Sunday Morning Scripture

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Thoughtful Thursday: Tips For A Better Life

I recently received these tips in an email and really enjoyed reading them so I thought I'd share them here on the blog:

1. When you wake up in the morning, always start your day with a prayer.
2. And then, complete the following statement: My purpose is to__________ today.
3. Take a 10 to 30-minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
4. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day...buy a lock if you have to.
5. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
6. Drink plenty of water and fresh juices. Eat blueberries,salad, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds, etc.
7. Make at least three people smile each day.
8. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present.
9. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone, so give the best of your kindness.
11. Take yourself seriously.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others either.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you. So, just be happy!
16. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
17. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.
18. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
19. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: In five years, will it matter? Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
20. Forgive everyone for everything.
21. Read more books and watch less TV than you did last year.
22. What other people think of you is none of your business.
23. God has everything you'll ever need in life so hook up with Him.
24. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
25. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation; don't bring up the past.
26. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful in your life.
27. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your family and friends will. Stay in touch.
28. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
29. Keep believing that the best is yet to come.
30. Once a year, go some place you've never been before.
31. Each day give or do something good to/for others.
32. Don't over-do. Keep your limits. Learn to say "No."
33. Sleep for 7 hours every day or what ever your body needs.
34. Don't trust someone who doesn't close their eyes when you kiss them.
35. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.
36. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
37. Do the right thing...even if it's not the easiest!
38. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________ .
39. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
40. Trust in God, but lock your car.
41. Realize that as you get older, you are not approaching death, but heaven.
42. Know that God heals everything.

Our New Photo Wall

I have been wanting to do one of these walls for a while because

1. I love pictures
2. We don't have a lot of family pictures displayed in our home
3. We love and miss our family so this helps keep them close
4. This wall needed something new above the sewing machine
5. Above a family heirloom is the perfect place for family pictures
6. I've been looking for an excuse to use those cool vinyl wall words

And so our family photo wall was created! I absolutely LOVE it! I wanted to keep it simple so I used black and white pictures with solid black frames. They will flow with just about everything I may use near them. In case you can't read it clearly, the wall quote says "FAMILY" and underneath it says "a journey to forever." I plan to change the decorations on the end of the sewing machine seasonally. The flowers and candles are just for summer. Any ideas for fall decorations?

Here's the view from the living room

Here's a close-up of the photos

(P.S. It is really difficult to get a good picture of a wall...ugh!)

She likes it...she really likes it!

Okay...so most of you know I have a veggie-hating child. She has always hated them. Except corn...she loves corn. Anyway, even as an infant, she gagged on them...repeatedly. Everyone told me to keep offering them to her and she would eventually learn to like them. Well, I guess they should have told HER that because she never learned to like them....until recently!

About a week and a half ago, I made meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and broccoli for dinner one night. She usually loves meat and always loves mashed potatoes. Who doesn't? Well, that night she just wasn't feeling the love for the meatloaf, but she gobbled down her entire helping of mashed potatoes in about 57 seconds. Of course she then asks for more. I told her she had to eat some meat before she could have more potatoes. Then for the next 4 to 5 minutes, she proceeds to whine, beg, cry, say ugly things, etc. because I won't give her more mashed potatoes. All the while I'm calmly saying "When you eat some meat, you can have more potatoes" and enjoying my dinner (as much as possible) which (of course) included broccoli.

Suddenly she stops all the fussing and quite rationally says "I want some of this" and points to my plate. I pointed to my potatoes and asked "You want some of this?" She said "No, this!" Then I point to my meatloaf and asked again "You want some of this?" Again she says "No, this!" Reluctantly I point to my broccoli and asked "You want some of this?" She says "Yes!" I literally laugh out loud. She's got to have some food throwing tactic in mind or something. There's no way this kid really wants broccoli. So, eagerly I agree and place a tiny flowerette on her plate. She quickly grabs it and shoves it in her mouth. I get ready to grab my napkin and pick up the broccoli as it comes flying out of her mouth....but it doesn't come back. She just looks at me, smiles, and says "I want more, please!" OK...surely she will spit the next bite out. But no...she eats it and again asks for more. We then repeat this scenario about 3 more times before I decide that she is really going to eat it. Then I get her some from the pan and cut it up on her plate. You would have thought I had been starving her if you had seen the way she gobbled up that broccoli. I sat there completely stunned at the sight before me.

I still scratch my head and wonder what in the world got into her that night, but whatever it was, it stuck. We've had broccoli at least 3 more times since then and she has eaten it every single time. Just take a look at my big girl eating broccoli, leftover noodles, and a pineapple/mango/peach smoothie for lunch on Monday. Days like this sure make us moms of picky toddlers proud....

First Day of High School

Here she is....our high schooler! Today is her first day of school and she was soooo nervous this morning. I can't blame her...high school is a big step. So, do you hear that song playing in the background? (It's titled My Wish. If it's not playing right now, scroll down to the very bottom and find the Playlist. Then click on that title to make it begin playing.) That's my dedication to her. I hope you'll join me in wishing her an awesome day and a memorable year!

Good luck, Emily! We are all so proud of you!

Sunday Morning Scripture

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Phillipians 4:6-7

Back to Blogland

Yesterday, Emily came up to me and said "Mom, you really need to update your blog. I have done mine!" Yeah...she's right. I do need to update this thing, don't I? OK, my 2-month hiatus is officially over. Here I am back in blogland.

Our vacation was absolutely WONDERFUL!!! How can it not be when your children look like this the entire time? Well, okay...maybe not the entire time, but more often than not!

As most of you know, we went to Panama City Beach, FL with Perry's sister, his neice, and her 2 kids. We never done a family vacation before, but I certainly hope we have the opportunity to do so again. It was a blast...even though it rained every single day! (Not all day though, thank goodness!) Anyway, I've heard horror stories about taking vacations with extended family and I can proudly say that ours was NOT one of them. Or at least it wasn't in my opinion. Hopefully no one else thinks so either so we can do it again!

Best Buds...Kate and Abby!


This was Abby's first trip to the beach and she LOVED it!!
Here she is picking up seashells in the tide pool.



And carefully inspecting each one...

Of course, I have to throw in one of Emily...even though I hardly saw her while we were there! She and Tanner had a blast being "older" and having the priviledge of running around without adults! On our last night there, we all played goofy golf...a beach trip MUST!

After our week at the beach and in Elba, the girls and I stayed in Andalusia for an additional week while Perry came back to Texas. On Friday, mom's birthday, the four of us took a day trip to Ft. Walton. Here are some of the pictures from my photo session. You know I had to squeeze one in there somewhere, didn't you?

Oh, I almost forgot to share this one! While we were in Elba, Emily wanted me to take some pictures of her in the old downtown Elba area like we had seen on a local photographer's website. Here's one of my favorites from our session.

It's so hard to believe that she starts HIGH SCHOOL on Monday!

Sniff, sniff...my baby's growing up!