Happy Birthday YaYa Style...

We got in the bathroom to take a picture, because we had no one to take the picture. I knew we could stand in front of the mirror and take a pic.... lol Then Meridith came home, and she took a picture of us! whew!

Look at that cake plate Lisa Ace bought me...oh wow, is all I can say!...

Eating~ our favorite past time! What a grand birthday! Thanks to all of you! Fun time catching up!

School Project for Layton...

Layton brought home a pennant last night for a school project. He took this to school today and he is suppose to tell his friends about his family... I would love to be a fly on the wall! :)

Beautiful kiddos!...

Lauren's daddy took this picture of her and Layton at Hollytree yesterday. I must say they are absolutely beautiful! Both of them are so photogenic!~

Strawberries are healthy...right?

I am suppose to take something light and healthy to a party tonight...strawberries are, right? right Gina? :) hehehe! http://www.morethanchocolate.net/

Comfort...

You would have to know me to understand this picture...hehe...icing, I love icing...

but I am posting about Isaiah 40:1

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." If you want to read about "comfort", read the entire chapter of Isaiah 40. I love verse 11 also,

"He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; "

I often picture God carrying me, close to his heart, when I am distraught, upset, worried...comforting, huh! I wonder if God feels like I do as a grandparent, carrying my baby close to my heart. We cannot comprehend God's understanding, verse 28.

Anyway, the picture above is for fun, and I would like to say, I absolutely, HATE, when I google pictures, the pornography and filth that is associated with the words that I google. I just cannot imagine so much filth in this world. There I said it...I will get off my soap box now!

Sweetness...

Loved this afternoon, this sweet boy sat with me for hours playing... he kept putting his arm around the back of my neck and saying " I love you Lala"... this must be like heaven!

Just for ME...

I just realized tonight that God placed a special person, a client, in my life, just at the right time. I choose to keep most of this to myself right now, but I have given God all the praise and thanks...I am sooooo slow, this person as been with me for at least a month, and I am just now realizing what importance and comfort they have brought to me.

Once again,

I Thessalonians 5:17

"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances."

I surely believe HE did this "just for me"...

2115 Dueling Oaks Realtor Open House...

http://www.morethanchocolate.net/ made these adorable cupcakes for my Realtor Open House today. Not only cute, but delicious!

Patience is the Key...

One of my partners sent me this article written by Rick Warren,

God's delay may be a test of your patience. Anybody can be patient once. And, most people can be patient twice. And, a lot of us can be patient three times. So God tests our patience over and over and over.

Why? So he can see how patient you are?

No! He does it so you can see how patient you are. So you'll know what's inside you, and you'll be able to know your level of commitment. God tests you so that you can know he is faithful, even if the answers you seek are delayed.

"If you're discouraged, turn it around by remembering God teaches you patience during delay."

Rick Warren

Trust...

Ever have days where your mind is just cluttered... well today is one of those for me. I am at my office and I am stopping everything to blog, put things in perspective and give my God everything, all I have. In my devotional this morning, I myself, am pondering on the trust Abraham had in his ultimate sacrifice of his son to God.

Genesis 22


"When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, "Abraham! Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied.
"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son."



Wow, I am sure in my lifetime that I will never have to make a choice to sacrifice my child, but I do have to make a choice to trust only in my God. My mother always tells me "Fear is the opposite of Trust". Think about that one.



I continually have to surrender everything I have to God. Put God first, then my family and along comes my work. Today, I do give God all. God has a plan for me, a plan for the needs of my family, and a plan for how I can assist my clients. TRUST-Just do it!

Character...

"Character is not made in crisis but revealed"

I read this on another church sign! Makes you think, huh...

Cupcake Throne...

Thank you LuLu for buying my lunch today and for the "majestic" cupcake throne! ahhhh, so scrumptious...cupcake for one. This just makes me happy, it just doesn't take much!!!

Love ya!

Great Physician...

Today, in front of a church, I saw a sign that said:

"Charismatic Healing Mass", or "Charismatic Mass Healing" (can't remember which way)

I then read the the following in an email from GABC today,

"Any god who promises to fulfill all of our desires is the devil in disguise.
Any god who promises deliverance from all suffering and fulfillment of all desires is a quack whose therapies only worsen the disease.

We need a Great Physician with

perfect knowledge of the good,

passionate love that wills it,

and adequate power to accomplish it."
Take from - The Trivialization of God- Donald McCullough

This is for my daddy, tough times, but guess what, God is in Control, and I will be with you through it all. I love you!

and Mother- I am putting on my big girl panties and gonna deal with it! :) love you too!

2115 Dueling Oaks, Tyler, TX 75703

Holly Heights 2010 Beauty. 4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, Split, with optional 5th Bedroom, Bath/Gameroom upstairs. 4094 sq ft, Gourmet Kitchen, 6 burner gas cooktop with cold water source, stainless appliances, double ovens, full size refrig and full size freezer, granite island and bar. Butler's pantry complete with ice maker/coffee bar. Open kitchen/family room, stone fireplace, ventless gas logs, no flue. Separate dining room-currently used for playroom. Office with built-in's, large seasonal closet with built in lockers adjacent to the 3 car garage. Nailed down, hand scraped floors, crown molding, trayed ceiling in Master Suite. You will love the utility room located off the Master walk in closet. Storage galore in this house. Master Bath, walk in shower, garden tub, separate water closet. 2 A/C's, Gas heat downstairs, heat pump/electric upstairs. Sprayed in Foam Insulation, 10 ft ceilings throughout, 12 ft in family room. Large
spacious fenced backyard.

Offered at $534,900, http://www.lorriloggins.com/, Lorri Loggins, 903-571-8033 click on Virtual Tour below:
http://vu.realbiz360.com/Listing-466935.html

Yearly comes around too fast...

Okay, so we have to laugh, right. Good grief, this yearly test comes around way too fast. Go ahead and giggle... and just be glad it is not you!

Bling...

My Aunt Ruthye gave me this bling'd large container for my birthday. The picture does not do it justice! It is awesome! Thank you darlin'!

Layton's First Day of School...

He is only "2" and he looks so grown up! First Day in his new 2 year old class...new class, new teachers...I am sure there will be an adjustment period! lol Poor Lauren!

Romans 5: 3-4

"but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that

suffering produces perseverance;

perseverance, character;

and character, hope"

I always think to myself during hard times, and I know several people going through tough, tough times...

"just do the next thing"... Persevere!

Ding Dong Cake...

The Cake for a Birthday Party!

I made bite size for dinner dessert!

The cake when cut!  It is so sinful!

Ding Dong Cake ~ Recipe by Gina-I tried it and liked it! :)1 box Devil’s Food Cake Mix, Baked According to Pkg Directions
½ cups of Sugar
5 ounces, fluid Evaporated Milk
2 tsp Vanilla
1 stick softened Butter
1 pinch Salt
¾ cups Crisco

1 container Chocolate Frosting-(I added 1/2 stick butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, little milk and a heaping T of cocoa to the container of Frosting, then beat with a mixer).

Prepare batter of one box of Devil’s Food Cake Mix according to package directions. Spread into a jello roll pan. Bake at 350 for approximately 20 minutes. Cool completely. Combine: sugar, evaporated milk, vanilla, butter, salt, & Crisco. Beat with a mixer for 10-15 minutes or until fluffy. Spread in an even layer on your cooled cake. Soften chocolate frosting in the microwave (just until it becomes slightly pourable – you don’t want it too hot). Spread frosting over cake. Refrigerate until set.

Serve with apologies! This is delicious!