Getting Warmer

Eight years ago, when we first moved into our house, I bought two, cheap plastic pots at a "dollar" store for four dollars each. They were the typical terracotta color. This year, I considered buying some new planters, but instead opted to give the spraypaint made for plastic a try. Pretty nifty, huh? Like brand new!

Red pots are pretty, but they needed filling, so off to the greenhouse we went! Gerbera daisies are my favorites, so my containers are very simple - gerbera daisies and sweet potato vine (gotta get that splash of lime green in there somewhere!) They look a little pathetic now, but they'll fill out in no time. A white daisy ready for it's close up.
Not the best picture, but isn't this color outstanding?!
As long as we had the hose out, it seemed a good time for two pups to get a bath. Neither were impressed, but a good shampoo and brushing had to feel good. Midnite thought getting us wet was the best part of the whole thing. Shaky dog shower!
The calendar may not agree, but I think summer is officially here!

Keep Moving Forward!

Since the theme seems very appropriate for this week, I thought I'd share this video of my daughter's indoor percussion team's 2010 show. Enjoy!

Did Anyone Get That License Plate Number?

Can I just say that right now, I am not happy.

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I'm in a bit of a snit actually.

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I feel like I've been broadsided by a big ole truck that I didn't see coming and I'm struggling to peel myself off of the pavement. For some reason, my world became a very scary place overnight. I went from being in the driver's seat to clinging for dear life to the back bumper. I know that soon, I will gradually crawl back up over the car and regain control of the wheel (preferably Chuck Norris style).

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Everything around me carries on as normal. I'm doing my best and praying that God will take care of the rest. I'm so thankful that even when I cry out to Him and don't have the right words to say, He already knows what is going on and He is right here beside me.

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Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

Score - Life 157 Me 0

So, this week didn't go so well.
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At all, really.
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Felt ill, went to doctor, got some medicine, slept a lot, felt ill, went to emergency room, got lots of tests, got new medicine and now I feel a bit better. It's going to be something I'll be dealing with for awhile and its no fun, so prayers would be much appreciated. Who knew panic attacks have very little to do with actually being nervous about anything? It's like someone flipped the override switch on the adrenaline factory which is scary and exhausting - like a being roller coaster that you can't get off.

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In the middle of all of the drama and pharmaceuticals, I got to go see Chonda Pierce!!!! At long last!!! I've been waiting since February! She is so much fun and very, very real about her struggles with depression and an extremely difficult childhood. As my mom said, "She makes you laugh and cry all at once." We had a group of about 30 women attending the concert, which made it even more fun. It was an excellent girl's night out and much needed.

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Hope everyone had a better weekend than I did! God is bigger than anything any of us are facing and I know He's got this under control!

A Very Disjointed Post

May I introduce you to a new dear friend? I am a big fan of the color lime green (I like green in any shade, but lime is my favorite). I also like painting my nails (too cheap for a full on manicure). Imagine my delight at finding my favorite nail polish available in my favorite color! I don't even care how strange lime green fingernails look, they make me smile. The color is called Grass Slipper and the brand is Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure. I also have a bottle of Fairy Teal, which is, of course, teal. Simple pleasures.

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Also, because I stubbornly persist in the hope that summer is coming, despite weather that causes me to doubt it, I went shoe shopping for some summer sandals. And I dragged my poor husband along. Poor guy. I really could have used a girlfriend for footwear consultation. Men are just not equipped for the vast array of styles and colors in the women's section of a shoe store. Our conversation went something like this:

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Me: Do you think I should get something flat or something with a heel?

Him: Whatever you want. I don't know.

Me: How about these?

Him: They look the same as the other three pairs you tried on.

Me: (exasperated) No. That pair is black. That pair is tan. This pair is brown. They do not in any way, shape or form look alike.

Him: Which pair is the cheapest?

Me: (rolling eyes,then distracted by another pair of shoes)Ooooooh. This pair is lime green!!

Him: (rolling eyes) The brown ones. I like the brown ones. You should definitely buy the brown ones.

Me: Done. I'll get the brown ones.

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Riveting stuff, I know. It has been a crazy five or six weeks. Good, but crazy. Crazy, but good. So many big projects tackled over the past month, I kind of just feel like staring at a wall for awhile, or just laughing with friends.

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Speaking of laughing with friends - guess what this weekend is?

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Chonda Pierce, of course! No snow is going to interfere this time (even though it feels almost that cold!)

A Piece of Cake

I can't say it was honestly a piece of cake, but here is the the fruit of my labors for the week:
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Back in November, I was asked if I would possibly consider doing a wedding cake. I do not do wedding cakes. I have a deep and abiding admiration for those who do, but other than a few birthday cakes I'm not a great cake decorator. This posed a challenge, and I hesitated, but agreed to make the cake.
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Several weeks of planning, several days of baking and several hours of decorating have now passed. The cake has been assembled and dismembered today. I'm pleased with the results, and learned some useful lessons along the way, but do not think I will be going into the cake making business anytime soon!
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Have a great weekend!

Bible Study - Week 2

As I posted last week, we are currently studying Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa TerKeurst. Yes, that was a lot of links for one sentence.

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Just like last week, we had a terrific time getting into the Word together. The second session of Becoming More discussed methods for delving deeper into scripture. We also explored the story of King David's anointing in 1 Samuel 16:1-13.

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The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king." But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me." The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate." Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?" Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD." But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, "The LORD has not chosen this one either." Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Nor has the LORD chosen this one." Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these." So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives." So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 16:13 NIV

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One thing that the book pointed out, that I found absolutely fascinating, was this. Why, if Jesse had been told the next king was going to be one of his sons, did Jesse exclude David from the line up? Was David normally overlooked in his family? Did Jesse just assume that Samuel would pick one of his elder sons? It was quite an interesting discussion. Another point of interest was the fact that after David was anointed as king, he went right back out to his sheep. Not to a palace. Not to a school. Not to a battlefield. Back to being little David, the shepherd boy. Life as usual. Mundane. How would that feel? To our limited human eyes, it seems to make no sense. What kind of preparation is shepherding for ruling a country? The perfect kind of preparation as it would turn out. Just through the everyday task of protecting his sheep, David received all the training he would need to become a Godly ruler.

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We can learn so much from King David. He was called - and then he had to wait. As King, he sought after God, but still messed up. Sometimes he messed up BIG! Still, God called David a man after His own heart. What an amazing God we serve!

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Edited to add -

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I wanted to share a blog that I read often. This family lives in the same town as my family. Last year, they set out on a long journey to adopt 13 year old Chloe. During the adoption proceedings, they discovered that when Chloe left with them for a new life in the United States, she would be leaving her two brothers behind. Here is the post from last year.

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Guess where they are right now? See for yourself!

Overdrawn at the Sleep Bank

So tired. So very, very tired.
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Turns out, it was too much to expect to just bounce back from two days of late nights and early mornings. When I was a teenager, this was not a problem - now, however, my body is telling me in no uncertain terms that I am no longer a teenager. Rest is a good thing and I sorely need some.

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Acquire the Fire was very good this year. The drama, Surrounded, was amazing. I was so glad to have the opportunity to watch the youth touched by God, and especially moved as we watched 700 young people respond to an alter call. Well worth the exhaustion.

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Now that I'm home, my focus is shifting to my big project for this week. Months ago, I agreed to make a wedding cake for a friend this weekend. I do not make wedding cakes, I like to bake, but this is a major undertaking. And yes, I plan on blogging about it as I complete each step. Please bear with me!

Memo to Self

Memo to Self:

RE: Weekend

URGENT!

I am lead to understand that you are going to accompany the youth on an overnight trip to Acquire the Fire. I felt I should remind you of a few things before you leave.

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First of all, you will have a three hour van ride. Please go before you leave if you don't want a repeat of last year's mad dash to a McDonald's rest room. (Also, don't drink a bottle of water on the way there.)

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Second, it will be LOUD. Numb eardrums are just the price you pay for extra enthusiastic worship music. Accept the fact that Sara Groves is probably not going to be on the worship schedule. It's going to be alright.

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Third, a 1:00 a.m. bedtime is going to hurt. Something with caffeine in it is going to be necessary for breakfast. Lots of caffeine.

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Fourth, it is going to be awesome! Enjoy!

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Yours sincerely,

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Me

Bible Study Begins

Tonight was the beginning of our Ladies' Bible Study. This year we are using the book and DVD entitled Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl, a six week Bible study by Lysa TerKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries. While I was looking at book options, this particular book kept popping up as I searched - and for very good reason! Once I received a copy of the book and began to read, it was exactly what I had felt God had been speaking to me about.

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As always, I enjoy gathering together with such a tremendous group of ladies to delve into God's word together. This evening we discussed Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl - In My Heart. This evening's discussion centered on false idols in our lives and what the Bible has to say about our insecurities and failures. Good stuff, all of it! As we explored the false idols in our lives, we studied one of my favorite scenes from the Old Testament. Proof that sarcasm is not a modern invention (not that anyone ever said it was).

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Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire." So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
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At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
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1 Kings 18:25-39 NIV

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Isn't that the same result we get when we seek fulfillment from things rather than God? And yet we all do it over and over and over again. We are so fortunate though, that He promises us:

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For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
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Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

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What more could we possibly ask?

What I Learned from the Song of Solomon

For this month's Marriage Monday, I'm selecting the topic "Talking Turkey When You’re Feeling Like a Chicken". Because a chicken is exactly what I felt like when I started writing this post!

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth—
for your love is more delightful than wine.

Pleasing is the fragrance of your perfumes;
your name is like perfume poured out.
No wonder the maidens love you!

Take me away with you—let us hurry!
Let the king bring me into his chambers.

Song of Solomon 1:2-4

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I was completely unaware of the existence of the Book of the Song of Solomon until was in my 20's. In all honesty, even after I knew it existed, I had no idea what it was about, until one day, we had a guest speaker in our Sunday School class. This guest speaker was the wife of one of my high school teachers. She was probably around my mother's age, I graduated with her eldest son. Even though at this point, I was an adult, married and the mother of two, albeit young, children, I began to blush when she began to teach from the Song of Solomon, especially what it has to say about sex within marriage.
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Now, up to this point, I will admit, most of what I had heard about sex in church was DO NOT HAVE SEX. EVER. UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. EVER. Granted,that was in youth group and completely appropriate advice for that stage in my life.
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Going back to that Sunday School class, until that day, I guess I kind of thought that the Bible taught a "just lie back and think of England" (supposedly Queen Victoria's marriage night advice to one of her daughters) outlook on marital relations. Was I ever surprised to learn the opposite! Not for a moment that I ever felt Queen Victoria-ish or subscribed to that philosophy, but I had the overall assumption that was what God wanted us to feel. Even while I was uncomfortable sitting in a room full of people discussing the subject, I eagerly went home and searched through the pages myself. What a gift God intended us to be to each other!
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Awake, north wind,
and come, south wind!
Blow on my garden,
that its fragrance may spread abroad.
Let my lover come into his garden
and taste its choice fruits.

Song of Solomon 4:16

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