The fever.

It was over 70 degrees yesterday and we woke up to 61 degrees this morning. I actually wore flip flops to the store. Now, I've got the fever. The vacation fever that is. I'm plotting and planning. I've been researching hotels for our annual beach trip. Not sure where I want to stay this year. I am torn. I love the place we stay every year. It's older, but remodeled. This is the back yard and the beach view from our room. We are only 2 blocks from the pier and Big Daddy's so I love the location. They are so clean and everybody is so helpful and nice, it's like staying with family. But sometimes I think I want a change since we've been there for 6 years now. But I don't know.

I just know I need a trip. We will probably take a few little jaunts to West Virginia for weekend visits with the family. We have two new babies coming and I'll want to see them. There is a niece and a nephew graduating high school and I would love to attend the graduations. We are planning a huge family get-together sometime in July before my nephew, Jake, leaves for the Marine Corp in August. He is being stationed at Parris Island and will graduate basic training in November. I'll be heading on a trip to S.C. for that for sure.

In the past 6 months, I've held two 31 parties and have accumulated some nice travel totes and weekend bags. I'm ready for a road trip.

But for now, I'll just enjoy my Saturday jaunts to Knoxville for shopping with my daughter. The next few days are supposed to be beautiful

Music....

From the time I heard Porter Wagoner sing A Satisfied Mind, I was hooked on music. I love the old country ballads moan and groan of love gone wrong or life gone right. I grew up on Porter, Buck Owens, George Jones, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn. But like any child I had some of my own favorites - The Cowsills, The Archies. Then I hit the teen years and fell in love with Rock & Roll. I still have my albums by Three Dog Night, Bob Seger, The Bee Gees and many more.

As the years rolled on and I became involved in church, I fell in love with those old gospel hymns, Amazing Grace, Mansion over the Hilltop, The Old Rugged Cross. 

I went through the years with my children's music tastes. But instead of the usual "mom thing" of yelling for them to turn it down, I would pop into their rooms to listen as Bon Jovi sang You Give Love a Bad Name or Poison singing Every Rose has its Thorn. (I still have Bon Jovi CD's I listen to).

I always remembered my country roots and have stayed true to my country music. The old time greats will always touched my heart, He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones brings tears to my eyes. And newer ballads like Reba's I'll Keep on Loving You.

But nothing ever replaces the heart-felt love that comes from singing gospel music. It is a deep-seated love of God that brings true blessings from songs that sing of His Mercy, His Grace and the beautiful heaven He has prepared for us. Sometimes when I'm in the choir singing, I feel like God has sent angels down to stand among us, to help us lift our voices in heavenly praise. Some of the gospel songs, old and new, just make you feel like your feet are lifting off the ground. 

They say music soothes the savage beast. I don't think you have to be a beast to be soothed by music. It is my lifeblood and I cannot image what life would be like if there was no music.   

The 4 cent counter....

Back in the Sixties when I was in elementary school, Daddy would sit in his chair and we would rub his feet or back. He would pay us a quarter for doing it. At the end of the week, we would all walk into town to catch the "town bus" to go to the big city of Huntington. We would have our quarter burning a hole in our pocket.

There was a store there called the Bazaar. In the basement, was this big square counter with dividers sectioning it off. It was called The Four Cent Counter. Everything on there was four cents. We loved spending our quarters on items from there.

We always bought a new rain bonnet in the little plastic cases. Not having a car, those came in very handy if we were walking and got caught in the rain. Being young, it didn't bother us to be seen with them covering our head.

We always had to have the little elastic bracelets that looked like Chiclets gum. We thought we were tough stuff with our "jewelry." Of course there was always the collapsible drinking cups with pill holders in them. Even though we didn't carry or take any pills, we loved the collapsible cup.

There was also the set of watches that we had to have. It was a toy watch on an elastic band and you got one for yourself and one for your baby doll in the package. I always bought the one with a red band. I thought they were so cool.

No matter what we bought with our quarter, it was always something fun and special. And even though each item only cost us four cents, it brought us memories that are priceless.

Hmmm, interesting.

I learned something about myself these past couple of days. When it comes to sweets, I am selfish. Hubby bought me a pound of orange creams from the Apple Barn. I posted on Facebook about it, saying "Mine, all mine."

Then, today, Hubby took me to Applebees and here is what I had for dessert...

When I posted about it on Facebook, my comment was..."Two spoons? Seriously. Do they really think I'm going to share dessert?"

So, what have I learned from this? Not only am I selfish, but it is easy to see why I simply CANNOT lose those last 10 pounds. I also learned that I buy sweets at places with healthy names...Apple Barn, Applebees... do you see a pattern here?

Happy Valentine's Day to our Lord

A special thank you to each of my family and friends who responded to my request for your favorite bible verses. I have compiled a Valentine letter to Our Heavenly Father using words from each of your favorite bible verses I received. May God bless you and keep you in His precious love. This Valentine is to our sweet Lord on behalf of each of you.

Dear Father,

My friends and family have gotten together with me to thank you for your precious LOVE. You have LOVED us so much and provided us with such HOPE for our FUTURE. You send ANGELS to KEEP CHARGE over us and keep us uplifted. Through the reading of your word we find COURAGE, FAITH and PEACE. Like the mighty EAGLE, you RENEW OUR STRENGTH and our SPIRIT so we may SOAR to face a brighter day. You are our POWER and MIGHT. We are nothing without you, God. You HEAL our broken spirits and COMFORT our WOUNDED souls. You are always WITH us. You have told us to FEAR NOT. But so many times we fail you by letting things get us down. We should always REJOICE and keep STRONG in our FAITH. We should give you the GLORY for all the ABUNDANCE you provide us. You gave us the best Valentine the day you sent your ONLY SON to do YOUR WILL. You allowed CHRIST to be BRUISED so that we could have a CLEAN HEART; so that we could BELIEVE in a better TOMORROW. When we WAIT upon you dear LORD, we can be UNAFRAID. In those moments we are truly STILL and allow only THOUGHTS of you to enter our mind, we find such deep REWARDS. Through QUIETNESS and CONFIDENCE we find STRENGTH. We may LABOR on this earth, but we are JUSTIFIED through your Holy name. Our lips should ever EXALT you, LORD. Your LOVE is EVERLASTING. You SUPPLY our every need THROUGHOUT THE AGES. Our Valentine’s gift to you should be that each of us and OUR HOUSE should SERVE you LORD. We are one of the CHOSEN few. You have given us many words of LOVE throughout the reading of your word. You provide us with great HOPE. One of the greatest moments in our lives is that special time when we can bow down on our knees and proclaim that you are MY GOD.

We LOVE you,

Your children

The surprise....

As Valentine's Day approaches, I find myself reflecting over the past 30 years. Hubby proposed to me on Valentine's Day so it will always hold a very special place in my heart. When we were young and newly married, we would always exchange some type of gift for Valentine's. Nothing expensive or fancy, just something that said I love you. We still do, but we keep it on a small scale, just some little token of our love. I wanted to share with you today the most memorable Valentine's day we had.

My husband loves to surprise me and I love getting surprised. But one particular year, I had seen a small heart shaped necklace that was lined with diamond chips. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary but I absolutely fell in love with it. It was $59.00, so you know it couldn't be too elaborate. But we never spent that kind of money on a Valentine's gift so I hesitated to ask for it. Anytime we would be shopping near it, I would conveniently stop and admire it, making some comment about how much I loved it.

Normally, my hubby takes hints very well so I really expected to get this necklace for Valentine's Day. Whenever V-day fell during the week, I would come home from work and there would be a card and a gift on the table waiting for me. This one year, I came home and there was a gift and a box of candy. I opened the card, gave him his gift and we exchanged a quick kiss.

I admit to being a little let down because I didn't get the necklace. He normally moves mountains to make sure I get something that I want really, really bad. So I went off to take my bath and pout. I never mentioned the necklace. While my bath water was running, he said "You might have to get a knife to slice the cellophane off your candy if you want to try a piece. Being upset, I said I'd try it later.

After my bath, I sat down to supper and he said "You might need to get a knife to slice your sausage." (We were having smoked sausage.) I said, "no, my fork works fine." The whole time we ate, I was getting more and more upset because I was so disappointed in not getting that necklace. I admit to being a little hurt because he didn't even acknowledge that he couldn't get it or say he was sorry.

As we sat there eating, I was having trouble after all cutting the sausage, so I got up to get a knife. When I pulled out the silverware drawer, nestled inside the knife slot was a little red jewelry box. You guessed it....my necklace. Oh, how I love this man of mine.

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Then came the morning....

We praise God for sending His only Son to us as a mere babe, swaddled in cloth and lying in a manger. We praise Jesus for saying "Father, let thy will be done" as He died for us on Calvary. Oh, but how we glorify that He rose again. For when the darkest, deepest night is upon us, through the grace of God, we can truly praise His name that morning has come. This is truly a moving video and I really got a blessing when I was listening this morning. I hope you will be blessed as well.