The Score

All day long my dog, Penny, looks out the front door. About 812 times a day she leaps up and runs to the other door that goes out to the garage. She chases stuff. There are cats that wander in the yard. Birds galore. Now that spring is springing rabbits are hopping around the yard. But Penny's hearts desire is to catch a squirrel. I must have 74 billion. They come out one at a time and taunt my dog. So far the score is:
Squirrels: 361
Penny: zero


Penny resting up for a squirrel run



You'll never catch me alive! Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha,hhhaaa!!!!

questions

I have a friend that has received some really difficult health news. She has been diagnosed with cancer and she isn't even 50 yet. Things do not look all that good either. It is going to be a long, dark road for her unless God heals her. But, is it really dark? If healing does not come here on earth and she does die with this cancer. She will be with the Lord. She will be healed in heaven. When trials or tests or whatever you call them come into our lives it brings about questions. I think God expects us to ask questions. Whether out loud or in the deep recesses of our hearts. We all at times wonder, why. My friend is a Godly woman who does great things for the Lord. She gives Him all the glory too. Is she sinless? No, of course not. Neither are any of us. Good grief, most days I sin 10 times before my feet hit the floor in the morning. I don't pretend to know any answers as to why things like this come into our lives. But i do know that nothing....nothing...comes to us that has not sifted through the hands of God. Does this include sickness? I believe so. Do we cause it with sin in our lives? No. If that was the case, we would all be riddled with diseases. I think it is a trial that we journey through to bring about glory to our Lord. Sickness always involves others in our life. Whether it is family, doctors, strangers in the recovery room, scores of people that pass our way. This allows us to give and show a testimony. Now whether that testimony is positive or negative is up to us. We have the gift of a free will, after all. We can show God's mercy, grace and provision through our illnesses and bring others into God's fold with our testimony. What a blessing! I know years and years ago I suffered 2 miscarriages that at the time devastated me. But since that time God has led me to use those experiences to help others who have suffered the same thing. To share my pain and grief over those 2 babies that rest in the arms of Jesus today. What a blessing that one day I will greet them with hugs and kisses I have stored up for decades. We live in a broken world. The earth literally groans for restoration. We will be restored when Christ returns and heals this broken world. Only then will there be no more tears or grief. He will wipe away every tear. I love the new song by Laura Story called "Blessings". I am praying this for my friend and for her family.

Braggin' a little

I just got off the phone with my youngest girl, Megan. She is on the tailend of her college education and is this girl r-e-a-d-y!!! I am just so proud of her I could just about bust. She is filling out many job applications. Printing her resume on really nice "resume paper". Writing cover letters. Getting reference letters. Working hard to get to the finish line and start her "real" life. I am praying that she gets a job quickly too. It is discouraging to watch the news and the job market forecast for upcoming graduates. But I am praying for a quick answer to this prayer. She really wants a job using all the things she has studied and learned in school. Her major at NC State is Agricultural Sciences with a minor in leadership. She loves agronomy science. For those of us who say agrono what??? (like me). That is the study of soil. It is very complicated to say the least. I made the huge mistake of telling her that I needed to get a bag of dirt from Lowes to plant a few flowers in some pots and when I looked up at her she was shaking her head at me. "Mom," she said, "It is soil or media...never dirt." Who knew? My girl is really, really smart. She is so good with grafting plants and trees and has brought home several really nice plants that I hope and pray I don't kill. Her hearts desire is to teach little kids all about agriculture and how important it is to our society. It is sad that it is a subject that is often overlooked in our society today. Megan is so good at communicating and telling you all about her classes and the greenhouses and all the things she has done in school. I am a little sad that she is finishing up to be honest. My girls are all grown up now and forging lives of their very own. She is stepping into the "real grown-up world" as she calls it. Ready or not world...here she comes! I am sure she is ready. I am really proud of my girl. Really, really proud.

A Spring Day

This week spring came to our little community. This past Thursday was so warm and nice. Piper, Penny and I played outside all afternoon. I love nice, warm days. Love them! Today on the other hand is a cloudy cold day with a chance of rain all weekend. Tomorrow the high is 45. That's like winter!!!! So I was looking back at the pictures I took this week and these were so sweet. I am hoping for much warmer weather next week because I love being outdoors and so does Piper. I did finish my photography class this week and I did learn so much about taking photos and about my camera. I hope that my photos improve as I post more and more. Taking them outside is so much more fun!



Penny loves her soccer ball.


Piper loves this rattle. She shakes it all the time.

Penny loves sticks too! Rolling around is so fun!!

Piper found Penny hilarious! She laughs and laughs at all the dogs in her life!

Hope it is nice where y'all are this weekend!

Fine

Last night a wonderful, sweet friend of mine came over for dinner. We had a wonderful meal and even better conversation. During dinner she asked me how her husband could pray for me. He is a deeply, prayerful man and I value his thoughtfulness tremendously. I told her he could pray for God's provision over my life. She asked me how I was doing and I said , "I'm fine." Our language is so huge that we have a gillion words for how we feel. But in all honesty....I am fine. The definition of fine in Websters is:

" Excellent in quality, admirable, superior quality, enjoyable and pleasant."

That is what I am right now. Fine. When I get up each day I get ready for work. I go about my day at school. I cut-up and laugh with co-workers and children. I come home. Take care of my grandbaby. Cook dinner. And just the usual routine. Sounds dull. Sounds boring. But it isn't. Not one bit. It is fine. Contentment. Security. Precious words. Proverbs tells us: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5 NLT Those are heavy words to follow. Depend not on myself?? Trust God with all? Everything? Everything?? Hard to do, ladies. Hard. I don't pretend to understand everything. I see the depravity of this world we live in. The choices people make. The lessons never learned. It makes me feel really sad. People just don't get it, do they? If we heed God's words.....we will be fine. I am praying that I get "finer" every day.

Quick Shots

Piper has been my choice of photo subjects for the past ...uh... 7 1/2 months. Instead of calling me Mimi her parents said I should be called "Paparazzi". I think they put their "smartypants" on that day. Anyway, this week I have taken her picture only about 3000 times so I am not as bad as I was. But she is just so dadgum cute!! I cannot help myself. Now that she is sitting up and is getting to be really funny I can start dressing her up in costumes and stuff. Not like on that horrible show "Toddlers and Tiaras". Those people need serious help. Serious. If I ever start sewing 10 bazillion sequins on her diaper covers or making a feather boa bathing suit for her to wear call the nuthouse and get me a room. Here are a few from this past week.

Feed me or I will eat my own fingers, Mimi.








I don't think I want a nap.

I don't want to pose for you anymore! I think I just might cry!!!

Pwease, put the camera down, Mimi. Pwetty Pwease???

I just love her.

So Ready For Spring!

I, for one, am so ready for spring. Today was a wonderful early spring day. Low seventies, light wind. Really nice. I am a summer time kind of girl though and cannot wait until it is hot and humid. I hope winter is really over!!




A sign of the changing seasons. Beauty among the ruins!





Mimi!! It is just too bright. Where are my sunglasses!!!

Open Doors

This week has brought tremendous tragedy to the world. the devastation of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. My heart is just broken for these people. Just last month we had a missions conference at my church and one of the missionary speakers was a missionary to japan. He spoke of the freedoms that they had in Japan and how open they were to the evangelical church. But there are millions of Japanese that have no clue of Jesus. No clue. I got an update from our Alliance Women's co-chair a few minutes ago and thank the Lord all of our missionaries are safe and the church they have built is still standing unharmed. They issued an urgent call to pray for the people in Japan. This is a huge open door for Christian workers in this part of the world. She stated that the Japanese were such industrious people and they will rebuild their country. This is a tremendous opportunity for missionaries to help in this endeavor. Just continue to pray for these people. They need the Lord...desperately. I cannot imagine the despair they feel and yet without Jesus they also have no hope. I am so profoundly grateful that even when I am in a despairing state that I have the hope in the One who controls the universe. I just keep thinking of tiny babies crying and lost toddlers and mothers and fathers searching...searching. Lord be with the people of Japan, like never before.

whispers

Last night I got to keep my sweet grandbaby at her home. Her mommy and daddy had to go to the funeral home for Blake's great-grandmother. Bless her heart she was 92 years old. Thank the Lord Blake got a great photo of her holding Piper with him, his dad, his grandma and great-grandma with Piper on her lap. Wonderful memories. After I fed her supper of green beans and bananas we played. She really is learning to actually play. She is so inquisitive and curious about things. How they move, slide, shake, rattle and roll. Such a smart baby. I got to bathe that little girl and she loves a bath too. Splashes like a wild thing. I let her stay in the water until it was cool and her little fingers puckered. We waved bye-bye to the water and I let her look at herself in the mirror with that precious little hooded towel wrapped all around. She thinks she is the greatest thing because she grins like a cheshire cat whenever she sees her reflection. I got to rock her and feed her a night bottle and sing to her. She is so good to just lay down and go to sleep on her own. But...I picked her back up and just held her. She laid her warm, sweet smelling head on my shoulder and I just whispered to her. I told her how much I loved her and all the things we will do and I prayed for her. Just whispers. No one to hear me but her. Whispers that stored in my heart. Dreams for her. I laid her down. Blew her a kiss...she smiled. Pulled her blanket over her face and went to sleep. At this age and season of my life I know what is real. What is hard. What is important. What really does not matter. What does. Whispers....

A new trick!

Piper is learning to jump. She loves to jump in her jumperoo, in her bed (I would never let my own kids!), in your lap and everywhere. At my house she has a frog jumpee seat. She finally got long enough legs to reach the floor and jump. She is so cute!

7 Months Old

On Friday Piper turned 7 months old. Her first year is just going so fast. She is growing and changing every single day. Here are some stats for you sugarpie! You can sit up really well all by yourself. You are so busy!! You are not crawling yet but you roll wherever you want to go instead. I am not sure you will really crawl because you do not like your tummy at all. You are fascinated by dogs and cats. You hold your little hands out and just jabber away at all our pets. You are the sweetest baby. I say that not just as your Mimi and I am partial, but you really are. You weigh 17 lbs and you are 24 1/2 inches long. You are getting so big!! You love eating and so far have liked almost everything you have tried except avocados and potatoes. I think it is a texture thing myself. You will learn to love 'taters in this family! You went to the doctor on Friday for a shot and you were a little cranky because your little leg hurt.



Resting on your froggie made you feel a little better.




You were just not happy to have your picture made today!






Sometimes all a girl needs is a frog prince by her side!!

I Like

I got home later than usual from my photography class last night and missed the first 45 minutes of American Idol. But my sweet girl,Megan called me on my phone and gave me the play by play!! Exciting lives, huh?? She loves the show too. I was very pleased with all the picks. My favorites made it in the top 10 and there really isn't anyone I don't enjoy hearing sing. Time will tell.

I learned SO much last night at the class. I have a "photoshoot" assignment this week that I have to email in to the instructor. He is a really nice older gentleman who is the most patient man with this class of dummies. I mean that in a loving way because we are all in that class really struggling with these new-fangled fancy cameras! Ollie, the instructor, even brought in the director of the entire photography school for a question and answer session last night. Poor guy! We all had a hundred questions and he answered everyone. One lady raised her hand and said what I was thinking. "Can you dumb this down for me??" Amen sister, amen. Well, he did and then the light came on!! I was so excited to finally get it. I almost heard a click in my head. I knew the definitions of ISO, aperture, shutter speed and the like but putting them into use and knowing when to pick what...well it was amazing. I am still struggling with the math of photography. If I had known math would have been involved I would have skipped this class. I like photography but dislike math. Really, really dislike math. But anyway, I can't wait to send my photos in and get the critique from the instructors. Photography really is art they explained. You can do so much with lighting and colors. It really is artful and captures the souls of your subjects. Sounds really classy.

I am having a friend over for dinner tomorrow night and then we are going to Hobby Lobby to look around. To be the "anticraft" I sure am embracing these craft places here lately. If you see me stamping or heaven forbid picking up any kind of needle to start sewing,knitting and/or crocheting please, please call 911 immediately. I'll need commitment papers drawn up right away!

The Girls

Well, I watched A.I. last night and for the most part the girls are...not good. I really only like Lauren and Pia. I was disappointed in their selections of songs mostly. They only have one shot to make it to the top 12 and they really missed their mark. Looking forward to tonight and seeing who makes the cut!!

The Boys

After watching American Idol last night the boys have a lot to offer!! They were all really good. Except maybe for Brett...he isn't my favorite. I still love Casey Abrams but I also am crazy about Paul McDonald. Those teeth!! He also sang one of my all time favorite songs. I love the quirkiness of his voice. So different. Enjoy!








I hope the girls do a great job tonight!