tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344648872024-03-13T01:52:08.892-07:00MommysmartUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger371125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-70453417134137900772012-05-17T11:03:00.002-07:002012-05-17T11:06:42.834-07:00Forgiveness with boundries<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">One of the things that I love about forgiveness is that it never excuses a behavior or tolerates a bad behavior. It says that something hurtful happened but somehow I want to work through that issue. I might reconcile with you or I might not. <b>Forgiveness doesn't demand reconciliation</b>. It sets the stage for it, if you will, but it doesn’t require it. <b>I can forgive but still set boundaries</b>. </span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Forgiveness has within it boundaries that are sufficient to protect ourselves from further insults from those who have hurt us. Those boundaries are the distance we need so we can continue to love those who have hurt us. Forgiveness does not take the hurt or anger away. It does not change what is right or wrong. It does not mean we have to agree. Forgiveness allows us to communicate our love from the distance where we feel safe.</span><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"> </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-17135387301761237812012-03-09T06:02:00.002-08:002012-03-09T06:14:12.968-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfICOUQyH_eVNyifIfatw8tBjEHbAHLJ2GUcMACeoZyjf-InUDKXukBhIFz4cZD4wp12NMFey6jhSah10JY9HxnM5XUP349Orh7oCfYHAgQIUaEygdHksbrLlAcHWhKgZnG-XZ/s1600/Seymour+Thoughts.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfICOUQyH_eVNyifIfatw8tBjEHbAHLJ2GUcMACeoZyjf-InUDKXukBhIFz4cZD4wp12NMFey6jhSah10JY9HxnM5XUP349Orh7oCfYHAgQIUaEygdHksbrLlAcHWhKgZnG-XZ/s400/Seymour+Thoughts.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717899941819700754" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span ><u><br /></u></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-52957288243452873722010-10-21T08:03:00.000-07:002010-10-21T08:05:40.620-07:00Football on our Wall in Fall y'all<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1m9uYKTk-ZNNSEjY5agci2MBe5kdI604DY3pjrR-zceiYe-pRh5EYN08gr1rsXjnAAcKLaH34GLuNmNDTcGKXbr6R4tKstO9JyKYb_Tf9BxmPMlSSM9LG0jTOJVmSSsRMtkSO/s1600/watching+film.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1m9uYKTk-ZNNSEjY5agci2MBe5kdI604DY3pjrR-zceiYe-pRh5EYN08gr1rsXjnAAcKLaH34GLuNmNDTcGKXbr6R4tKstO9JyKYb_Tf9BxmPMlSSM9LG0jTOJVmSSsRMtkSO/s400/watching+film.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5530515380207619442" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-25180643205061761142010-08-26T09:24:00.000-07:002010-08-26T10:13:25.135-07:00Panther Football Schedule 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYEbmG4oczOfs_MOyn2IhEKAATwuUkSzMzxhTnEetFBOvNXomqvtuP9NQ0EvF7m7nXZdTDeaNbcPId4vy9-s_5dSfSyGryVdp-yNNhtpp79sBMoIniMbbzciqRL3KRpxtQm2m/s1600/2010+FOOTBALL+SCHEDULE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYEbmG4oczOfs_MOyn2IhEKAATwuUkSzMzxhTnEetFBOvNXomqvtuP9NQ0EvF7m7nXZdTDeaNbcPId4vy9-s_5dSfSyGryVdp-yNNhtpp79sBMoIniMbbzciqRL3KRpxtQm2m/s400/2010+FOOTBALL+SCHEDULE.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509767812471563410" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-58445572921466374212010-07-15T06:30:00.000-07:002010-07-15T04:53:51.372-07:00Pics of the house<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ve2mI8w0F35zKOFJnhUVMFqgVNClPFs6nzUSDmsIMrwNXuECZ7lYo0-u6MmG76eSZAY2hxunfNVQqGE-6gD_kQe4FMqIFdkMinT5RTQWX0dKZ1JSLUFUDM1u7F9hUah99cT8/s1600/House+Final.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Ve2mI8w0F35zKOFJnhUVMFqgVNClPFs6nzUSDmsIMrwNXuECZ7lYo0-u6MmG76eSZAY2hxunfNVQqGE-6gD_kQe4FMqIFdkMinT5RTQWX0dKZ1JSLUFUDM1u7F9hUah99cT8/s400/House+Final.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494099735286516770" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbItW_Nhs5tadUMxCt72z8iuZjOWHpTQCy3RBpYRKcKVyWcDB5Kw5caU9ccvkjRfUVhMcTMkq7tQOjzYUFPoSOkgtgY5BBaTeQtpImsxWOn4nzR_8qKSRyU1sm29tYYD5O-aq/s1600/HOUSE+FIRST+PIC.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbItW_Nhs5tadUMxCt72z8iuZjOWHpTQCy3RBpYRKcKVyWcDB5Kw5caU9ccvkjRfUVhMcTMkq7tQOjzYUFPoSOkgtgY5BBaTeQtpImsxWOn4nzR_8qKSRyU1sm29tYYD5O-aq/s400/HOUSE+FIRST+PIC.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494098829100165442" /></a><br /><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">We are finally getting closer to completion on the facelift to the new house. Please say a prayer that all will go well with our closing. It is scheduled for Friday. Hopefully then we can move in and turn this from a great house to our home!</div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-ko8YVAh-NEBsfuAg55fQWMZWoCf6Z9XqLSkJiwGP7IdV2DVabbRhbV91Si1nigf5VOrBaOKS_Ly2OExgMO_l5zn7eky8UmsFUnoM7gylrmQPDH5qdRSMCIi1eC3r48V1H3c/s1600-h/Ashlynn's+Room.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360576031522876850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-ko8YVAh-NEBsfuAg55fQWMZWoCf6Z9XqLSkJiwGP7IdV2DVabbRhbV91Si1nigf5VOrBaOKS_Ly2OExgMO_l5zn7eky8UmsFUnoM7gylrmQPDH5qdRSMCIi1eC3r48V1H3c/s400/Ashlynn's+Room.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxB76Xrx0f2IQpr7RXsFT8aNcPYEzAtrJeCQIibRbb_9tfM9CAMadpeCNYsZDXLqBAcRZaWYBG_4wAgKHIy483U6dYZiC5EDqNSADso8l0SFaBmyG5UWN0F1QZ2QOietzYR2nx/s1600-h/Living+Room+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360575931514922930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxB76Xrx0f2IQpr7RXsFT8aNcPYEzAtrJeCQIibRbb_9tfM9CAMadpeCNYsZDXLqBAcRZaWYBG_4wAgKHIy483U6dYZiC5EDqNSADso8l0SFaBmyG5UWN0F1QZ2QOietzYR2nx/s400/Living+Room+2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvP6gCevjemkrMNimL8CeH-W17mRM2aimcFwW94z9utVEdZSdb2dynFHX70HWCVLZHFhZfwDUDSVdq90rqgCoj7zJ5XL6vN4VX5izcgpqI3MQxqqcOkcS67DfeIe3zyb5lJ43/s1600-h/Living+Room.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360575837470239746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvP6gCevjemkrMNimL8CeH-W17mRM2aimcFwW94z9utVEdZSdb2dynFHX70HWCVLZHFhZfwDUDSVdq90rqgCoj7zJ5XL6vN4VX5izcgpqI3MQxqqcOkcS67DfeIe3zyb5lJ43/s400/Living+Room.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZErk-OjeGyRFvs2_jtnu3zRnbqbzFDC4u5EHR4H3gJ3Gk8BUx1KZPiQOJ0RfacoXjzlNcYKxdDPBnAr8JzwylNr-iKVankof2flqBRR5Hb5nqNpWbYf_uo_yNWz3pfcERp4j9/s1600-h/Master+Bedroom.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360575757812790738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZErk-OjeGyRFvs2_jtnu3zRnbqbzFDC4u5EHR4H3gJ3Gk8BUx1KZPiQOJ0RfacoXjzlNcYKxdDPBnAr8JzwylNr-iKVankof2flqBRR5Hb5nqNpWbYf_uo_yNWz3pfcERp4j9/s400/Master+Bedroom.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4z5z4uXIbZzWB90QWphGwsUbikwq5q-y2cQMdBa8EoDGolIr8MMnvGMSHtTaIBmDrUlTCsLpdxmAGxbEUH-mGbgk6i4E3zMaWws2_0UhYOGb8vXPS0Nw7y2argw2X-nzYqwR/s1600-h/Kitchen+View+3.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360575686095231522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4z5z4uXIbZzWB90QWphGwsUbikwq5q-y2cQMdBa8EoDGolIr8MMnvGMSHtTaIBmDrUlTCsLpdxmAGxbEUH-mGbgk6i4E3zMaWws2_0UhYOGb8vXPS0Nw7y2argw2X-nzYqwR/s400/Kitchen+View+3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCwm5QgYzQqhu4r-4SVOliejN8Mi8sZ5JbopjYcNtn9Z2VMY8cq1HjkTkGZjAgcot5cdijPo1QVfVr5rZZo19Zr7FKM_b6SfC54pnD5yAFg1KJPsz8nmcO0OgimXR5wE_fO3S/s1600-h/Kitchen+View+2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360575614718567490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCwm5QgYzQqhu4r-4SVOliejN8Mi8sZ5JbopjYcNtn9Z2VMY8cq1HjkTkGZjAgcot5cdijPo1QVfVr5rZZo19Zr7FKM_b6SfC54pnD5yAFg1KJPsz8nmcO0OgimXR5wE_fO3S/s400/Kitchen+View+2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2Lf713hHo5lGtmPU3S-cYV57zwdr7TItHGp0X_YqgDjokibXH_3fofBYyIq_smqrh-Sm1q18bauB1RpdsmpVG8vvNoHYlbxW3AXzShSN8iKvJItRJYjQCYWpNIOj_EcEm12y/s1600-h/Kitchen+View+1.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360575520740769186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2Lf713hHo5lGtmPU3S-cYV57zwdr7TItHGp0X_YqgDjokibXH_3fofBYyIq_smqrh-Sm1q18bauB1RpdsmpVG8vvNoHYlbxW3AXzShSN8iKvJItRJYjQCYWpNIOj_EcEm12y/s400/Kitchen+View+1.jpg" /></a>Please forgive the mispellings (whtie instead of white). It is just a thing that I do, which you know if you have been reading this blog. They should put spell check on adobe photoshop....it would help me a ton!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-38485055934788579182009-10-21T13:59:00.000-07:002009-10-21T14:09:28.357-07:00Eisegesis VS. Exegesis<a href="http://leeh.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/bible-study.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 277px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://leeh.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/bible-study.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I recently came across these two words in a fantastic book that I am reading and because I am certainly not a theologian I had to dig further into just exactly what this means. I know that I have at times been guilty of trying to fit God's word into my point of view. I just felt the need to share this in case I am not the only one who needed a "heart conviction" today! What are your thoughts?</div><div></div><div><em>2 Chronicles 27:1-2 </em></div><div><em><br />“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. . . . He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD.”<br /><br />EISEGESIS<br />First, the interpreter decides on a topic. Today, it’s “The Importance of Church Attendance.” The interpreter reads 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 and sees that King Jotham was a good king, just like his father Uzziah had been, except for one thing: he didn’t go to the temple! This passage seems to fit his idea, so he uses it. The resulting sermon deals with the need for passing on godly values from one generation to the next. Just because King Uzziah went to the temple every week didn’t mean that his son would continue the practice. In the same way, many young people today tragically turn from their parents’ training, and church attendance drops off. The sermon ends with a question: “How many blessings did Jotham fail to receive, simply because he neglected church?”<br /><br />Certainly, there is nothing wrong with preaching about church attendance or the transmission of values. And a cursory reading of 2 Chronicles 27:1-2 seems to support that passage as an apt illustration. However, the above interpretation is totally wrong. For Jotham not to go to the temple was not wrong; in fact, it was very good, as the proper approach to the passage will show.<br /><br />EXEGESIS<br />First, the interpreter reads the passage and, to fully understand the context, he reads the histories of both Uzziah and Jotham (2 Chronicles 26-27; 2 Kings 15:1-6, 32-38). In his observation, he discovers that King Uzziah was a good king who nevertheless disobeyed the Lord when he went to the temple and offered incense on the altar—something only a priest had the right to do (2 Chronicles 26:16-20). Uzziah’s pride and his contamination of the temple resulted in his having “leprosy until the day he died” (2 Chronicles 26:21).<br /><br />Needing to know why Uzziah spent the rest of his life in isolation, the interpreter studies Leviticus 13:46 and does some research on leprosy. Then he compares the use of illness as a punishment in other passages, such as 2 Kings 5:27; 2 Chronicles 16:12; and 21:12-15.<br /><br />By this time, the exegete understands something important: when the passage says Jotham “did not enter the temple of the LORD,” it means he did not did not repeat his father’s mistake. Uzziah had proudly usurped the priest’s office; Jotham was more obedient.<br /><br />The resulting sermon might deal with the Lord’s discipline of His children, with the blessing of total obedience, or with our need to learn from the mistakes of the past rather than repeat them.<br />Of course, exegesis takes more time than eisegesis. But if we are to be those unashamed workmen “who correctly handle the word of truth,” then we must take the time to truly understand the text. Exegesis is the only way.</em></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-81830645783685875892009-09-29T10:28:00.000-07:002009-09-29T10:29:33.370-07:00Poem by Wilbur Rees"I would like to buy $3 worth of God, please - not enough to<br />explode my soul or disturb my sleep, but just enough to equal a cup of<br />warm milk or a snooze in the sunshine. I don't want enough of him to make<br />me love a foreigner or pick beets with a migrant worker. I want ecstasy,<br />not transformation; I want the warmth of a womb, not a new birth. I want<br />a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack. I'd like to buy $3 worth of God,<br />please."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-64683152845850652352009-09-07T08:52:00.001-07:002009-09-11T09:14:14.435-07:00Question?<a href="http://www.three-angels-messages.com/church-attendance.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 335px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.three-angels-messages.com/church-attendance.jpg" /></a><br /><div>In a conversation about church attendance, I heard this......."Like most young people these days, they just aren't very faithful".<br /><br />Have we missed the meaning of the word faithful in this context? What are your thoughts? </div><br /><br /><em>TREY MORGAN said...<br />Sadly, in the past preachers have preached that attendance is equal to faithfulness. If you attend enough and stay away from the bad things, then you're good to go with God. It's what I call AA religion. Abstinence and Attendance.<br /><br />As much as I like people being there every time that the door is open, it's not attendance that will get you to heaven.<br /><br />Sadly I heard a 98 year old man say one time, "Pray for me so I can be faithful, I just don't feel well enough to come to church." I was sad because this man who lived a life as a Christian was thinking he might go to hell because he was too sick to make it to church.<br /><br />NOW, let me also say there are some young that I really struggle with because they put church on the back burner. The don't see the importance at all and rarely attend, or put everything else in front of it. God did say that Christ and the church go together, you can't have one and not the other.<br /><br />Somewhere we need to draw a line between AA Christianity and the attitude that "church doesn't really matter."</em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-46715564269789492702009-09-04T07:06:00.000-07:002009-09-04T07:16:06.495-07:00Oh, that's what I have been doing......<a href="http://www.springboardtraining.com/light_bulb_w-hands_and_feet.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 370px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 411px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.springboardtraining.com/light_bulb_w-hands_and_feet.gif" /></a><br /><div>I am putting together my resume for a job possibility. I am working on the “chronological part” and really thinking through what I have been doing over the past several years. I started jotting down quick snippets of an answer to the “tell me about yourself” question. It looks funny to see our past 16 years packed into 8 sentences.<br /><br /><em>I was born Monica Pierce. I grew up and graduated high school in Childress. I met Rocky while attending Texas Tech in Lubbock. We were married in 1996 and moved to Abilene where he began playing football for Hardin Simmons University. I attended and graduated from Texas College of Cosmetology in 1997. Since 1997, I have worked, attended online college, and managed a household with two children while Rocky completed both his bachelors and masters degrees. He has successfully worked his way up into an Athletic Director’s position in a great school district. Finally with Rocky at the height of his career and both children in school, it is time for me to figure out where to go from here.</em> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So there you have it, all you never wanted to know about me in one paragraph.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-43009209357530878482009-08-24T16:01:00.000-07:002009-08-24T16:08:58.094-07:00Back to School<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrMQ7eO_vNJSnd-72mojnucKhHdyho8y_u3QbPkvdbG7J2hdHRFHE4r-gFy9Xcpvkrlu7NTX4ARB29lVHOB6cUllnkD3zWZn2jTHtj1xObvrBtZ28omLCYCgkUfyrHItgNTsp/s1600-h/First+day+of+school.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373669719176432466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrMQ7eO_vNJSnd-72mojnucKhHdyho8y_u3QbPkvdbG7J2hdHRFHE4r-gFy9Xcpvkrlu7NTX4ARB29lVHOB6cUllnkD3zWZn2jTHtj1xObvrBtZ28omLCYCgkUfyrHItgNTsp/s400/First+day+of+school.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Well we survived taking Rylan to kindergarten and Ashlynn to Jr High (5th grade is in Jr High here) without too many tears. I really can't believe how quickly time passes and how grown up they both looked today. I just noticed that we all wore black....I guess that was our "back to school" mourning clothes. Anyway, they both had great days and we are looking forward to a great year in Seymour Texas!!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-42577644507460890962009-06-28T14:01:00.000-07:002009-06-28T14:20:01.692-07:00Let’s just call this post…..FINALLY<a href="http://centralwomen.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/moving_truck2.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 220px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://centralwomen.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/moving_truck2.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Finally, I have decided to re-visit one of my many loves in life….writing on my blog. I would like to blame my absence on a bad case of writers block, but truthfully it has been a bad case of heart ache, questions, and at last healing (not complete healing but at least the ability to breathe and smile at the same time). Here is the story in its entirety with all of the detail, raw emotion, and honesty that I can muster to put out there for all of the free world to read.<br /><br />Until today at this very minute, I have been very reluctant to post anything about this past 6 months on my blog. I have struggled with “political correctness”, protecting others that I love, and politeness for long enough. This is my story of how God moved me….literally ;)!<br /><br />Nazareth is perhaps one of the smallest towns in Texas and a place that I called home for almost two years. I was “bathed in blessings” during my time there. Nazareth is a German Catholic community with a small population of students that transfer into the school due to its phenomenal academic success, especially compared to the schools surrounding it. The students there excel in everything! They have unbelievable work ethic and discipline. Most come from two parent homes where high expectations and respect still rule the home. As a former “city girl” with limited experience around anyone other than conservative Protestants, Naz offered me 22 months of vital life lessons. I was able to open my mind to so many things that God needed to show me about who he is and how he works. I was also blessed with many friendships that nurtured my spirit and encouraged my heart. You can imagine my pain when God planted on my heart the knowledge that we would be leaving. This was not a shout, but a subtle whisper in my quiet time. I didn’t understand at the time, but I began to wait for God to reveal his plan. Only a couple of weeks later did I find out that Childress (my hometown) would be hiring a new athletic director. I was instantly convinced that this must be what God was showing me and never once considered an alternative. I later asked God to forgive me for my abruptness in “planning my own course”. <em>In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 </em><br /><br />I was raised in Childress and have loved it like a dear friend for as long as I can remember. The day that Rocky got an interview my mind went into excitement overload and we began to pray. We prayed with more conviction about this than perhaps any other life turning point that we had ever prayed for before. We had all of our friends and family on their knees. We asked God to deliver to us only what was in his plan for our lives, but really with no idea that his plan and ours weren’t exactly the same. We begged him to take us home, but continued to ask for his guidance and direction. I never imagined that praying for his “guidance and direction” was actually not the same as my prayer to go home. I began to imagine my kids spending more time with their grandparents, Sunday church on the same pew as my many family members that live in Childress, and most importantly I visualized my kids growing up in this town full of people and memories that I love. The day that Rocky got the call that he did not get the job may have been my lowest moment to memory. Disappointment, anger, and questions flooded my mind. Had God not heard my prayers and seen my heart?<br /><br />I quickly assured myself that perhaps God needed us to stay where we were. Our lives had been so enriched by our time in Nazareth. But still my heart revealed Gods truth which was that we were needed somewhere else. I waited more impatiently than I should have for what seemed an eternity for all of this pain to make sense.<br /><br />In early April Rocky received a call asking him to interview for an AD job in Seymour. It was Mothers Day that we moved our things south to make our new home. I still don’t know what God has for us here. Maybe we have a job to do, a lesson to learn, a blessing to give or receive, or maybe we will never in this lifetime know. Whatever it is, I trust that he still reigns on his throne just the same today as he did 6 months ago. I am completely convinced that my prayers were answered exactly as they should have been for all of HIS reasons. I continue to pray for joy in my life and ask that you will pray that for me too. I pray for joy in your life and against Satan’s weapons like discouragement.<br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Hebrews 11:40 has always been a special scripture to me and it is my encouragement when I don’t understand……<br /><em>God having provided something better for us that they should not be made perfect apart from us.</em></span> </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-57911673205731648412009-05-05T07:03:00.000-07:002009-05-05T07:12:19.514-07:00This is how you get Swine Flu....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz4by4nFOlzI2wWM7guwuNdUM8SPXuURHKnuX0x81Ht3bn9hCKmic4MLku538T24jF_QE78xzquAVksgNY8Gi_qTcDj5ULzKdpumEJf-XC9z3-imn-bKmL7eSuqsfTwlevKzt/s1600-h/Swine+Flu.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332340512351504290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfz4by4nFOlzI2wWM7guwuNdUM8SPXuURHKnuX0x81Ht3bn9hCKmic4MLku538T24jF_QE78xzquAVksgNY8Gi_qTcDj5ULzKdpumEJf-XC9z3-imn-bKmL7eSuqsfTwlevKzt/s400/Swine+Flu.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">So as long as you aren't french kissing pigs....you're safe! Now can we please move on!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-11476545066549872422009-04-26T18:56:00.000-07:002009-04-26T18:58:17.572-07:00Giggle<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">don’t try to hold it in ~ it’s a hopeless cause. just go on and giggle! and why would you want to hold back your giggles, anyway? a giggle is audible joy. it’s the music of an abundant heart and an ecstatic soul. a giggly heart is one that is loved well and cherished completely. so ~ don’t ever hold back your delightful giggles. instead, celebrate them! giggle!!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">More great Maggie Lindley poems </span><a href="https://www.maggielindleydesigns.com/CatalogListDoubleMatte.asp"><span style="font-size:180%;">here</span></a><span style="font-size:180%;">!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-14798886863744820172009-04-08T08:42:00.000-07:002009-04-08T08:55:05.449-07:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">I never dreamed home would end up where I don't belong......</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">I'm movin' on. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">I know there's no guarantees but I'm not alone! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1bxlDAjGCo">Rascal Flatts</a></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-35977352096907792842009-04-01T08:07:00.000-07:002009-04-01T08:10:30.545-07:00Satan called a meetingSatan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, “We can’t keep Christians from going to church.” “We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles, and knowing the truth.” “We can’t even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior.” “Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken.”<br /><br />“So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, but steal their time, so they don’t have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.” “This is what I want you to do,” said the devil: “Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!”<br /><br />“How shall we do this?” his demons shouted.<br /><br />Satan answered, saying, “Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds,” “Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.” “Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles.” “Keep them from spending time with their children.” “As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!” “Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice.” “Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive.” “To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly.” “This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.”<br /><br />“Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers.” “Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day.” “Invade their driving moments with billboards.” “Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.” “Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what’s important, and they’ll become dissatisfied with their wives.”<br /><br />“Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on God’s creation.” Keep them so busy they pray as little as possible. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead.” “Keep them busy, busy, busy!” “And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences.”<br /><br />“Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Jesus.” “Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause.” “It will work!” “It will surely work!” Satan Exclaimed.<br /><br />“It is quite a plan!” shouted the demons. The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get more busy, and more rushed, going here and there. Having little time for their God ,or their families. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.<br /><br />I guess the question is, has the devil been successful at his scheme?<br /><br />“But as for me and my Household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 )<br />Author Unknown -Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-85549067441113048412009-03-30T21:15:00.000-07:002009-03-30T21:22:27.596-07:00Well....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRw9trmmNid1yYIwTA328Itvl4LXIy3HA1sdFFs_nVc4kybBkPa6LGmmPr-gYgPHLUP_TjX3H6EhUayo7txF9HN0ETEt-Y2p6HTOwKR4LQ3Bht8FfmN4T2ffXDo-NC08XsEUr/s1600-h/Scentsy+Jungle.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319202300478738130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRw9trmmNid1yYIwTA328Itvl4LXIy3HA1sdFFs_nVc4kybBkPa6LGmmPr-gYgPHLUP_TjX3H6EhUayo7txF9HN0ETEt-Y2p6HTOwKR4LQ3Bht8FfmN4T2ffXDo-NC08XsEUr/s400/Scentsy+Jungle.jpg" /></a><br /><div>this girl has got to pay for her candle habbit. So, I joined with Scentsy. I LOVE the stuff so much that I had to start working for the company just to afford my habbit. If you feel the need to enhance/cover/rid/change the smells in your home then please throw your support to this here mommycandleaddict!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.scentsy.com/joye">www.scentsy.com/joye</a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Thanks!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-51551638893818458252009-03-30T09:38:00.000-07:002009-03-30T09:42:40.433-07:00Is God still in our United States?<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZReUa2zlwq31eIwYPm3HQLPRVvRvaU7T3fjr4utpHoJ2aXDfdhBCGRkeuPl7mm_0VQvVVi6MSl5aDmj3GCPTY99x8USkGHhUvKD6GZai5nliI2iAVKFM6WythaH286MiXducF/s1600-h/flag.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319021127272010754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZReUa2zlwq31eIwYPm3HQLPRVvRvaU7T3fjr4utpHoJ2aXDfdhBCGRkeuPl7mm_0VQvVVi6MSl5aDmj3GCPTY99x8USkGHhUvKD6GZai5nliI2iAVKFM6WythaH286MiXducF/s400/flag.gif" /></a> Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you search with all of your heart!<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-8898753697418435542009-03-23T14:03:00.000-07:002009-03-23T14:06:28.974-07:00Top 10 lessons learned when things just don't go your way....<a href="http://lorimoon.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/child-pouting.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 500px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 375px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://lorimoon.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/child-pouting.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">10. This too shall pass. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="center"><br />9. There is someone, somewhere in much more justified pain making you look like a giant baby for blabbing on and on about your misery. </div><div align="center"><br />8. Chocolate…..need I say anything more? </div><div align="center"><br />7. Fit throwing is just as annoying from adults as from children….okay more annoying. </div><div align="center"><br />6. Whether you believe the world is fantastic or terrible….you are right. Once you've got an idea in your head, you'll begin to look for and notice behaviors that reinforce that thought. </div><div align="center"><br />5. Good friends shine in the worst and the best times. </div><div align="center"><br />4. <strong>What</strong> you see is not as important as <strong>how</strong> you see it. </div><div align="center"><br />3. Taking the focus off of yourself by doing something great for someone else is great therapy. </div><div align="center"><br />2. Just build a bridge and get over it! </div><div align="center"><br />1. Let go, God’s got it!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-55657143958862560302009-03-18T06:03:00.000-07:002009-03-18T06:15:35.807-07:00Name Dropping - RE-POST<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOp9WtCg74ZCGrVAhjbhyphenhyphenTIw2s6CjJvNmUr6eEMx2ThMgrPPyOg6VgF4U0keznlc__dBGpj7y94bco8lzH1RrPiaic2NKefy6mmUXHqWhrZLPRDkjetVxxlgzNe9NPa6G02_y/s200/Rocky+with+Herschel.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOp9WtCg74ZCGrVAhjbhyphenhyphenTIw2s6CjJvNmUr6eEMx2ThMgrPPyOg6VgF4U0keznlc__dBGpj7y94bco8lzH1RrPiaic2NKefy6mmUXHqWhrZLPRDkjetVxxlgzNe9NPa6G02_y/s200/Rocky+with+Herschel.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>So I learned from <a href="http://lisaleichner.wordpress.com/">Lisa</a> that the definition of name dropper is : One who begins throwing out the credentials of someone he knows, "Doctor so-&-so from such-&-such university, who also has a PhD in yadda-yadda, was having lunch with me one day and we were discussing ..." and ends up rambling about nothing related at all to the topic.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">For a moment just humor me with this name dropping session!</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Rocky was having dinner with <a href="http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/wal0bio-1">Herschel Walker</a> on Monday and....</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">Gotcha!</span></div><div align="center"> </div><div></div><div></div><div>He did attend a dinner and Hershel Walker was there speaking. I think that he has a book about his life coming out. They took their football team over to hear him speak. He didn't talk <a href="http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/WalkHe00.htm">football </a>or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herschel_Walker">career</a>. He talked about God and his life. Rocky was very impressed. Rocky said that he told a story that his dad used to tell him about a negative and postitive boy.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>The negative boy constantly whined and complained and the positive boy was happy not matter what the circumstance. Growing tired of the negative boy's attitude, the dad decided to do a little experiment. On Christmas morning he placed all of the toys in the room with the negative boy and filled the positive boys room with horse manure. Christmas morning came and Dad went first to check on negative boy. He was grumbling and complaining because none of this was what he wanted. Dad told him that nothing in life would ever make him happy. He started towards the positive boys room and was amazed to hear him giggling. He stepped in to see the boy frantically shoveling the manure. He asked him just what in the world he was doing. The boy replied, "with all of this manure, there has to be a horse in here somewhere!"</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em>I posted this a little over two years ago, but thought that it was fun to bring out of the vault considering that Herschel Walker is now on the Apprentice (which you know that I love and a huge fan).</em></span> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-48718100754774655082009-03-04T07:53:00.000-08:002009-03-04T08:07:15.924-08:00Are you a Carrot, and egg, or a coffee bean?<a href="http://www.zenmocha.com/images/black_coffee_bean.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 541px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 434px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.zenmocha.com/images/black_coffee_bean.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center">A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as if as soon as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. The mother filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots.In the second she placed eggs. And the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">About twenty minutes later, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.Turning to her daughter, she said, "Tell me what you see."</div><br /><div align="center">"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they felt soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg inside. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "So, what's the point, mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid center. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its insides had become hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water...they had changed the water.</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot , an egg, or a coffee bean?"</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?<br />Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my outer shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water - the very circumstances that bring the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of the bean. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you instead of letting it change you.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-22626542310654434392009-02-17T06:57:00.000-08:002009-02-17T07:00:23.078-08:00Thank you Rick Warren...just what I needed today<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><em>I get "Purpose Driven Life" devos delivered to my email box and here was a snipit of today's.......</em></span></div><br />Surrender:<br />Let Go and Let God Work<br />by Rick Warren<br /><br />Surrender yourself to the Lord, and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7 (GWT)<br /><br />Surrendering your life means:<br /><br />· Following God’s lead without knowing where he’s sending you;<br />· Waiting for God’s timing without knowing when it will come;<br />· Expecting a miracle without knowing how God will provide;<br />· Trusting God’s purpose without understanding the circumstances.<br /><br />You know you’re surrendered to God when you rely on God to work things out instead of trying to manipulate others, force your agenda, and control the situation. You let go and let God work. You don’t have to always be in charge. Instead of trying harder, you trust more.<br /><br />You also know you’re surrendered when you don’t react to criticism and rush to defend yourself.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-13641534614079654072009-02-16T10:10:00.000-08:002009-02-16T11:49:37.027-08:00Dear God...you're invited to Coffee....my house!<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Matthew 18:20</strong> For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div>I understood something today! I can't say that I learned it because to learn means.....get to know or become aware of, which I had already done. To understand means......know and comprehend the nature or meaning. Today I <strong>understood</strong> that there is tremendous power in prayer with friends.<br /><br />I had a very dear friend over this morning for coffee. She prayed with me before she left and I felt God's presence in a way that gave me such comfort this morning. I believe that knowing God is with you and feeling God's presence are different ideas.<br /><br />So go find a friend to pray with 'cause God needs no other invitation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-27588496219308659212009-02-13T08:49:00.000-08:002009-02-13T08:55:47.636-08:00A game of Hope<p><br /><object id="1830" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=" height="394" width="448" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="_cx" value="11853"><param name="_cy" value="10425"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://www.nbcdfw.com/syndication?id=38784702&path=%2Fsports%2Ffootball"><param name="Src" value="http://www.nbcdfw.com/syndication?id=38784702&path=%2Fsports%2Ffootball"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="-1"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value=""><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="ShowAll"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value=""><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="false"><br /><embed src="http://www.nbcdfw.com/syndication?id=38784702&path=%2Fsports%2Ffootball" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" allowfullscreen="true" height="394" width="448"></embed></object></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">I am sure that you remember hearing this story, but it is very powerful to watch. My "coaches wife friend, Michelle sent me this link and I had to share.</span> <span style="font-size:78%;">This "football coaches wife" cried like a baby through this video.</span></p><p> </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-74289289015739976582009-02-04T06:13:00.000-08:002009-02-04T08:47:30.772-08:00Invasion<span style="font-size:180%;"><em>SYDNEY AUSTRALIA– Rain-battered residents in northeastern Australia were on alert Wednesday for snakes in their bathrooms and crocodiles in the road following repeated storms that have sent local wildlife in search of dry land or a safe haven.</em></span><br /><em><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></em><br />Can you imagine finding a crocodile in the road? Or what if you kept the lights on to sleep at night because you were worried that you might wake up to a snake in your room. I don't want to live wondering what will be invading my home.....or my heart, let me explain.<br /><br />You know, I consider myself a "glass half full" kind of girl. BUT lately, I have been wallowing in self pity. If you have ever wallowed before then you know how it works. First you just start to pout....poor me. Then you start to throw your arms around a little (like those kids you see in the grocery store having a fit)...it's not fair. Suddenly the kicking starts which makes it all feel worse until you find yourself in a full wallow....just thrusting around indiscriminately all the while looking like a total dimwit to everyone around you. Do you want to know what I found when I googled the phrase "wallowing in self pity"? Of course, you do......<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Pity for oneself; especially exaggerated or self-indulgent pity where you believe that you are the victim who has done no wrong and is deserving of condolence from everyone. "Self-pity" is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality"</em></span><br /><br />OUCH....and so true!<br /><br />Proverbs 25:28 says, "Like a city whose walls are broken down, is a man who lacks self-control."<br /><br />You know the "city walls" are down in Autralia. There are snakes and crocodiles invading their homes and their streets. I must tell you that as bad as that story sounds to me, I am allowing some invasions in my life, too. My lack of self-control is making me very vulnerable and while I am pouting and kicking around I am leaving down my "city walls". When I allow my walls to be broken then I have no protection and the enemy has an open door. And let me tell you, he will come on in and bring with him some luggage filled with a little gossip, a few lies, discouragement, and a lot of fear. <br /><br />Today I prayed against invasion and for protection of homes and hearts. For the safety of the residents of Sydney and also that God will help me to overcome my self pity & lack of self-control which is breaking down my city walls. I thanked him for revealing the truth of what self pity really is. If you are wallowing then I pray that this will pierce your heart as well 'cause nobody really wants to watch you kicking around and pouting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34464887.post-39749925274648533092009-01-27T07:48:00.000-08:002009-01-27T09:15:35.286-08:00Tough Love vs. Spanking -- Good Argument<span style="font-size:180%;">Most of the American populace thinks it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.' </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk. </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, IPod, etc. </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together. </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Eye to eye contact helps a lot too. </span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique.</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296001419448081346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp6womw333oYACJnuf9xZXaXszEwxdt5wHhoa9X1efKPYoLZQjz8sBJ9OKyob-0KKOICjQi5UeYtyIBj6kTXHuG2ykX6kqHgWzLYhjIaS7khsKQLevKWPN_Bf4N7LvjzcGAy_w/s400/Funny+2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center">People, this is just funny....I don't practice this and this is not my child. I got this email from my friend Emily today and really needed a good laugh. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">Warning: Please don't try this at home. Much of the action depicted and/or described on this post is potentially dangerous. Virtually all of the riders seen in this photo are experienced professionals. Do not attempt to duplicate any stunts that are beyond your own capabilities. Always wear the appropriate safety gear.</span> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0