Happy Anniversary Jason...

Happy Anniversary Jason!!!!!

If I could "liken" US to any couple, it would be

the Flintstone's.  Remember them!

He is a big guy and she is cute and little and has a pebble necklace on!  She just listens as he rants. :) and she loves him. 

Look at the description of these two,

The main character. Fred is an accident-prone quarry worker and head of the Flintstone clan. He is quick to anger (usually over inconsequential matters), but is a very loving husband and father.

Fred's wife, Wilma, She is more intelligent and level-headed than her husband, though she often has a habit of spending money (with her and Betty's catchphrase being "Da, da, da, CHARGE IT!!").

I am not so sure about the intelligent part!  Jason is way more intelligent than I am.

Anyway, Jason, I sure love you!  We had a few tough moments this year, but we made it through!  I am so glad you are well and with me!  You are the man I dreamed of before we were married.  I dreamed of a big man, taking care of me and Lauren, always at my side, even if we don't talk.  I love you for loving Lauren and Layton as your own.  I love you for sticking by me no matter what.  I love you for just "being".  I love you for always taking me and be willing to go to church.  I love you for loving my parents soooooo.  I love you for the wondeful, caring father that you are.  I love you for  excelling at your career.  I love you for loving me even when I know I drive you "bonkers".  And, most of all I love you for letting me be me.   Muahhh!

December 31, 2003, our Wedding Day

Thanksgiving this year!

June 2011 this year, taken at a wedding...

I had to throw one in of he and Layton this year, Layton wears his glasses just like Boo Boo...

Jason loves Forest Gump, this was in Branson this year!

This was taken at Christmas this year!

We have definitely aged, but hopefully, we have a little more wisdom,
Jason and I are headed to Dallas for the weekend.  One of our favorite things to do is spend time with
my Aunt Ruthye and Uncle Hugh on New Year's Eve each year!  Hopefully, I can post another pic!

ILUR JB,

Consumed...

This gift was brought to me by Donna, my mentor, my friend, my family, and she is so precious to me.

When Donna walked in my office today, she came in with a pink bag and shut my door.  I thought to  myself, oh no, get ready, this is probably going to be a tear jerker, and it was.  When I opened the package I found "consumed".  I left "consumed" on my desk so that I can look at her each day.  Below is why the artist named this piece "consumed".

Consumed portrays a woman longing to be wholly given over to God. Based on Scripture from Song of Solomon 2:10: My beloved spake and said unto me, "Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away ";

You know art speaks to you.  It speaks to everyone differently.  Donna told me that when she saw this  piece, she knew she should buy it for me.  I cannot think of any other gift that means more to me than this gift.  Donna has seen me at my lowest and she knows that God is transforming me day by day.  Never will I be perfect, but my prayer each day is to be closer to God and his will for my life.  I pray that my light will shine for Him.  As I look at "consumed", I see her opening her life, her heart and her being to her maker!  If you have read my early post, you know that I am convinced and I am consumed.

Thank you  Donna, I think you know how much this means to me!

I love you, and I cherish your friendship!

Below is the artist' comments,

"She looks totally consumed" commented a friend as she looked at this new piece. As soon as I heard that word, consumed, I knew that was the word the Lord wanted to use as a name for this piece.i

As I searched the scriptures, being consumed seemed a bad thing, a scary thing. But I found that in Hebrew 'consumed' also meant 'finish, complete, perfect.' I turned this over and over in my mind what was the Lord telling me? As I walked in the rain one morning He whispered 'We have a marriage in name only. It has not been consummated.' I was stricken as I felt the piercing of the two edged sword, slicing quickly through to the heart of me. And I knew for all my passionate declarations of love and faith in Jesus, for all my genuine belief in Him, I had not been consumed - not entirely, only bits of me, large bits to be sure, but still, only part. So as I struggle with my own fears of intimacy with the living God, I will tell you this for sure, the Lord s calling you and me, His bride, to be consumed."

Happy New Year almost!

Get Ready...Get Ready...

I thought about little Layton as I took a warm blanket, in fact, the "yellow" blanket out of the dryer.  I always warm Layton's blanket in the dryer at nap time.  Since Layton is not here, I took it to Jason, and he smiled!  I said, you are suppose to say, "Get Ready, Get Ready!"...I can hear his little giggly voice in my head. 

Anyway, as I was saying this, I thought, I bet God is saying this!  Get Ready, Get Ready!   I should be just like this little boy, and have a gigglyness (is that a word?) about me in anticipation of what is going to happen next.  Just as I warm the blanket in preparation for the ones I love, God is preparing a magnificent place for me, because he loves me so. John 14:2  Surely,

Today, as I was working in my office, paying bills, figuring taxes, looking to the New Year, a sense of  "oh my gosh" came over me. Will I make enough money next year?, will my family be well?, will I be alone?, will this be a hard year?   I had to stop and say a prayer,  and  now I realize the verse I read this morning, comes to life,

Thought for the Day: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5)  

So, for me, I will not worry.  Worry is a choice.  Happiness is a choice.  Contentment is a choice.  Thankfulness is a choice.  I will give praise and thanks to  God for always providing and taking care of me.  I will capture each thought, I will keep the good and throw out the bad.  I have a choice.  I have made a choice. I will follow through with my choices!

Surely,  

PS  Could not help myself with the pic of ketchup...remember that commercial,  "anticipation"...

Happy Birthday Jesus...

Christmas Day 2011... good day, perfect day...fun day...

Happy Birthday Jesus, Layton loves birthdays.  I taught Layton a verse last week,

Isaiah 9:6

"For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called, wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighty  God, Prince of Peace".

I thought the verse would be too hard...but, oh my, at lunch he surprised us all.  He wanted us to "not talk"!  He said the entire verse by himself.  This just goes to show you that these little minds, and he is 3.5 years old, can just soak up the word.

I see more verses in his future!  His voice was precious, I just wanted to cry!  I bet God loves those little sincere voices...

Great day!  Great Christmas!

Chippey found the marshmallow gun!

Chippey smells peppermint!

Chippey sure likes the view!

Chippey is looking for candy!

Convinced...

Romans 4:20-21

"yet he did not waiver through unbelief regarding the promise of God,

but was strengthened in his faith

and gave glory to God,

being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he promised."

Yep that's  Abraham... one old man, one faith, one God,  I want to meet him one day.  Abraham was old, no children, yet God promised he would have descendants as numerous as the stars and sands on the seashore... yea, wonder what Abraham was thinking?  I wonder if he thought "sure God?"...

"Strengthened in his faith"... really? how does that happen.  Well, for me, problems, struggles, living with consequences, brings me closer to God, strengthening my faith.  Then when faith is strengthened, that's where glory to God peeks around the corner.  Faith, thankfulness, praise to God in everything.  I bet Abraham was there, he had problems, consequences from wrong decisions, yet his faith was strengthened.  Look at that last sentence,   Abraham  was persuaded, he was Convinced that God had the power to do what he promised. He was convinced... he did not allow disbelief to cloud his thinking.  God did as he promised.  Issac was born and the story goes on. 

I am convinced that God sent his Son, born of a virgin, sinless life, sentenced to death for no reason by man, to die a brutal death, for me, for you, for all of our sins,  was buried, resurrected, and is coming back for me one day.   I am convinced,

Jesus last words, Revelation 22:20 "Yes I am coming soon".

Are you convinced?  His gift of eternal life is "FREE"... it begins with "belief".

Have you ever wondered why something so simple can be so difficult?  It would be harder for me to not believe than to believe.  It is hard, because no one wants to relinquish control.  God wants us to "freely" on our own accord, accept is "free" gift. 

Belief + Acceptance of his free gift = Eternal Life         B + A = E

By the way, if you are not convinced, don't let me convince you, read the Bible, and there is no doubt in my mind, that you will not be convinced.  Try it, you'll like it, (can't remember what that commercial slogan is from)?  dates me huh?

I love the Lord, Surely!

Chippey did it!

Let it SNOW...

Yea we made snow today and it is messy...once on a rag it will not come off!  :)

Woody ...

He opened his Woody ornament today, he so loves Woody... 

Inside that smile is a big wad of bubblegum...

Chippey says it is pretty up here!

Chippey is so tired from going to the North Pole every night! He thinks he will rest!

Chippey got into LaLa's Bible...

Don't tear the pages Chippey!

Oh Christmas Tree...

My Christmas prize to me... love this lit tree!

My road tells a story...

Breathtaking... maybe not to you, but my life has so many memories, secrets and blessings on this road.  The picture here is taken as I am walking each day.  I can remember back as far as being a little girl and coming to the country.  I can remember getting my first car and driving down this road.  I can remember many Christmas' and birthdays on this road.  I can remember pain on this road.  I can remember new beginnings on this road.  And, I can remember God bringing me to my knees on this road and blessing me beyond words.  I do not think there is a day that I come down this hill that my breath is not taken away by the view.  I do not think there is a day that my eyes do not fill up with tears, thanking God for giving me such a place to live and blessing me so!  This road is filled with days of prayer, this road is filled with overwhelming thankfulness.

 

1Thess 5

"Rejoice in the Lord always, pray continually and give thanks in all things!"

Proverbs 147:11

"The Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love."

Chippey says "what cha doing Kelly"

Chippey found baby Jesus!

A lil' elf put this on my desk!

Sheryl made these "Divine" prizes... a mini glass martini filled with "Pot de Creme"...  I can barely say the name, but oh  my, it is a burst of flavor in your mouth.  Taste of chocolate, coffee, peppermint, topped with a meringue, it is smooth like mousse.  I just ate half of mine!  Love Love Love!

The presentation is wonderful.  Like I say, Presentation is everything!

Chippey wants to light the Fire!

Chippey says ...

Nannie Nannie boo boo you can't catch me!

Family Picture...

I love this pic of me, Jason and my parents!  Christmas 2011... special day!

Yes you are...

I say you are a "not head", he says, "I not a nothead"!  Love that boy.  He remembers everything I say, sort of scarey.  He is holding Blanca so nicely... she has bling!

Chippey made a mess!

Chippey is excited ! Chocolate!

Love endures forever...

I have got to get back to daily blogging.  I have been running in circles.  Who says real estate is slow in December?  lol

Anyway, Just a few thoughts tonight before I get some rest.

I thank you Lord for taking care of me the last two days.  I have fallen two times, and I am so extremely thankful I am well.  A little sore, but doing fine.  Very tired.

I thank you Lord for Jason and for my parents.  What a fun time Sunday night with my parents Sunday School friends.  Good food and good company.  I hope I have a few pics soon.

I thank you Lord for Layton.  I was able to keep him Saturday night and take him to church.  He was so very good in big church during the Christmas special.  I am thankful for Lauren too :)

I thank you Lord for my business.  Great clients, but again, tired. 

I thank you Lord for Christmas.  I love this time of the year, and I am so glad that you sent your Son for me.  Jesus loves me so.

I thank you Lord for my friends.  Life is special with you.

In repsonse to thankfulness, I remember the verses in Psalm 136, after every "thankful", appears,

His love endures forever.

Read Psalm 136, click here,  http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+136&version=NIV

Chippey got in LaLa's coffee...

Chippey says Santa is pudgy!

Chippey says 'what's cooking'?

Chippey found Mistletoe!

Chippey is just a hangin'...

Chippey loves Gingerbread!

Cranberry pistachio cookie...

I tried a new cookie today, but I changed it a little...

Cranberry Pistachio Cookie

1 pouch Betty Crocker Sugar Cookie Mix

1 box (4 serving size) pistachio instant pudding and pie filling mix

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup butter, melted

2 eggs

1/2 cup dried cranberries, chopped 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a large bowl stir cookie mix, pudding, and flour. Add melted butter and eggs and stir until incorporated. Add cranberries and mix well. 

Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. 

Bake for 8-10 minutes. Do not overcook.  Cool.

Melt white almond bark in the microwave according to directions on the package.  Dip the side of the cookie in the almond bark, sprinkle as desired.  Yummy!