I need warmth...

This is exactly how I feel, like a cold blob... No exercise, and I cannot get warm!

But there is always hope, I am ready to get out in the warm sunshine....I want to feel strong again.... Love these lions... what a beautiful animal...

Acclaiming my God...

Psalms 89:15

"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD."

Acclaim meaning - To praise enthusiastically and often publicly; applaud---

I will do so! In the midst of all that happens, I will praise my God. Today was one of those days. I own a house that had major water damage done today, but I know everything happens for a reason, and I did "acclaim" my God. So many things in our lives, are soooo out of our control, but I know who is in control! I just have to continually remember that I do not run the Universe. :)

Texas Economy...

Monthly Review of the Texas Economy December 2009

By Ali Anari and Mark G. Dotzour-RECON-Texas A & M Real Estate Center

The Texas economy lost 272,100 nonfarm jobs from November 2008 to November 2009, an annual job loss of 2.5 percent. Over the same period, the U.S. economy lost more than 4.65 million jobs or 3.4 percent of its total nonfarm jobs. However, the nation’s labor market is bottoming out. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose from 5.4 percent in November 2008 to 8 percent in November 2009, while the U.S. rate rose from 6.8 percent to 10 percent during the same period.

Click here for the complete report.

Realtor Leadership...

Greater Tyler Association of Realtors 2010

Officers

President - Bill Pillsbury

Pres-Elect - Jonathan Wolf

Vice-Pres - Debbie Ezzell

Treasurer - Lorri Loggins

Secretary - Laura Corbett

Past Pres - Ann Fitzgerald

Directors
John Jarvis, Todd Richardson, Kyle Smith, Jason Gregory, Shelia Turner, Terri Durossette, Brenda Stahelin, Jason Wright, Nita Meads

Flu or Swine Flu?...

Hey Daddy, if you wake up looking like this do not go to work! hehehehehehehe...

Go Texas!

Hook em' Horns!!!

Haven update...

Greg (Haven's uncle)...

Lil' Haven...

Update from Greg Davis on lil' Haven,

There is no change in Havens status....Drs are still trying all possible avenues before going the transplant route....when taken off the meds her heart speeds up to 250 beats per minute....if she stays on them too long they will damage her other organs and make her less acceptable to a transplant....so right now.....there is no change in her status....

Keep her in your prayers!

We are Sustained...

Psalms 54:4

"Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me." (Sustain means to support, hold, or bear up from below; bear the weight of...)

I often wonder why there is so much hurt in the world. I suppose, I know, everything we go through is for a reason. I googled "helplessness", and lil' animals were brought up, I just knew you would like this lil' fellow- Mother, :)

Just thinking...

I am just thinking, not exactly doing...that I need to eat like this for days! hehehe...

Happy...

Layton loves to entertain...happy, happy...

Little Haven...

Pray for little Haven...she has heart problems, and has to stay in the hospital until she receives a heart transplant, which could be months. Her grandfather, holding her, is Wilbur Davis. He owns Davis Exterminating and does a lot of business for me. Whenever, you think of this sweet face, say a prayer for her and her family...

Love like Crazy...

"Give your cares to God- He loves you like crazy!"

New Years Eve 2009...

Happy New Years.... everybody!!!

Jason and I at the Star's Game New Years Eve...

After the game, Jason, I, Ruthye and Hugh at the club downstairs waiting for midnight!!! Our tradition, Victory Park, Dallas, Texas...

Outside at Midnight, fireworks...

Great fun!!!

Happy Anniversary JB...

JB and I, December 31, 2003, married at home!

December 31, Six years of marriage to Mr. JB... 3 girls and one GRAND-boy...what a year this has been. I think I have given JB a lot of gray hairs.

We are going to Dallas to watch a STARs hockey game and then outside the American Airlines Center is the Big New Years Eve party...I suppose we will be tired by midnight, we old people that usually go to bed by 10...

I love you JB... Love, LAW- just between you and me "3 x 6"... :) kiss, kiss...

Molasses Crinkle Cookies...

I made the most delicious cookies today. Molasses Crinkle cookies, oh my gosh, my house smelled like Heaven. I love cinnamon, cloves and spices...

Molasses Crinkle Cookies - Easy to make!!!

3/4 cup shortening

1 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1/4 cup Grandma's Molasses

2 1/4 cup flour

2 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

1/2 t cloves

1 t cinnamon

1 t ginger

Mix all together, Chill dough. Roll dough into balls and dip tops in sugar. Place sugared side up on greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-10 minutes.

Steadfast...

I have people ask me all the time, "how do you have time to blog?", well, for me I make time. It seems like when I make time to read my bible, pray and blog, that my day is so much better. I tend to see things throughout the day, that I catch myself giving to God. I know that I have to do my part, like prepare the fields, but God brings the harvest! Right...... :)

I know alot of us have friends, family and clients that have so many needs. This verse in 2 Samuel jumped off the page to me today. If you have not taken the time to read the Old Testament, it is absolutely fascinating. I look forward to it each day.

2 Samuel 14:14

" Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him."

Read that again, "he devises ways so that a banished person may not remain estranged from him". To me that is comforting, so, as for me, I will remain Steadfast (not subject to change), like a tree, rooted deep in the ground, not going anywhere-firmly fixed in place.

I will steadfastly PRAY for my family, friends and clients.

Definitely Surely,

Inexpressible JOY...

This verse spoke to me today...you know the disciples after Jesus rose from the grave, saw him,and did not believe until he showed them his hands and his side, and Jesus said to them,

John 20: 29

"Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

You know that is all of us that believe, seems to me that it would be so easy for the ones that lived and saw Jesus to believe, and they still had a hard time. Yet today, I believe by faith. The verse below is so powerful, because it is so true that we that believe do have an inexpressible JOY that unbelievers do not have. It is often evident in one's demeanor and their countenance. Countenance means, "Appearance, especially the expression of the face". Wow!

1 Peter 1:8

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,"

I love salads, especially with fruit...I got this recipe from http://www.realmomkitchen.com/

A must to try!

Cran-Orange Almond Salad

1 large head red leaf lettuce, washed, dried, and broken into pieces (I like a lettuce combo so I used red leaf and butter – a red leaf and spring mixture would also be yummy)
1/2 medium onion, sliced sliced and separated into rings (I recommend slicing them very thin, a mandolin would be good if you have one. I wish mine were thinner. I then cut the rings in half)
2 – 3 oranges, peeled and sliced then cut into chunks (You can use 2 cans of mandarin oranges, drained – but the fresh orange is fabulous and the more the better for me)
1/2 jicama, peeled and cut into julienne strips
1/2 cup or so of dried cranberries

Serve tossed with orange dressing and sugared almonds. (recipes below)

Orange Dressing
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/2 cup canola oil (or vegetable oil)
2 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon Good Seasons dry Italian dressing mix
Combine ingredients in blender or shaker jar.

Sugared Almonds
4 ounces slivered almonds
3 Tablespoons sugar
Place almonds in a small skillet and sprinkle with sugar. Cook over medium heat stirring until almonds are coated and starting to brown (a nice tan color) and sugar has dissolved. (Be careful not to burn) Allow almonds to cool.

Little boy and rocks...

The boy loves rocks and dirt...

Happy Birthday Little Jenni...

Happy Birthday Lil' Princess...

She loves gummy bears...

Since you do not like cake, I thought this "gummy bear chandelier" was so appropriate!

Love it! Have fun today!