Blessings on a Monday

Actually, the blessing I'm sharing with you happened yesterday, but I'm sharing it today!  :o)

On 5th Sunday nights at church, we have "Sings".  If you want to sing, you can. 

I don't know about you, but I connect with music.  Sometimes a song can minister and speak more to me than a sermon can. 

Last night, we were blessed with a multitude of praises through song. 

And I was able to catch these two young ladies on video.  The one on the right is Christen's best friend and the one on the left is one of Christen's oldest friends. 

My oh my at the joy my heart felt while listening to them sing praise last night. 

The whole night was a blessing and I'm glad I could share some of it with you.  I pray this blesses you as much if not more than it did me.

Happy Monday!

How do YOU get your praise on?? 

Are you a sermon person or a music person or a devotion person or all three or does it rotate??

InstaFriday!

I'm on Instagram overload!  I take so many pictures now!  I feel kind of bad for my regular camera.  I use to carry it with me everywhere, now it just sits on the counter, all lonely.  But with the camera phone on my iPhone, there's really no need to carry the other camera around all the time.  I can just save it for special times, like Christen's Senior pictures coming up!  :o)

Okay, I'm linking up with Jeannett from Life Rearranged for Instagram Friday!
  Capturing the everyday moments of my week.  I hope you will too!!

I think I've blogged about my Dad.  He had a procedure that found a blockage in the artery in one of his legs.  They couldn't get it out that day, so they had to wait a month.  In the meantime, he's been in the hospital twice.  Once, the day of the 1st procedure and 2nd time when they had to get his pain under control.  He's taken the doctor's advice and he's not smoking.  Which means he's chewing LOTS of gum.  He requested Bazooka gum, but I couldn't find it ANYWHERE.  And I think I searched almost every store our town has.  So, what do you do when you want something and you can't find it in a store?? You go online of course!  This was waiting for me Friday when I got home.  Please continue to keep him in your prayers.  He goes back on Nov. 8th for the doctor to get ride of the blockage and truth be told, I'm worried about him. 

Love it when Jon takes us to Logan's Roadhouse for supper!  I got my Big Fat Greek Steak Sandwich.  And I don't care what Christen says, they make the cucumber spread with SOUR CREAM, not MAYO!! I hate mayo...  so it must be so. 

Did a little crafting Friday night while we watched Zoo Keeper.  It was a really cute movie!

My Boxer Kids soaking up the sun on a Saturday morning. 

Saturday Jon and I went to a pumpkin patch. 

On the way there, we stopped to get gas and this huge cow was in the parking lot. 

I couldn't resist!  I have no clue why it's there.  I didn't get out to inspect. 

But it's clearly an amazing photo-op. 

We loved Calhoun's Produce!!!  It wasn't too far from us and they had the best pumpkins to choose from. 

We even ate lunch there.  Everyone was so friendly!  We'll be back for sure. 

This is one of the Orange Bulldog Pumpkins we got.  Excellent for carving!

I took my Dad his gum on Sunday.  Poor Sam, he wanted to come outside so bad!!

The field across the road from my Dad's house.  He lives WAY out in the country. 

This store is on the way out to my Dad's.  It's in the middle of NOWHERE. 

But it gets a lot of business from the farmers, or at least it used to. 

I just can't get over the sign... 

they have everything you need!  haha..  (they even have a car lot!)

Jon's first 3 pumpkins. He's going to enter one of them in Calhoun's carving contest. 

I think he just may win a prize. 

My town is getting a Publix!!!  I'm SO EXCITED!!!  Publix, how I've missed you... 

I got Happy Mail this week!! From Junk In Da Trunk Girls!! 

They have an awesome ETSY store.  You should really check it out. 

I also got my organza necklaces in the mail this week! Perfect for my pendants.  :o)

It's Red Ribbon Week and Wednesday was Camo day. 

So Christen rocked her new coveralls. 

She's going hunting for the first time ever on Saturday! 

I hope she enjoys it as much as she thinks she will. 

My brother got his first deer of the season this past Sunday. 

I will spare you the photos I took of the poor doe.   

Wednesday night church time!

I got a lot of crafts done this week.  But still have a lot to do!!

And my Beckham boy.  Sure do love him.  And his Momma, Brandi. 

They will keep me sane when Christen goes off to college next fall. 

Today is the last day of "Red Ribbon Week".  Today is spirit day. 

Many of the students support one of the teachers, Mr. Beamon. 

He's a great teacher and he loves his students and his school. 

So the students can get a tshirt and be a part of his cheering section.  Very cool. 

Alrighty, your turn! 
I'd LOVE to see what all you've captured on your camera phone this week.  Go link up okay?  Okay!  :o)

Christen, The Coach

Christen helped out with a U6 Soccer team this year.  And I would dare say, she loved every minute of it!  She loved when they would actually listen to her and when the kids would learn something new. 

I went out this past Saturday and caught some of their game.  Christen was really good with the kids.  She actually places them in formation during plays and gets to be on the field with them. 

I don't think there's anything cuter than a U6 Soccer game:

 Even when they aren are on the sideline, they still love to run around! 

Oh to be young and have endless amounts of energy.

They had their last game on Tuesday and they all went out to eat at Wendy's to celebrate.

  Those kids really love her and I think the feeling is mutual.  I believe she may even miss them.  :o)

Pour Your Heart Out: Letting Go

Today, I'm linking up with Shell at "Things I Can't Say" and I'm Pouring My Heart Out.  Want to join in? Go here:

I just started following Shell, and just found out about "Pour Your Heart Out" Wednesdays.  And it's really neat because something happened yesterday that I really need to get out.  I knew it was coming, but I never really understood fully how I would feel. 

Christen got an offer to play college soccer. A real, official offer.

 

We still have to come up with some money (gosh there's so many scholarships available, my head's spinning!!), but the coach wants HER.  She's already been accepted to the school.  One of the top 20 in the COUNTRY.  It's not a D1 school, it's a D2.  But that just means with lots of hard work, she could actually get time on the field her first season there.  

So, how am I feeling about all this??  excited, nervous, sad.  Mostly sad.  The realization of Christen leaving is really beginning to sink in.  And she'll be 6hrs away if she accepts the offer.  SIX HOURS!!!   This has to be a God thing, because I can't get through it on my own. 

I am really excited for Christen.  This is an opportunity of a lifetime.  A way for her to get the best education possible AND play soccer. 

But six hours?? 

And when she comes home, she'll be driving through Atlanta.  That makes my heart skip a beat.  Atlanta drivers are crazy.  I know, I used to drive through it more than I liked and live just 40min south of downtown ATL. 

I keep coming back to me.  How I'm going to handle all this.  Christen is excited, but I know she has to be a little scared too. 

But this is the day every parent wants for their child.  It's our job to make sure she has a strong Christian faith and foundation and that she can be independent from us.  So far, so good. 

So, everything she's wanted, up to this point, is being offered to her.  Will she accept?  I'm thinking she will, but she won't make a decision until tonight.  Unless her mind's already made up and she just hasn't said yet. 

God, ultimately, she's yours.  You just trusted me to take care of her and to lead her back to You.  I pray her decision is what You want for her, regardless of what her decision is.  And I know, if it is your Will, you will give me peace about it.  Help me, help us because I can't get through this with out you and I know she needs you during this time too.

 

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday!

I'm linking with Amber again for "Hey, It's Okay Tuesday"!!  She got the idea from Glamour Magazine. Apparently, they have a section called: "Hey, It's Okay" and they list a lot of things that it's okay to be "okay" about. Anways... without further adieu...

It's Okay:

To be addicted to Instagram.  Seriously.  It's really awesome.


To be SUPER stoked that the awesome deal I blogged about yesterday is STILL going on.  Seriously, do yourself a favor and check it out.  There's no way I could keep it to myself. 

To have played this youtube video over and over of a house all decked out for Halloween.  Thanks Southern Socialite for sharing!

To love watching "The Sing Off".  Penatoniks has to be my favorite for right now. 

To be super excited about my purchase from Erin Condren.  I can't wait for it to arrive!  November now seems too far off. 

To get really ill at my boss for leaving and not telling me.  Hello!  I'm the one who answers the phone.  People tend to think I'm lying when I put them on hold just to pick right back up and say he's not here.  If I hear: "Stop lying, he just told you to say he's not there." I think I'll scream!

Let me introduce you to Erin Condren.....

....and Julie from Joy's Hope who blogged about an AMAZING deal!!

Have you heard of Erin Condren??  No??  Well, you MUST check out her website and take in ALL of the personalization goodies she has to offer!

And...  she has these planners...  I've heard nothing but PRAISE about her planners!!  She has life planners and planners for TEACHERS...  they come with stickers and BRIGHT pages, also, you can have the cover PERSONALIZED... 

All kinds of goodness!

Don't "do" paper planners?  Well, there's stuff for you too.  Like stationary, note pads, call me cards, calendars, canvas...  gosh, just know there's a lot of stuff. 

Anyway, I've read a lot of blogs lately about the amazing Erin Condren life planners.  But I've yet to actually purchase one because...  well...  they are $50.  And I have a kid going to college next year.  I'm pinching pennies until they scream.  So I just couldn't make the purchase... 

That is until Plum District came along.  Basically, they have great deals.  But not just ANY deals.  They have great deals catered to MOMS!  And TODAY ONLY they have a great deal going on with Erin Condren where you can get $50 worth of merch for only $25!!  (and, if you're new to Plum, you get a $5 credit, so really, that's $50 worth of merch for only $20!!!)

(photo from http://www.plumdistrict.com/)

I couldn't pass it up and I hate to keep a great deal to myself.  So, I'm passing it on to you! 

Please, do go through my link though so I can get some love for referring you. 

THIS JUST IN!!!  Use the code word: FABULOUS and you'll get 15% off!  So that's $50 worth of merch for $18!! wow...  this is an awesome deal!

I hope you check it out and if you purchase this awesome deal, I hope you pass it along to your friends so you can share the love!  You'll get your own link they can sign up with and show the love right back to you. 

So, what are you waiting for???  Go and sign up for Plum District here and grab this deal before it's gone!  :o)

HAPPY MONDAY!!!

Happy Fall Y'all! ~ Guest Posting w/ Lil'Luna!

Come join me today as I guest post over at Lil' Luna's blog!!

I'll be blogging about painting pumpkins as part of Lil' Luna's Great Pumpkin Series! 

InstaFriday!

I've waited for this day for a long time! I know Jeanette over at Life Rearranged says you don't HAVE to have the iPhone or the Instagram app, you can use any cell phone pics, but I just wanted to wait until now. 

So, here's the deal: "Link up the silly, sweet little moments that make up your week!"  

Then link up with Life Rearranged (button at the end of the post). 

Jon loves a show called "the walking dead"  at least, I think that's the name. 

In honor of the season premier this past Sunday, he wore his Zombie Response Team TShirt. 

I'm not big on scary movies/shows, but he loves them, even when he has to watch in "spooky vision"...

The weather has been a bit odd....  This was my view to work on Tuesday morning...

And then the bottom fell out and it rained just about all day and night... 

Thankfully, the weather has been cooler since!  It actually fells like fall now.

Brandi's not a fan of the cooler weather.  She's a sensitive sort...

Christen and I passing each other yesterday... 

She was on her way to coach her little U6 soccer team, I had just left WalMart and was headed home. 

So cool that she's coaching.  She's really enjoying it!  I'm going to go watch her on Saturday. 

 It's gonna be neat seeing her interact with her kids.  :o)

Cuddle time with Daddy... 

 Craft time!

I felt this was appropriate...  

If you accomplish something that you couldn't on your own, it's a God thing. 

Why put what God can do in a box??  He's way bigger than that...   

Okay!  Your turn!  Go link up and let's see what you've been up to this week! 

Sometimes, it just takes a push...

Wow, it's been a super busy week!

A week where I feel like I'm being pulled in about 15 different directions....

But I've got some exciting things going on, so I'm about to be even MORE busy!

My Mom and I are renting a space in a little shop.  She's got some stuff to put up (bath stuff, home decor, Christmas decorations) and I'm hoping to have some pendants, bunting, paintings, etc. to add. 

I'm scared though...  I'm praying that I will follow through. I have no intention of NOT following through.  I want this to happen.  I'm looking FORWARD to it!  My only setback? 

That little voice in my head: Your stuff isn't good enough; why would anyone pay for that?   ugh...  that little voice gets me discouraged and makes me think: Why bother??  Honestly, it's why my Etsy shop is still empty...  And now, I believe it's why I found myself too busy to make stuff for a local arts/crafts show. 

So, I must remember, that's the devil talking. 

When I'm getting my craft on, I must remember my talent is a gift from God.  I must use it to bring Him glory.  And when I do that, so what if other people don't buy what I'm selling??  I'm doing it to bring God glory, everything else will fall in place. 

Elisabeth over at bovagoods shared "An Artist's Prayer" over on her blog today.  God knew I needed to read that today. 

And Tuesday night, when I was trying to decide which devotion to start on my Bible App, my thumb fell onto the "Faith" devotion.  The first passage was the same passage my pastor shared this past Sunday: Genesis 22; 1-19 (the telling of God asking Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac)

If Abraham can have THAT kind of faith, surely I can have the kind of faith it takes to paint and glue and sew something pretty. 

It's a God thing for sure, because I can't do this by myself.  So happy my Mom is in this venture too. 

Still loving my instagram app...  still haven't spent the $1.99 on the Hipstamatic app...  Insta-photo of the day?  Brandi-Poo:

She's not very impressed. 

Hey, It's Okay Tuesday

I'm linking with Amber who blogs about Airing Her Dirty Laundry, One Sock at a Time...  And SHE got her "Hey, It's Okay Tuesday" idea from Glamour Magazine.  Apparently, they have a section called: Hey, It's Okay and they list a lot of things that it's okay to be "okay" about.  Anways...  without further adieu...

It's Okay:

To have bought the new iPhone 4s.

To really be considering using the WalMart layaway for the iPad2. Jon really wants one and he does so much for us. But I'm afraid he won't like me spending that much money.

To want my Mr. Welcome Snowman to stay on the porch, even though Jon's putting up Halloween decorations.

To be excited about new ventures with my Mom.

To be an adult who loves listening to Adventures in Odyssey!

To be super excited about tacos!

To love fall, but hate that it means the sun will now be in my eyes all the way to work. 

Okay, now go leave some love for Amber who started this awesome linky! 

And link your own "Hey, It's Okay Tuesday" post!!

Fun With My New Phone

best feature so far? 

the camera...

Of course I downloaded the free Instagram app...  And I'm thinking of downloading the Hipstamatic?? app...  but it costs $1.99.. . I know that's cheap, but still...

I didn't find out I could take HDR pictures until last night....

So far, I'm digging my phone...

Cute little Bella...  My cousin found her and her two siblings on the side of the road trying to nurse from their mom who had been hit by a car.  My cousin and her Mom went out of town for a little bit Friday, so I went over to let Bella outside for a bit.  She's such a good puppy!!  She waited to "do her business" until I let her outside.  Cute and smart!

Found this mushroom behind the cabana on Saturday...  funky

And of course my two doggies....

Hope everyone has a blessed day!

Scary Technology!!

I'm not big on technology.  I don't HAVE to have the latest and greatest.  I do like my smart phone though. 

So as my upgrade date got closer and closer...  I started dreaming of the iPhone 4.  I knew a newer version would be coming out soon, which would mean the iPhone 4 would be coming down in price by the time I was ready to upgrade.  

Unfortunately, Christen's phone was going downhill fast.  She's not eligible for an upgrade until 02/2012.  If we used the insurance to replace her phone, that would cost us $90.  

We found out I could go ahead and upgrade, I just wouldn't get the little rebate they promised me if I waited until 12/2011.  Christen is getting my old phone so she can have something reliable and I will go ahead and upgrade. 

About this same time, everyone thought the iPhone 5 was about to be introduced, but instead Apple revealed the iPhone 4S.  So guess what?

I did what I've never done before.  I ordered the newest technology, on the FIRST day it was possible to order the newest technology and the iPhone 4s just arrived today, the FIRST day it was available!

I feel kinda special!

And totally overwhelmed....

I hope I didn't make a mistake!

I hope it's as awesome as everyone says... 

I REALLY, REALLY hope I don't drop it before I can get a protective case for it!  ;o)

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!!

It's that time again!

First, my blogger is doing that crazy thing again where I can't comment on some blogs!  So frustrating!!  So if I haven't commented...  that is why. 

*******************************************

Time for Jon to get the Halloween decorations out and fix up the front yard.


Is it bad that I don't help him with this? 


I'm really not that big on Halloween....


I love pumpkins...  That's about as far as my love goes for Halloween..


I do like that we live in a neighborhood where we get lots of trick or treaters though. 


Jon did have a helper Saturday...  my niece Jessica...

Even though she wasn't willing, I think she had a good time...

He still has to connect the rest of the lights, get the straw bales and carve his pumpkins!

Then, we'll be ready for Halloween!

Do you decorate for Halloween?  Do you have trick or treaters?  Or do you pull the shades down and turn out the lights??   ;o)

Don't worry Mr. Snowman...  your time is coming...