Todays Outfit

Her daddy dressed her.





She kinda is!





Erica normally dresses Piper in really cute girly outfits every day. Blake often says, "Does she own anything that isn't pink?" To which Erica replies, "No...why?"
So today he did not have to work at his usual deputies job but was helping a guy out around my house. This is how he brought Piper to my house. He thought it was a really cute shirt and I guess Erica should be flattered that her hubby thinks she is hot. Daddies are funny people. Funny.

Rainy Day

Today is a cold, miserable, rainy day. A big portion of the east coast is getting a snowstorm but we are getting yucky old rain. This is the only kind of weather that really gets me down. It is just so nasty outside. The dog tracks in muddy paw prints 2000 times a day and right now I am not even going to wipe them up until tomorrow when the rain stops. Piper is taking her third nap of the day and there is a big fat nothing on TV. Do I sound pitiful yet??? I am caught up on my Bible study and I am not really reading anything right now. I have actually started on a scrapbook. Yes, I am doing crafts even though I am allergic to them. It is kind of fun. Don't tell anyone I said that, it would blow my image. But as soon as I drag all the scrappy stuff out the baby will wake up. She catnaps. I have told her she is a baby and not a cat but she doesn't speak English obviously. We were out of school yesterday and today. Workdays. We missed our two workdays two weeks ago due to snow. So they gave us two days off this week. Now, does that make sense to you??? Me either. Anyway, they are optional and I opt not to work. I am more comfortable sitting at home whining and crying about things I have no control over. Also, did I mention I started back at Weight Watchers? I am doing it online. It is really easy and so far I have been keeping under my point allotment with no problems. I just really, really want a pie. Not a slice either. A. Whole. Pie. Preferably pecan. That has the most points. As random and interesting as all this is I guess I will head into the kitchen and go over my Bible study notes for tonight and drink a cup of coffee and dream of pies.

Meet Crackerjack

My sweet Megan has always loved horses. when she was a little girl her dream job was to work at... Taco Bell but she wanted to get to her career choice by horseback. I am glad she has changed her career choice but her love of horses has gotten stronger and stronger. This weekend she and her boyfriend, Thad, went to look at a horse. She was in love at first sight.


Here are Megan and Thad walking Crackerjack around in the open barn where he now resides.


Yes, Megan bought her horse with some of her money she had saved from her life guarding job last summer. She is now the proud owner of an 8 year old gelding. He has a really pretty coat and one blue eye.




Here is a view from the opposite side of him. The horse in the background is Thad's horse, Houdini. He is not very happy but hopefully will get more used to a roommate. Thad is graciously letting Crackerjack live in his barn. This is great considering all I have is a dog lot with two empty dog houses. Penny is a spoiled house dog now.



I don't think I have seen her this happy in a very long time. I am so glad for her!! Crackerjack is a lucky horse!

Just Goofing Off...

Today Piper and I were just goofing off after I fed her a late lunch. She is so cute and such a big girl!! I am sure I am a tiny bit biased but isn't she the cutest?? I was going to say smartest and sweetest too but didn't want to sound overly obnoxious. Just keepin' it real, I am a grandmother you know.

Frazzled

If you will take a look to your right you will see a playlist posted. If you are not deaf you can actually hear the songs I placed in the playlist. This took me approximately 412 hours to accomplish. To say that it was quite frazzling is a huge understatement. Blogging can be so frustrating for dolts like me. I am really not very savvy at computer stuff. Not at all. Oh, I can pretend with the best of them but when the rubber meets the road....I have a flat tire. Four flats to be exact. Going nowhere, fast. I am getting better but it is just so infuriating for me to get to where I want to be. Loading pictures took me six months to figure out. Now I have to remember to place them in backwards order so I start out with the actual first photo in the first spot!!! I am sure there is an easier way. I just don't know it. Until then, I hope you enjoy these songs. They are some of my favorites. Because I may never figure out how to change them.

Second Verse

Two weeks have already passed into the new year. Hard to believe. I have selected my second memory verse of the year.

Psalm: 19:13 - NIV
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

I promise not all of my memory verses will come from the book of Psalms, though I do love that particular book. I also plan on picking from other translations. Last year I kinda punked out about halfway through the year but this year I really want to commit to memorize 26 verses to heart. So whenever troubles, or pain, or a needful friend crosses my way I will be armed and ready with a Word. This is a real desire for me to engrave God's words on and in my heart. I also want to learn how to pray God's word back to Him. To call out to God with His own promises and plans for me to His ears. I can't think of a better way for me to give Him glory for the life He has given me than to praise Him with His own words. God is just so good to me and has blessed me so much. I do not do these things to toot my own horn or show off any kind of "super" memory skills. I struggle with memorizing anything! But God will help me to recall His words. This I am sure. If we ask for wisdom He will graciously pour it out over us in abundance. I need all the wisdom I can get!

For My Friend....

Bathe in these words.....

Sweetie Pie

I have been trying a few different settings on my camera. I have enrolled in a photography course that will start in mid February and I am really excited about that. My sweetie pie Piper is my guinea pig. Her mommy and daddy call me "baby paparazzi". Whatever! One day they will thank me. I take this baby's photo about 100 times a week so she better get used to it!! These I took right after I fed her lunch yesterday. Yummy carrots! A tiny bit is still on her chin. She is such a good sport about me taking her picture.





I just love these big blue eyes. So solemn today.

So Blessed

As I sit in my warm home, in my warm, fuzzy and dirty pink robe and with lights and running water and plenty to eat I think back to a year ago when the horrendous earthquake ripped apart Haiti. I saw on the news tonight that for the first time since the quake barely less than one million were still living in tent cities. Now cholera is the biggest enemy of the people in Haiti. We are so blessed in this country. I don't think we even get how blessed we are. Sure, I know there is intense poverty in the United States. Terrible poverty. But there is water and shelter offered at every single Christ-centered church. Imagine living in a country where there is no clean water (that's none). No running water at all. No electricity. No medicine. No diapers for your baby. No formula for her to drink. No nutrition for that mom so her own milk supply has long dried up. No Hello Kitty bandaids. No kool-aid. No lollipops for your child while you wait in endless lines. No kind faces, just a steady stream of despair. But...there is HOPE. With all the disaster in the world as of late it has opened up the places that have long been closed to our God. He will use these disasters to bring Himself glory and to draw these formally closed nations to His everlasting word. Through organizations like the Red Cross, Samaritans Purse, Compassion International, World Vision and many others. Help is coming and the kindness of our Savior is being shown. Nothing that has happened in Haiti, Australia, India and right here in this land with the paralyzing snowstorms has caught God off guard. He has allowed all these things for a reason. So often with the storms in my own life that have rocked me to the core it has been to show me His power and to give me His grace and mercy. Many of these areas have long ignored the one true God and turned to other false gods and to the enemy to worship and serve. God is a jealous God. He wants us to love Him. Him alone. No other gods. Sometimes it only takes a little storm or quake in my life to wake me up. There have been times a firmer hand has been needed. I just pray that I am listening and seeking Him. I pray for these other nations too. That they seek Him and be blessed.

Bonkers

Well, It is snowing and sleeting here and I have watched "Law & Order" 100 times today, watched "Intervention" (which I am so addicted to...does this mean I need an intervention???) and ate my weight in junk food with the exception of the baked sweet potato I had for supper. The butter and brown sugar on it were just for visual enhancement only. I ate them too...I had to confess. So in my bonkers state of mind I have changed around my blog page about a zillion times today. This is in hopes of attracting more readers...like that is gonna work!! So, while I am waiting for the next episode of "Intervention" to start I thought I would list some things I am afraid of or just plain out don't like. How is that for good reading material??

1. bears...I am flat out afraid of being mauled by a bear. Not just any bear either but Kodiak bears. They live on Kodiak Island in Alaska so a rogue one probably will not break free and ramble down to North Carolina to maul me...but you never know.

2. clowns... they are just creepy and drive little cars.

3. little cars... they are just creepy and haul multiple clowns.

4. women over 40 who dress like they are under 20... need I say more??? I don't fear these, I don't like this behavior...at all

5. handling raw meat... this is a combo one, I fear it and I don't like it

6. the circus... this stems a little from the clown thing but essentially my a.d.d. kicks in and I find it overwhelming to watch three separate rings of events and give each one the attention it deserves. I know, I know...I am weird.

7. rats... I hate rats and I am super-duper afraid of them. Yuckos with a capital Yuck!

8. confrontation... this is a deep fear and one I need to overcome because sometimes it is just necessary.

9. "professional" wrestling... I hate this, really. I find it completely obscene and feel it should just plain out be removed from television.

10. motorcycles... If you ever see me on one, call 911 immediatley. I have been kidnapped. Same thing goes if you ever see me in the cab of a transfer truck.

I am sure these are tidbits of knowledge that y'all really wanted to know. I just hope that tomorrow brings out a little better weather so I can at least venture out. And I won't be going to the circus either.

Sunday Night

I just got home from the most wonderful baptismal service at church. Fifteen people came in obedience to the Lord for baptism. They were as young as the first grade and one lady was well into her seventies. God is just so good. I squalled like a baby through the whole thing. I tend to cry alot at church. I don't really know why either but I just so overwhelmed with emotion through services, hymns, praise and worship music and services like we had tonight. Certain songs really make me just sob. When I think about all that Jesus sacrificed for me (you, too) I just crumble inside. This morning one of our youth sang the Chris Tomlin version of "Amazing Grace...My Chains Are Gone." She did such a good job. If I could ever really want a gift it would be to sing. I do not have that gift...whatsoever. I suppose I will have to wait on heaven to sing really good!! Until then I'll just make a joyful noise for the Lord. I hope y'all had a good service at your church today and if you perhaps don't go to church let me encourage you to find a good, Bible believing church and start going. I really do not know how I would have gotten through the last year without my church family and my sisters in Christ. God is just so good to me to provide such wonderful prayer warriors that pray for me daily.

A Talker

This is my idea of a really fun baby girl!! I really hope Piper turns out to be a chatterbox like this to her oh so quiet mommy!!!

Just laying it out......

I hate exercise and I like being fat.

5 Months Old!

Here is my little punkin' pie! She is 5 months old already!! I just cannot believe it. She is getting so smart and so cute. Her little personality just comes out more and more everyday.

















Notice how her mouth just gets bigger and bigger? That is her almost constant look. She is just a happy baby. She gives us that big ole sappy grin all the time. She is also getting to be a little "buddha baby". Notice her little belly is nice and round! I told her just this week, never in her life would being fat, bald and toothless ever be attractive again!!

Getting Shredded?

One of my usual "resolutions" is to lose weight. Is that familiar to anyone else???? I vow and promise every year of my life to drop 20 pounds but I usually give up because I just love eating!!! I really do love the whole act of eating. The shopping for it, the prep work, the cooking and the glorious feeling of a full tummy. Mmmm... Mmmm... Good! So, as I have gotten...more mature in my years I have found that my tummy keeps that full feeling hanging around and around and around. As I have watched my waistline expand I have also watched my oldest girl lose all her baby weight (in four lousy months!!!) doing Jillian Michael's "30 Day Shred". Yes, the same Jillian Michael of "The Biggest Loser" show. She is relentless to say the least. But oh so effective. Now, for the past week I have watched my youngest girl do this dvd torture. She is so slim anyway but she wants to "tone up". Whatever, I really just want to lay around and eat candy while I watch Paula Deen make candy. Well, tonight I just did my first day of the 30 days. I am picking out my coffin tomorrow. If I wake up that is. I am praying we are all fat in heaven. And that we eat real butter, drink whole milk and eat cake and pie at every meal. Take that Jillian!!!

A Commitment

Welcome 2011!!!!!! I am starting this year off with a real commitment. A tough one too. At least for me it is a tough one. I have signed on to the Living Proof Ministry blog to do the scripture memorization for the 2011 year. This is two scriptures per month. One is submitted on the 1st and the second is submitted on the 15th. You can click on their blogsite in the list of blogs I follow for all the details. You simply list your name, city and the verse you have chosen with the translation. So simple, yet so powerful. Just scrolling through the various scriptures listed stirs me way down deep. You are to keep these verses on a spiral notecard book or anything you like or is easy to you. The point is to engrave the Word on your heart in in your mind. Permanently. I am choosing verses that really speak to me in this season of my life. With a whole new year ahead of me I am sure that many seasons are on the horizon. The first verse i chose is really special to me. Especially as a new grandmother. I so desire to leave a legacy for my sweet Piper and for any other precious little ones that may follow. I chose:

Psalm 103:17 NIV
But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children.

His Word never, ever returns void. I encourage you to participate in this with me. If every Christian woman put to memory just 24 verses imagine the power we would tap into!! Holy, righteous power. The power of God. It is in each of His children. Let's fire it up!!