Abbie's Christmas Prayer

Dear God,

Thank you for letting Santa live so long so he could bring toys to children all over the world for your Son's birthday.

Kinda says it all. Blessings.

Christmas Eve Eve

The sunset is beautiful with my neighbors Christmas lights adding that little extra something.

We are going to meet Mimi and Pop - they have Abbie. For two nights now. She has to remember that she has a bed here, too.

I'm missing one gift for Thursday. Why have I waited this long?!

I'll check in again tomorrow - Christmas Eve!!

Posting :-)

I didn't shop yesterday. I thought I might go for a $59 Guitar Hero at Target but I knew I'd have to be in line a 5:00 am, to get into the store when it opened a 6:00 am, to buy one of the 5 $59 Guitar Heroes that they had.

I'd rather pony up the extra $40. If Santa even buys it, which I'm not sure she (or he) wants to.

I'm not surprised by people who do go at 5:oo am - there are some good deals out there. I've been in the lines, I've gotten all my toys bought by 7:00. I scored my own Christmas gift last year at 6:00 am. It can be hard to pass up a $398 desktop or a $598 40 inch flat-screen TV - those are some bargains.

But are they enough of a bargain to trample someone to death? Yankees.
Or pull a handgun and open fire in a store? CaliforniCrazees.

What is wrong with people?!

Halloween Friday Fun

I think this is scarier than the original.......





see the original here

Political Friday Fun.....

Friday Fun Zone

I hijacked this a little early but it really is funny.......






Okay here's a more Political one.......

Things I've Learned Lately

1. DVRs are cool. I like that I can go back and watch the part I missed. OnDemand is another nifty thing - the kids just discovered Kenny the Shark. It's a cartoon from Discovery Kids.
2. There were 5 break-ins in my neighborhood yesterday. They came in during the day when most people are at work. Well, except for the guy who stepped out of the shower and ran them off. Apparently they didn't "run" either. Brazen!
3. That people who shop at Dittos for Kiddos can be rude. I have to learn this again and again.
4. My social worker friends have taught me that the working poor need to be cut some slack. They have to bring their children with them wherever they go, like Dittos.
5. Kids learning to read is sweet. I'm learning this again with Abbie.
6. I'm used to running things my own way. Sharing responsibility is hard for me.
7. I miss my friends when I have to work all the time.
8. Some women have husbands that don't talk nice to them. I overheard a guy berating his wife because it was Picture Day at school and she forgot to fill out the form. You know I wanted to say, "It's Picture Day - grab your own camera.'
9. Cell phone conversations are not private. (see above)
10. Turn off said cell phone at the dentist - it will ring. That isn't a good time to talk.
11. So many of the kids that go to school with our kids come from a totally different life style. It breaks my heart and scares me at the same time.
12. My hubby both laugh at loud at the TV show Life.
13. It's difficult to maintain a blog and work all the time.

Bringin' Back Friday Fun!!

I've been thinking for awhile of having some Friday Fun.............

Not Here Now......

After you've read Todd's words from the previous post, again, (we need to read them several times......) I'm over at Espresso His Love today.

Sometimes Jesus Does Drive An SUV......

I was going to write about something funny that Abbie said. Or the people and animals that go by my desk window (today a dog was chasing a cat - that's just funny.) But instead I pick up somebody else's words. They are powerful.

I copied this from Todd Thomas's Facebook page but I've linked his blog.


I have been blessed in my short 38 years to have lived in a wondrous variety of places… places like East Africa, North Texas, Central Alabama and Western Maryland. In all these many places I have known an amazing array of Christians from all kinds of backgrounds and with many diverse ideas and viewpoints. I’m continually grateful for this range of experience and what I’ve been allowed to glimpse in their lives as they all struggled to be representatives of Christ in their own times and places.

I’ve seen that sometimes Jesus does drive an SUV.
Sometimes he drives a hybrid or even rides the bus.
He’s also been known to ride her bike to work.

Sometimes Jesus has her hands so full just trying to pay bills and raise a couple of strong-willed kids that she really doesn’t have time to think too much about the big, global questions out there.
And I’ve seen Jesus agonizing over the epidemics of AIDS and poverty that at times can seem to cripple whole continents.
I’ve seen Jesus foster “unwanted” babies in her own home.

Jesus has mortgages, unpaid bills, school loans, and is half-way to an ulcer. Jesus also keeps giving at church and handing bills to folks on the street and wrestling with what response an American suburbanite has to the horrors of Sudan and suicide bombers.

Jesus loves peace, but sometimes she wears a uniform.
Jesus loves peace, but sometimes he marches with signs by the White House.

Jesus has been known to vote pretty liberal, choosing a candidate who promises answers from the government for the woes of poverty. And I’ve seen Jesus vote for the fiscal conservative because she really does believe that lower taxes and helping businesses will create jobs that will help people build lives of dignity and hope.
Of course I’ve also seen Jesus scratching his head as he’s trying to figure out what a candidate just said.

I’ve seen Jesus with tattoos and even a piercing or two, or five.
I’ve seen Jesus in a Sunday-go-to-meeting suit and tie like clockwork each weekend.
Maybe Jesus isn’t a brand.

All those glimpses of Jesus, even in most diverse extremes, don’t cause me too much angst or confusion. But, I have seen and heard some things that bother me.

I don’t like it when Jesus makes fun of Jesus.
Sometimes Jesus doesn’t like Jesus’ accent, or his hair style, or her politics, and thinks that stinging, humiliating jibes might somehow be an appropriate response.

Something is wrong when Jesus hates Jesus.
I worry about it when Jesus hates Jesus, even to point to questioning if she really is Jesus, or maybe just a faker.
In fact, something’s wrong when Jesus hates anybody.

It just doesn’t feel right when Jesus subverts faith and love in favor of candidates and issues.

I’ve heard people who were standing around watching Jesus hate Jesus just chuckle and say things like, “I knew there wasn’t anything to all that Jesus junk.”And so many folks who need to hear the words of hope and peace that Jesus hallmarked in his First Century ministry today just get a belly full of my-way-or-the-highway pride and cultural labeling in our 21st Century scramble for market share and cultural dominance.

*sigh*
I love Jesus.
I enjoy talking to Jesus.
Every time I get a chance to sit and have coffee with him, I’m there.
I love listening to Jesus tell stories of answered prayers and when she got to see God moving in exciting ways on a mission trip or in a relationship.

I pray Jesus keeps doing that “Jesus Thing” all across our globe, and that Jesus is always there to kick me back in line, loving the Jesus trying to live and breath and touch this world through me.

I love Jesus, which means I love you.
And it means that I really hope you love me.
It’s our love, and never our hate, that can change the world.
It’s our love, and not our votes, that can save the dying.
It’s our love, our hands, our feet, our faith, our peace, our joy, our Jesus that can never be lost or won in any election.

Thanks be to God.

A Wise Man

Wow. That's about all I can say about last night at Moody. Ron Hall and Denver Moore spoke about their story and book, Same Kind of Different As Me, and it was wonderful. I was so moved when I read the book and again last night just hearing about Miss Debbie. This woman of faith inspired me again in the re-telling from her husband, Ron. Abbie said her favorite part was when Miss Debbie got up and was tapping Denver on the nose - telling him was a good man! Abbie was able to quote it.....

Denver was funny and powerful. It's hard to believe this man was ever in prison or lived on the streets. His story was one that needed a voice. Praise God that it was told for all of us to be blessed by. I noticed that they had gifts for Ron and Denver and I couldn't imagine what they would give these two men.

ACU sweatshirts. It told Jim that some cold, homeless people in Ft. Worth would be wearing those......

If you haven't read the book, read it. God calls us to love others - even the mean, smelly ones. Just like Miss Debbie.

Lettuce Pray.

Sarah had this and I had to put it up on mine, too. You know it made me laugh out loud but it is so sad..... How many times/days are we doing the same thing? What was Jesus going to say anyway?

A Woman Vice-President? It's Time.

I gotta say - I loved Sarah Palin last night! She was great on stage and her family was so sweet. It's worth having her as a VP candidate to get all those good shots of her baby!

Cindy McCain holding him, Todd Palin (his daddy) holding him, Sarah (his mama) holding him on stage, and especially Piper (his big sister) holding him. When she licked her fingers and smoothed down his hair, I fell in love with the entire family. Her story is one that I can really get behind.

Gov. Palin's speech? Excellent. I thought her delivery was good and her digs on the other candidate were just funny. The fact that she has some knowledge on energy issues and natural resources also gives her a plus in my book.

I respect anybody that chooses to disagree. I respect anybody that will vote for Barack Obama. But I fell in love with Sarah Palin last night.

Time For A Competition

We had an informational meeting (yep, another meeting. Why are there so many meetings?) about Praise Team for the school year. There were alot of college kids there that I didn't recognize and several adult members that having been singing - so that was great! It's one way to use the talents that the LORD has given us!

At the meeting we were told that we would be auditioning again, it made some folks a little nervous, of course. We were also asked to prepare a song to sing alone. Now you know, I sang "Hard Candy Christmas" for the last Christmas audition I had. One of my friends didn't approve. Surprise.

Jim suggested "You Can Eat Crackers In My Bed Anytime" - it's been going around our house for awhile due to Abbie eating...... You get the idea.

I actually heard it on the radio (KEAN - our truck music) and it was much faster than I remember it.

Okay. It's actually supposed to be a Jesus song and I'm looking for suggestions. So why not have a contest!!

Who can come up with the best song for me to sing (solo) at my Praise Team audition? I'll take any suggestions seriously but I may still laugh at them. Anybody can make a suggestion and I'll give out a prize for playing. Or maybe 2 or 3 prizes.

Go for it!! What song can you come up with?

Just One Of Our Stories

In our house if you "toot," you may claim it to be thunder. We don't have a dog to blame it on so we usually wonder aloud if there's a storm coming. Or speculate whether Dan Edwards warned of rain.

A few nights ago Abbie and I were laying in her bed and I thought I had heard thunder. (It had been raining.) I wondered aloud if it was thunder and Abbie said,

"Well, I didn't hear anybody toot."

That was the first one that came to mind - isn't that what you wanted, Sarah?

He Who Hesitates, Loses

This morning I had every intention of reminding everybody to top off your gas tank. I heard on the news that Hurricane Gustuv coming into the Gulf of Mexico would probably raise gas prices next week.

Too late. At 8:30 this morning, when I went to the Farmer's Market, gas was $3.59 at the Shell on Treadway and ES 11th - one of the cheapest places in town.

Good news: Lots of watermelons at the Farmer's Market! I got a yellow-meat one for my hubby. There were also lots of peppers (all kinds,) eggplant, and spaghetti squash.

Link Me.

Follow me to the Coffee Group blog - I wrote over there today..... For those of you keeping count, that's 3 days in a row!

As A Matter Of Fact I Do Own The Road

Yesterday, after griping about how horrible dropping off/picking up the kids at school is, I felt empowered. Empowered to tell these yahoos that they aren't entitled to drive wherever they want! Empowered to move some one's car that leaves it double-parked while they go into the school! Empowered to give a beep when some stops in the middle of everything to drop off!

This morning I gave a little double beep. Yeah, they deserved it! Everybody is trying to drop off not just them!!

After that I felt pretty good. I felt empowered to give another beep if necessary. That's right! Give another Beep!

I came home and rode my bike to Nelson Park. Now, I don't like all the geese and ducks. I'm kinda afraid of them - especially the Canadian Geese - those birds can be mean! And, in the morning time, all the geese and ducks are waking up and moving from wherever they slept back into the lake.

Aside: Where I come from that is a pond, yall. It's a big pond, but still a pond.

This morning there were 10 large geese - both white and Canadian - with their babies working their way across the track to the pond. They were in no hurry. This time I didn't have a horn so I somewhat loudly said, "Beep. Beep. Beep, yall. Come on, yall. Get your babies. Beep." You get the idea.

They made their way across the trail. I waited patiently. All the babies went with the parents.

None of them spit at me or honked at me. I figure that's what going to happen one day in the drop off line at school......

First Day.....

Kenny will be in the 5th grade and Abbie in the 1st grade.

I always make these signs and today I was running late - no surprise.....

So Kenny made them. Is that a little bit sad? He's just such a big boy.

They are both in class with their best friends from last year. Mommy had to make that happen for Kenny, yall. I'm expecting to be asked to be PTO President for that..... Abbie's best friend is moving after Halloween -her daddy is Air Force. I'm not sure that Abbie has figured out how different it will be without her. We'll see.

Mommy did her normal First Day thing - had coffee with girls!!

Her Daddy's Daughter

I have beautiful everyday china. I chose these plates after great debate. Of course, Jim wasn't with me when I chose them - Margaret was. I was older and understood that my sweet hubby didn't care what the plate looked like. He also didn't care about linens or towels. He's that kind of guy.


I remember trying not to choose my pattern. I was worried it was too busy and I would tire of it quickly. All the other girls were going with all white at the time and these were/are very colorful. But I haven't tired of them - they can still make me smile.

Wedgwood Eden

The other day I pulled down my salad plate to have my breakfast on - like I always do. Except that day I noticed a crack. The crack was almost invisible and covered half the plate. I was lamenting the crack to myself and Abbie - because she was next to me. She squinted at the crack and said,

"Oh, you can just put a little duct tape on that."

Reviews for You

I took my little daughter to see Mamma Mia. Oh, I was worried about the questions that might arise..... My sweet little thing will tell you that everybody is married and Sofia (from the movie) has a mama and daddy. Tammy told me not to answer everything so directly and I haven't.

What a great movie! I've seen it twice and Mimi wants to go see it, too. I'm looking forward to the 3rd viewing.... Maybe a crowd of singing and dancing women? Wanna come?

I also went with the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks - one of the theatres here had summer movie showings for the kids. Let me just say, I was checking my watch! Oy! That movie was long and boring. I mean I knew (everybody over 4 knew) what was going to happen - just finish it!

Also I bought Stargate's Continuum - a feature-length movie straight to DVD for us crazies. It was terrific! I love me some time travel (yall knew that) and it's a time travel story. I'll never forget watching Somewhere In Time at Harding - I would ponder the penny and cry every time. For any Stargate fan, it's a must see.

Jim and I also rented Vantage Point and liked it. It was good especially for just renting or NetFlex for all yall that do that sort of thing.

I Don't Really Think I'm Ready For Primetimers!

One of my friends has recently started 3 blogs! I know I can't believe it either.....

I'm adding the link in my sidebar for her Lila's Journey blog but not the others. Yall will have to link off of her page for them.

But, I have to say, I loved this story! Lord, please allow me to be like Inez when I grow up and now......

Where's Your Nose?

I've been told to write something.....

I was recently introduced as "our reader." I do read alot but I think everybody else does, too. It's strange to me that someone wouldn't read. I read novels, memoirs, the occasional non-fiction, the newspaper, magazines (that reminds me to get Time - I saw it's cover was 100 Olympians to Watch,) Yahoo news stories and the Bible.

I'm even in a Chunkster Challenge and I just saw that I need to pick up The Blind Assassin to finish out my four titles.

The question I hear all the time is "When do you have time to read?" I don't know. Always before falling asleep. Usually when I'm getting ready in the mornings. During commercials. During boring Boy TV (it's Ice Road Truckers right now.) If the book's good, all day. I will have to pull myself away from the book to fix dinner, wash clothes, and work on my computer.

So, yes, I have a book going. I just finished TV Guide (I love Mad Men and it was on the cover) and the Sunday paper.

What about it? What are you reading now? I'm trying to get to The Shack........

Sing It Out!

Wow! I'm singing LOUDLY this morning! Going out tonight for a Girls Night and we're going to see Mamma Mia.

I remember most of these songs and I can sing along with the majority of them. We're actually having some new friends and I hope they are prepared for my singing abilities.....

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Oy! I just found out that I had a haircut appointment this morning!!! I stood up my stylist!! She is going to dump me, yall! Then I'll have to find someone new and you know how hard that is..... We've rescheduled. I feel like a heel. I'm not singing anymore....

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Lastly, we have some exciting stuff going on over at Espresso His Love - follow the link and check it out.

Tuesday

Kenny quote:

"I like Lifeway because they have cool t-shirts." Yes, Sweetie alot better than Spencer's. It did this Mommy's heart good.

Orthodontist quote:

"We will use head-gear to move this molar back and when all the primary teeth (baby, for you and me) are gone we'll put on a full set of braces."

After I got over the nausea that braces bring on, the doctor stepped out and the Clinic Director explained how much all that would cost.

Denise thought:

After I got over the nausea that sums over $250 bring on, "Put on your big girl p*nties and deal with it."

Ebony and Ivory

We like this show and this commercial makes me smile - every time!

My West Texas Girl

My daughter says some funny stuff:

We were driving down 280 in Birmingham (between Lakeshore and 459, for those of you that know) and Abbie asked Jim, "How do you know where you're going?" After Jim and I laughed, she said, "It all looks the same."

Jim explained that you have to know where you're going and watch for the turns. He also made some smart-aleck comment about it coming right up on you and being surprised by the turn.

Abbie then said, "There's just too many trees."

Yes, Sweetie, that's a common complaint from those of us that live in West Texas.

It's Me!

Yep, it was me on the big screen Wednesday night. Check it out.

I'm Writing, I'm Writing....

Kenny has been complaining about seeing a mouse on and off for a few weeks and we just blew it off - until Wednesday. Sitting at dinner (we can see our backyard from the table) Jim and I both saw a rat! Not a mouse. A rat ran across the patio and went into the flower bed.

Needless to say, that just won't do.

Jim got a rat trap (larger and meaner looking than a mouse trap) from his dad and set it. We think that it (they?) are living under the deck so Jim put it near there. To be clear - I glanced at the trap. I did not look at it directly with my glasses on. I did not want to see it that well. I was also unclear as to where it exactly was placed in our yard. I did not want to see it that well.

Jim baited it with tortilla that was going into the trash and waited. Jim saw the bugger stick his snout out from under the deck! He (not we) found the tortilla gone later and the trap pulled halfway under the deck. Jim baited it again. Caught a mouse. Jim took care of Little Mickey while I was in another room. Jim baited it again. Caught another mouse and I left the room while all was going out to the trash.

Yes, plastic bags are useful for some things.

The trap has been re-baited but nothing has bitten. Jim (my dear hubby who knows me so well) explained that they may have moved on. I'm accepting that explanation.

Now They Have Stripes

I only have time for a short story so I can't continue about the Tooth Fairy Family....

Last Thursday night Abbie went to TaeKwonDo for the first time. She has been asking for awhile but I have been rather hesitant. She seems too young and I hate to over-schedule my kids. She already does dance, yall! (Recital alert! Be ready for pictures on blog!) But Thursday we decided she was ready.

She loved it! It helped that they worked with weapons that night. She had some kind of sticks that I couldn't understand and Kenny had a "Bow Staff." She was thrilled that she could make her own sticks!! They both could make their own weapons!!

Abbie told me that Daddy was going to make her some and of her own (jabber, jabber) sticks and "I'm going to decorate them with rainbows! No. That isn't very weapony. OOOO! How about a Ninja on one stick and a Ballet shoe on the other."

A Tooth Fairy Tale

Mrs. Tooth Fairy: I really think we are going to have to go to the dentist to have those front two teeth pulled out! They aren't coming out....

Mr. Tooth Fairy: Does Dr. E even do that?

Mrs. Tooth Fairy: I don't know. How much do we already owe Dr. E? I heard that Dr. L pulls out kid's teeth so that the ones behind can come in.

Mr. Tooth Fairy: She has one that's already broken through.

Mrs. Tooth Fairy: I know. What do you think we should do?

Mr. and Mrs. Tooth Fairy had this same discussion for several days. Granny Tooth Fairy threatened to take her to have the teeth pulled by some unknown dentist.

On WATS Day at the Tooth Fairy Family's church....

Mr. Tooth Fairy: Is that Dr. L?

Mrs. Tooth Fairy: I can't tell from the back. I think it is.

Mr. Tooth Fairy gets back in the truck.

Mrs. Tooth Fairy: Did you ask Dr. L if he pulls children's teeth?

Mr. Tooth Fairy: I wasn't sure that was him.

At this point, Mr. and Mrs. Tooth Fairy refrain from having the same discussion again - should they or shouldn't they take her to the dentist. Until the Tooth Fairy Family is eating together and Mr. and Mrs. Tooth Fairy see the offending teeth.....

to be continued

Two Things

Firstly, I lost my glasses last week. We looked all over the house for them! We looked in all the logical places - my desk, my bathroom, my bedside table. Then we (Jim) looked in all the illogical places - the refrigerator, the car, the freezer, the laundry room.

They were just gone. I was so disappointed! I couldn't read the paper, my book, do a puzzle and what I wrote for my talk was basically a blur.

I went the next morning to buy some new glasses at the Wal-Mart. They sell a pair for $7.98 that I like and they seem to last. Until I lose them. So I got some just like before - it's all good.

It was that afternoon that I found my other glasses. Now I have two pair just alike - except the new ones have a scratch on them. Whatever.

Secondly, I haven't posted about my "other" new blog. Yes, we have a Coffee Group blog - Espresso His Love. There are some things to read and soon there will be more! Go check it out and then add it to your Bloglines! You never know what will be there.....

I Got Here As Fast As I Could...

Jim and I went to the Mesquite Rodeo this weekend and it was so much fun! Are there really people who don't like the rodeo? Yeah, it's violent (so is every other sport) and, yeah, they "use" animals.... Whatever. I do like me some rodeo.

Have you seen a cowboy in starched Wranglers and a white shirt? That's all I'm sayin'.

Well, while we were there the people who weren't from Texas were asked to stand. I remained seated. I then thought maybe I was from Alabama - I mean, I am from Alabama. I'm a girl from the true Deep South. I still remained seated. Jim told me to stay seated. Jim should know - he a Native Texan - born and raised! Did I get my citizenship when I married a Native?

While debating, the announcer had all the Texans stand (I stood) and turn to the (poor, sad, uneducated) outsiders and say, "Howdy! Welcome to God's country!"

I suppose when I can say that - I really will be a Texan.

A Flower For You, Too

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

"Mischief is your middle name, but your first is friend. You are quite the prankster that loves to make other people laugh."

I like Snapdragons and I saw a bed of them this past weekend in College Station. I thought a flower for my birthday would be nice.....

That's Just Crazy!

Well. You just never know what the day will bring, do ya? I was online and decided to check my bloglines; they are completely overloaded because I never read them. I clicked on Rocks In My Dryer (who posted much more than I do) and she was talking/writing about her new favorite CD. A guy named Matt Maher. She loved his music and made it sound really good.

Well. Just this morning at the Wal-Mart I was looking at the Christian music CDs cause I wanted something new. Should I even buy a CD or just download? Just download the songs I want? How's that download thing go again? I ended up buying a WOW 2008 CD - there always a good variety of music that way.

Well. Shannon linked over to Matt Maher's website cause he was giving away CDs to the first 100 bloggers who went over and signed up. Now, some of you know that Shannon has 100 people every hour so I thought there was no way I could win anything.

Well. I did! Can you believe it? Cause I'm still amazed! Follow the links to hear some music and hear Matt talk about his writing.

Big Doins

So, I've been traveling again with my peeps - the Coffee Group. We went down to A&M Church to present at their Ladies Day! It was a great day. They just loved on one another and laughed their heads off. We had a wonderful time just being with them.

While we were there we decided to start a Coffee Group blog. I know what you're thinking, "You never write on this blog! When will you write on another one?!" (Yes, I can read your minds....) Yeah, I don't know yet. It will be easy after we travel - there are several stories I don't want to forget.... Now, writing something appropriate past that; we'll just see.

My other big news is my hormones. TMI? If you get emails from Sarah, you've already been prompted to nag me into seeing the doctor. Thank you. I called. I'm waiting. I'll be proactive in trying to move my appointment up early next week.

Hormones make women feel things. Mine made me feel like I was having a nervous breakdown. Fun, huh?

I'll link you over to the new blog as soon as it's ready and I'm going to see the doctor.

Easter Weekend 2008

I hope you enjoyed the videos - they are very inspiring to me....

I wanted to put up some pictures from the weekend. Kenny, Jim and I went to LTC in Dallas for Bible Bowl. Kenny was in 3 events - Bible Bowl, Drama and Chorus. I thought that he did well in Drama and Chorus. I heard the Chorus practice on Friday night and thought there was no way they weren't going to be awful on Saturday afternoon. They were great! On the key. On the note. No touching of hair or face. It was really very sweet.

The drama was funny, too. Kenny did a outrageous accent and R tore off his pants (sorry, no picture available.)

Lastly, a shot of Abbie on Easter. She looked so sweet! A friend at church (mom of boys) said she looked like a catalog ad and she did! After MawMaw told her she needed a hat, I dutifully went and bought her one. The minute we sat down she wanted to take it off - I told her she had to wear it until she went to class. Girls and Clothes - it starts early!

OH, one more thing! Notice the bunny teeth on Abbie? They will not get loose enough to pull them out! It is driving me crazy!

It's Sunday!

Sunday's Coming

I had this up last year but it still needs to be heard! Say a prayer of thankfulness today cause if God hasn't done anything else in your life - He brought Sunday!

I Really Didn't Want My Age On The First Page!

I signed up for MySpace yesterday. Then, I deleted it. MySpace wanted to know why I was deleting my page. I don't know.....

Yall know I work for Big Brothers Big Sisters, right? I don't write about it much. There are confidentality issues and I got enough things to write about without mentioned BBBS very much. I work in Match Support - it's my job to make sure that the matches are going well and growing. I work in our PALS program. These Big Brothers/Big Sisters are all teens from the local high schools that go to eat lunch their a 4th or 5th grader every other week.

Is that too much information?

One of the things I'm asked to do for work is to review any MySpace pages that my matches have. They all have MySpace pages. This week was the first time one of the Bigs (teens) had told me that her Little (5th grader) had asked to be a friend on MySpace. So I truly had an obligation to see what was on Big Sister's page. I learned that I can review the page without having a page myself. Also I couldn't figure out how to make my page private. I was appalled that some guy named "Tom" wanted to be my friend! Then I remembered that I had seen "Tom" interviewed on 60 Minutes - he began MySpace.

So, I deleted the one I set up.

Next year, we will review MySpace pages when Bigs are interviewed. At least I think we should - it could really show up something about them.

By the way, it was very easy to lie about my age. Anybody could put anything.....

It's A Small World

I'm often playing the Who Do You Know Game. You know, that game when you try to find out who you have in common. In a small town like Abilene, it usually doesn't take long to find someone you both know. In a small fellowship the church of Christ, it's doesn't take very long either.

Does anybody else remember Batsell Barrett Baxter? We used to watch him on TV on Sunday mornings. He was mentioned in the funny book I'm reading A Girl Named Zippy - she had to watch him, too.

Anyhoo.

Check out Amy's blog. She is one of my oldest buddies and she lives in Denver. I don't scan or I'd put a picture of her from my wedding on here. She attended a fund-raiser in Denver for DryBones! Some of you know DryBones is a ministry supported by Southern Hills. I told her to be sure to meet Nicki because I had played Bunko with her just last month! I told Amy that she probably would be polite and not mention how loud and obnoxious I was that night. Lo and behold, there's a picture of her and Nicki on her site!

Sadly, Amy's dad passed away on Saturday night. She has gone to east Tennessee to be with her brothers and family and to bury her daddy. I'm sure she'll come back with tons of stories of her crazy relatives. She used to crack us up with those stories. This book I'm reading reminds me alot Amy telling her family's stories.

Equal Time

You Can Make A Difference

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.


Yes we can to justice and equality.


Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.


Yes we can heal this nation.


Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.


We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics… they will only grow louder and more dissonant… We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.


But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.


Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –

Yes. We. Can.

Barack Obama, Nashua, New Hampshire, January 8, 2008

Finally a chance to make a difference in a primary! I've been voting for many years and this is the first time my vote in a primary may effect the candidate for president! I know I'm pretty excited about it - are you?

I won't pretend to know who is the best person for the job right now. I know that I've voted Republican in every Presidential race since Ronald Reagan. I know I crossed over in a primary one year in an attempt to get the Democratic I wanted so he could run for Governor of Alabama. He didn't get the nomination - I voted Republican.

So, consider your choices. Vote your conscience. Live with your vote.

A Love Fest!

I want to tell everybody that I felt all your prayers for the Coffee Group while we were gone. It was a rough trip for me. I didn't realize that going home would be so difficult. We spoke at my old home church and when I looked out at all those ladies I knew - it freaked me out a little. I wanted to stay and hear about all their children and husbands. I heard that one is having marriage difficulties and I didn't have time to talk with her about it. I saw at least one lady I really wanted to talk with but didn't get over there to at all.

I had a hard time leaving my family, too. My family in Alabama, that is. I wanted to stay and talk some more. I wanted to go see my nephew play basketball and watch my niece in her Little Miss Cougar (all my nephews and niece's school) pageant.

But how sweet it was to come home to all of you asking about our trip. It was terrific to be with my husband again. It was hard on him to take care of everybody on 3 hours sleep. He fell asleep when I got home! My children still had lots of activities at church on Sunday night and I they wanted me to be with them - so off I went!

I thank the Lord that Mimi and Pop are here and can take care of the kids for us. They have already agreed to watch them again on Friday night (Ladies Retreat) and again in April. (My sweet hubby is taking me to the Big City for a weekend - Woo Hoo!)


Love you all and I so appreciate that keep stopping by!

For The Least Of These

I've been following Phil while he's in Uganda. He has gone to raise awareness for Compassion International. A group devoted to finding adoptees for some of the poorest children in the world. He wrote about Doreen. She is the little girl that he and Donna "adopted." Because someone sends money every month, Doreen is able to be vaccinated and attend Bible classes.

I would encourage yall to read about what's he's doing, pray for safety of all the bloggers who have gone on this trip, and prayfully consider your role in this ministry.

The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."

Matthew 25:40

Satan's Plastic Bags.....

Yall know that we all need to cut down on our usage of plastic bags....... I told yall that I have take to carrying a Big Purple Bag (my children think it's an ACU bag) and trying to use it. I have had alot of success doing away with more plastic bags.

• Shopping in the mall - I got one large paper sack (I don't know why paper containers are called "sacks") and refused all other plastic bags that every other store tried to give me. Saved 3 bags that day.


• Shopping thrift stores for an 80's costume - refused all bags given. Between Sarah and I we saved 6 bags.


• At Wal-Mart - Used my Big Purple Bag and got all but my milk in it! I really holds alot of stuff. Why do you need a bag for milk anyway? It's got a handle.... That was at least 3 bags saved.

Check out the back of Sarah's car from HEB! She spent $50.....

This is my favorite statistic from the Today show story:

If every American household took one re-usable canvas bag to the store on every trip, our country could save 10 Billion plastic bags. Enough fuel for 50,000 cars for 1 year.50,000!

That's alot of saving, people.

When Will It End?

Kenny told me that 3 4th graders left Thomas on Monday with the Chicken Pox!

Good times.

Moving Day!

WOW! My new dress came in and I was sitting at a computer at the office!! Don't yall love it! I know I do! Thanks so much to Jen at Blue Yonder Designs - she came up with this for little-ole-me. Trust me, there was much hemming and taking in on the shoulders... Thanks, too, to
After A Cup of Coffee - that's where I won my new design. You can pop over to her site and check out all the other folks who moved in today.

Just So You Know

Note to self:

If you make up a silly song with the word "f*rt" in it, a 10-year-old will sing it incessantly.

A Question For The Weekend

I seem to have alot of shoes. They look like they are spilling out of my closet. Everyday they are scattered all over the house - or maybe it just seems like it.

Apparently it's catching - Abbie has shoes everywhere, too.

How many pair of shoes do you have? Which pair can you not live without?

Walking My Life Away

Funny thing about walking on a treadmill. You are able to increase your speed with the push of a button. You are able to increase your incline with the push of a button. You are able to chose a walking program just by pushing a button.

But (as hard as I have tried) you cannot increase your time spent on the treadmill by just pushing a button. It appears that some things I am unable to manipulate......

Bummer.

We Have To Go Back!

My obsession lives! It's over here. You know Sarah told me to just have a Lost blog - so, I do. Kinda.

One Small Step For Us

Do you think we are paying too much for oil? Do you think that our country depends too much on other countries for oil? Are you tired of seeing the Saudis on TV with more money than the law should allow?

Then you can do one simple thing to make a difference. One thing.

Take a re-usable canvas bag to the grocery store instead of using the plastic bags they give out.

Here's the facts:

100 Billion plastic bags that are used every year = 12 Million barrels of oil
If every American household took one re-usable canvas bag to the store on every trip, our country could save 10 Billion plastic bags. Enough fuel for 50,000 cars for 1 year.
50,000!

I confess, I haven't been doing this. I have a bag in the car (that I got free from ACU Lectureship - it has Christian Homes on it) that I have been trying to remember to carry into the store. I have switched to paper sacks all the time but that brings up tree issues - at least paper sacks recycle and decompose.

So, don't you have a freebie canvas bag laying around the house that can become your grocery bag? Or, at least, one of them?

I saw this on the Today Show -

The Big Bloggy Move

My new bloggy dress is ready! It was designed and made for me! I'm so happy that I can't stand it! And just like a brand-new dress, I wanna wear it now - I don't wanna wait!

But, just like Easter, I'm waiting for that special day.

Are you thinking that you need a new dress, too? Have you grown weary of Blogger? Do you want to move over to Typepad? Just need some new accessories (colors, fonts) to make you look better?

Join the fun on February 11 - I'm thinking that there will be prizes, too.

Germy House

As alot of you know we've had sickness at our house. It seems like everybody has, too. Kenny's been sick since last Monday and he's finally 24 hours without a fever! We are beside ourselves! I've been so glad the rest of us haven't caught it. Amazed really that Abbie's still fine.

I told him on Saturday that I could tell he had lost weight. He ran to he scale and he's dropped about 6 lbs. It reminded me of one of my favorite lines from The Devil Wears Prada.

I'm just one stomach flu away from my goal weight!

The Queen Of Fun

While I was walking the treadmill this morning (surprise! I move more than just to my computer) I saw this fun interview with Janet Huckabee on Good Morning America. You can read it here - I'm not sure about the video. I wanted to put it up before they took it down.

I haven't chosen a candidate yet (that seems to be a rather popular place right now) but I loved this story and it made me like somebody else from Hope, Arkansas.

More 4th Grade Fun

Oh, the Fourth Grade..... Kenny's friend came over and rang our doorbell yesterday. Now, yall, he rings the doorbell about every other day and Kenny usually turns him down to play. But yesterday - when it was almost time for supper (can it be supper at 5:30?) - he yelled something and went outside. I looked for him and they were sitting in the gutter in front of our house playing/talking/shooting the breeze/whatever.

When Kenny came in I asked him what they were doing and he told me they were playing "spinners." Now, all I've heard at my house about playing - is playing on the Wii - what the heck are spinners? And since when do we have one?

They are folded pieces of paper that 4th grade boys play with. Kenny's is colored very nicely and can spin. Now Kenny tells me that some boys play "for keeps," but Kenny doesn't do that. His friend down the street does play for keeps and he has over 50.

Well, bully for him. My obvious question is "How many has his mother already snuck into the trash?"

Edited to add: I actually wrote this in October and I thought I had posted it - apparently not. This may actually explain Abbie's comment on this post.

Could It Be - Another Contest!

As most of you know by now, my family did not win Tammy's portrait contest. It went to a super-cute toddler with a beautiful red pedi-skirt. I kinda figured that we couldn't beat all those babies and a pregnant lady, too! That's what I call "stacking the deck!"

I'm excited now that Tammy has new a contest! It's her Wedding Image Contest! It's time to choose your favorite shot from the weddings that Tammy shoot this year. I really thought this would be easier because I could choose any picture but, as I'm sure you figured out, that just made it harder! I thought, too, that I wouldn't know anybody but I do.

Dang.

Leap over and pick your favorite! Just like before you could be a winner, too. Maybe I'll win that......

The Chunkster Challenge

It's time to join a reading challenge. I like having a goal with my reading and I enjoy trying to find books that I'm interested in but otherwise might not read. So I'm joining up for The Chunkster Challenge 2008!

The Challenge is to read 4 books that are big'ens (well, not that big.) The books must be 450 pages in length and need to be reviewed. Dana is the host for his challenge and you may join it too by February 1st! I would love to have some of my faithful readers involved! And there are prizes! I just love prizes......

Here are my titles and their links...

The Other Boleyn Girl - I remember as a young girl being fascinated with Henry VIII - he did whatever he wanted and got away with it. That included murdering wives, divorcing wives and changing the official religion of England (so he could have his own way.)

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay - I will admit I don't know much about this book but the title and author intrigue me. So I'm going for it!

Lord John Grey and the Brotherhood of the Blade - This book is the 2nd in a new series by one of my favorite authors, Diana Gabaldon. She is the author the Outlander series and I've read all of them (at least once) and I'm looking forward to reading them again. I'm currently re-reading the first in this series, Lord John Grey and the Private Matter, in anticipation of the next two. I actually got #3 in this series for Christmas!

The Blind Assassin - Another author that I have enjoyed before, Margaret Atwood, and this is supposed to be one of "those" books. One of the books you must read! It isn't futuristic - the other two of hers I have read are - but actually set in the 30's.

Did I inspire anybody to join? To read with me? To pick up a book and read for enjoyment?

A Question For The Weekend

Well, we haven't had one in awhile so I felt that we needed one or two.....

How do you take your coffee? Was it an acquired taste?

Get Out The Vote!

This post will stay at the top of the page until Friday. Scroll past for new posts!

Tammy is having a little contest on her blog and I want one of my readers to win! All you have to do is follow the link over to her site and vote for your favorite picture. Now, I really want you to vote for one of my family's (because they are great!) and we can win a prize, too.

Tammy is giving away a $20 gift card to Target or iTunes for the randomly selected voter and a free 16x20 to the family that recevies the most votes. We can both win!

Okay, here we go....
Follow the link to her site (or click here.)

Watch the slide show to choose your favorite picture. Or look at the gallery of pictures (we start on screen 10.) Here's the skinny on the Waldrop pictures - our numbers are waldrop075, waldrop077, waldrop110, waldrop144, waldrop217, waldrop240, and waldrop251. (All are great...)

List your favorite in the comment section or email Tammy at marcelain5@sbcglobal.net

Wait to hear if you won!

The contest ends on Friday, January 11 and one vote per household (bummer, since some of you have Internet connection in your home, at your work, on your cell, your child's cell, etc.) Is all this clear as mud? You may ask me questions in my email if you have any. waldrops@suddenlink.net

Go Vote! It's your bloggy duty!

New! and Improved!

I've had this blog for 2 years now and as some of you know I've grown very weary of the look of it. I've been to cheap to change it and I haven't taken the time to figure out how to make it different. I have twicked some of the colors and fonts but not enough to make me happy.

It's a fact that I'm a little font crazy. I see print and I'm instantly drawn to the font. I have had 6 different fonts on my signature line at work. Right now it's Papyrus on the emails I write from home. The body of the emails are in Parade. I love Andy, Curlz, Gigi, Veranda - the list is extensive. Phil had a nice one on the Big Screen on Sunday but I didn't know what it was.

All that to say that I will soon have a new look! I can't tell you how happy I am! I did a little happy dance when I heard..... Christy at After a Cup of Coffee....Or Two (check out those ..... will ya?! A woman after my own heart......) was gracious enough to have a little giveaway and I ran into it and signed up. What did I win? Could it be? Is is really?

A new blog design! From a real designer! That gets paid to do pretty designs for other people! WOO HOO! Jen at Blue Yonder Designs will be making a pretty for me! Cause yall know I'm tried of this old dress....

It will be showing up soon in this very spot to make me smie and preen whenever I see it....

Yes, You Are.

Abbie says cute things all the time that I promptly forget. It's the curse of the "Old Mom." But I wrote this one down.

After getting her telescope, she talked about her plans for the future. The kids and I went to the planetarium on Thomas Texan night in early December. We watched a movie about black holes - it got a little long but we all enjoyed it. Kenny has always maintained that he wants a career in the sciences. Right now, he wants to be a CSI - I'm still pushing med school as a way to pay for my old age. But Abbie wanted to be a fashion model - despite the fact that she will undoubtedly be 5 feet tall.

Now she says that she wants to work in a planetarium - like Mr. Cathey. Mr. Cathey is one of the teachers that runs the planetarium and does all the lessons with it. She was very specific that she didn't want to be an astronaut - she wants to be like Mr Cathey. "Except I'm gonna be a girl."

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Overheard this morning - Abbie says, "Elvis made me a spinner!" Figure that one out.....

Why Do These Women Always Seem To Be From Texas?

If you have a young daughter in your house or if you watch the Disney channel, you have heard of Hannah Montana. If you read my TV Blog, you know that Abbie likes to watch Hannah's TV show on Disney and I just mentioned that Abbie got Hannah's closet from Santa. She also spent some money she got for Christmas on a Hannah t-shirt (from Dillard's no less.)

I have even bought tickets to see the movie of the Hannah Montana concert because we can't go to said concert. The tickets are pre-selling at an over-riced rate right now!

We are all Hannah Montana'ed up in here! But this mama needs a reality check. What will she do to get her child a car? or the "must have" video game? or even an IPod? (you may need to re-fresh the link, I did)

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Come back soon -Tammy has a great contest going on at her site and I need your vote!

Happy New Year!

I'm loving posting all the time! I'd forgotten how fun it is!

I just bought these yesterday - they feel like I'm putting on slippers....... Does that give you any idea what my New Year's Resolution is? What's yours?