Delete God

I was working on the church website this morning. I'm in the process of updating our link page. As I was cutting and pasting info for each link, I realized I had pasted the start of the next sentence that I wasn't using. It was one extra word. I went to delete it and saw the word was God. My fingers hesitated over the delete key. My mind filled with remorse. I thought to myself "I can't delete God. It felt like I was ready to commit a mortal sin. It was a typographical error and I did not need that sentence in what I was doing, but yet, my heart stopped at the mere thought of deleting that one word.

But yet, we do not have that same problem in deleting God from our daily lives. Even the strongest. stoutest Christian will occasionally delete God unintentionally. Do we prayer, never ceasing, to ask for His guidance and help in whatever challenges we meet? Do we wait only until we are at that lowest point when we have no where else to turn before we utter a word for Him to help us? Do we wake up in the morning with a smile on our face and a joy that He has provided us with one more day to live? Or do we slap the snooze button until the last minute, only to jump up and rush around to get everyone ready and out of the house on time, not even taking a minute to thank Him for another day?

When others are lambasting His name or criticizing our beliefs, do we quietly stand there and not comment simply because we make it a point to never discuss religions? Do we let them think our silence is an agreement with them? Does it make us look ashamed of our Lord and our Christianity?

As I look back over my life, I stand amazed at the things I struggled with, the conversations I avoided, the things I didn't do, because I "didn't want to cause a scene." How many times did I unintentionally "delete" God? It wasn't because I wanted to, it wasn't because I don't love Him. It is simply because it is human nature to take the simple path. To travel the easy road. We don't want to rile or defend, yet we let others destroy His name, mock him and ridicule our beliefs.

From this day forward, I'm urging all of you to take a stand with me. Let's cover that delete button and make sure we keep Him the central point of our life.

Monday Madness

Today if going to be one of those days. My to do list is growing bigger by the moment. I've taken on a couple of new projects so I've had to do some rearranging in my home office. I had to move my mahogany file cabinet into my husband's office and get me a four drawer one. We have limited space so this involved several things shifting and moving to new locations. I now have the wonderful task of sorting and piling to decide what files go where and how I want the layout of the top of my desk.

So I spent some time yesterday getting the basics done like the furniture moved. There was a nice little side table that I was able to incorporate into my office as a decoration....right up until the point I remembered I had to find some place to put the laser printing I'm going to go get this morning. So I'm back to square one on what goes where.

Some days, I love the task of de-cluttering and re-organizing. Some days I don't. I can tell this is going to be one of those days that I do. I woke up with lots of fresh ideas and have already moved everything around on my desk and freed the clutter there.

A few more things to do then I get to head out to Staples for my printer and a few more organizing tools. I love that store. It is one of my weaknesses. Hoping to find some bargains.

Prayers for a great day for each of you.



Sunday Suppers

Just a few great ideas for supper in the south. These are my favorite meals. They are satisfying any day of the week.

#1

Fried Chicken

Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Corn on the Cob

Hot rolls

Two Layer Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing

Sliced Peaches

#2

Country Steak and Gravy

Fried Potatoes

Cole slaw

Cornbread

Apple Cobbler
Ice Cream

#3

Homemade Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Salad

Bread sticks

Cheesecake

#4

Ham

Baked Beans

Potato Salad

Deviled Eggs

Mashed Potatoes

Graham Cracker Pie

#5

Meat Loaf

Baked Potato

Baked Beans

Spice Cake with Caramel Icing

#6

Hamburger, Macaroni and Cheese

Fried Potatoes

Pinto Beans

Cornbread

Brownies

Enjoy!

Rules of a grandmother

I was typing my two rules of grandparenting on Facebook when my 6 year old granddaughter and 11 year old grandson decided to help me "make" the rules. Here are my rules:

Rule #1 - Never take them back scratched, scraped or injured.

Rule #2 - Never take them back with gum in their hair

Here is what they have come up with.

Rule #3 - Let the granddaughter sing whenever she wants.

Rule #4 - Let the grandson decide when he's heard enough of granddaughter singing

Rule #5 - Let the grandchildren weave pot holders and take them off the loom for them ... the minute they are done. (Little impatient on this sometimes LOL)

Rule #6 - Ice cream is okay for breakfast

Rule #7 - Bedtime is whenever you fall asleep

Rule #8 - If you get hungry, you get to eat, no matter what time it is.

And here is a rule the 7 year old grandson created

Rule #9 - He is the boss on Saturdays

And the 2 year old granddaughter has one rule that she lives by when she is with me, so rule #10 according to Shelby is:

Rule #10 - No Rules

Sentimental Saturday...

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

Have a great day.