Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

This week I am grateful for: My Mom :)

My mom is my very best friend. (Seriously!)

The only person in the world I feel free to tell absolutely anything to.

Things I love about my Mother:

She always thinks of others first.

She loves taking care of people.

She gives me hugs.

She likes to be with me.

She listens to me.

She is wise.

She knows and understands me better than anyone else on earth.

She loves Jesus.

She is patient.

She is always kind.

She is hardworking.

She is fun!

Who can find a virtuous wife?

      For her worth is far above rubies.        The heart of her husband safely trusts her;       So he will have no lack of gain.         She does him good and not evil       All the days of her life.         She seeks wool and flax,       And willingly works with her hands.         She is like the merchant ships,       She brings her food from afar.         She also rises while it is yet night,       And provides food for her household,       And a portion for her maidservants.         She considers a field and buys it;       From her profits she plants a vineyard.         She girds herself with strength,       And strengthens her arms.         She perceives that her merchandise is good,       And her lamp does not go out by night.        She stretches out her hands to the distaff,       And her hand holds the spindle.         She extends her hand to the poor,       Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.         She is not afraid of snow for her household,       For all her household is clothed with scarlet.         She makes tapestry for herself;       Her clothing is fine linen and purple.         Her husband is known in the gates,       When he sits among the elders of the land.         She makes linen garments and sells them,       And supplies sashes for the merchants.         Strength and honor are her clothing;       She shall rejoice in time to come.         She opens her mouth with wisdom,       And on her tongue is the law of kindness.         She watches over the ways of her household,       And does not eat the bread of idleness.         Her children rise up and call her blessed;       Her husband also, and he praises her:        “ Many daughters have done well,       But you excel them all.”         Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,       But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.        Give her of the fruit of her hands,       And let her own works praise her in the gates.

(Well, Blogger is acting a little strange. I tried to get the Scripture passage above to be centered and it came out like this! But ya know, I kind of like it! :D )

Things that Make Me Smile

Surprises (good ones!)

Real mail

Laimon Fresh (Long story...)

Baptisms

Megamind

Listening to Nickel Creek (although sometimes it makes me cry too.)

A phone call from my big brother.

A comment on my blog. (hint, hint)

Spending time with my oldest sister (a rare treat)

Memories of my grandmother. (sometimes that makes me cry too..)

My brother's saaad jokes. *smile* (<-- see? I told you so.)

My nieces' antics and funny sayings.

Hugging my 93-year-old grandfather.

Wearing my favorite dress.

Cozy days.

Sunshine (It makes everything beautiful!)

Southern courtesy (a.k.a. chatting with a complete stranger just because you're in the same line.)

Weddings

Happy Endings

And much more! I expect you’re yawning right about now though so I’ll cut it short. 

Sisters

This week I am grateful for: My sisters

They make me laugh.

They make me feel special just to be related to them.

They've seen more good and bad in me than anyone else

and they still like me.

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.  ~Marion C. Garretty

Sisters annoy, interfere, criticize.  Indulge in monumental sulks, in huffs, in snide remarks.  Borrow.  Break.  Monopolize the bathroom.  Are always underfoot.  But if catastrophe should strike, sisters are there.  Defending you against all comers.  ~Pam Brown

Sister to sister we will always be,

A couple of nuts off the family tree.

~Author Unknown

*Smile*

Life Happens

Hello! I'm sure you've all been wondering what in the world has happened to me! No, I'm not dead or even sick. To put it simply, Life Happened!

I think I mentioned a few weeks ago that my schedule was going to start getting very full soon. Well, soon has arrived! This past week has been just about the craziest of my life. Normally I would chalk that up as a good thing; I love hustle and bustle and being smack in the middle of everything. And though it certainly hasn't been bad, this past week has definitely run me ragged.

(Am I making any sense?)

Let me give you an idea of my week.

        Monday (the12th): Our first Good News Club meeting! I was so nervous about this because we'd had some bumps in the road before so I was anxious to do it just right! Thankfully it went very smoothly and everyone was happy.

      

         Tuesday: I taught two piano lessons. I enjoy those so much. I have only recently discovered a passion for teaching that I never knew I had, and not just music lessons either!

       

         Wednesday: One of the craziest days of the crazy week! At 8:30 in the morning we left to meet friends at the lake and spent the early afternoon tubing and skiing. 

(There are not many things on my list of pleasures that top riding in the bow of a boat. It combines my love of colors and nature and sky and water and wind all in one delightful experience.)

At about 3 o'clock we had to rush home to get ready for AWANA that evening. It was another hectic night, but it was still great! I look forward to Wednesday nights as the highlight of my week.

         

        Thursday: I woke up early to walk with a friend. It was good to get some exercise and talk. I had planned to visit another family but after my fast-paced day before I really needed just one day to stay home and chill. It was delightful.

        

         Friday: I spent the day shopping with my mom and younger sister. We really get crazy when we're together; those two bring out the silly side of me.

          Saturday: I woke up at 6AM to go to the AWANA training conference. It was long, but fun to hang out with fellow AWANA  leaders.

            Sunday: This Sunday was Celebration Sunday! Every third Sunday in September we celebrate our church's anniversary! It is a wonderful day full of music, fellowship and food! My family partners with another family to organize the meal part of the day. 

This year we had the privilege of having the Peach State Quartet come sing for us! I didn't get to sit in for all of it, I had to go help prepare for the meal, but what I did hear was simply beautiful.

So maybe you can understand my prolonged absence and if you can't well, I'm sorry! Truly, I am sorry to fall behind like this. Not just for you, but for me! I like keeping up this blog, thinking up interesting posts, practicing my blogging skills (or lack thereof). *wink*

Thank you for your patience with me!

Weather

This week I am grateful for: Wonderful weather!!!

I know all there are terrible storms ravaging the upper and lower east coast, but here in GA we are enjoying the loveliest weather we've had in a long time. We've received the rain we prayed for, earlier in the week, while yesterday and today we've been soaking up the sun during a much-needed break from the humidity and heat.

And it looks as if it will continue! According to weather.com our temps will be in the 80s for at least another week! (Perhaps we will ease right into fall this year instead of swinging back and forth between indian summer and autumn.)

Thank you Jesus!

Blessings

A dear friend from church sang this song yesterday in church. Tears were streaming down my face as she sang.

   

Last week was very rough. My grandfather has been in and out of doctor's offices since his pacemaker was put in. 

Another close friend found out her grandfather's cancer has returned.

And then we received some devastating news about a family friend.

So, I've spent much of this week in tears, particularly this weekend.

When Ms. Melissa got up to sing and explained how this song had touched her, I knew I was about to become a basket-case. But I still wasn't prepared for how deeply the song would touch me. But it was okay, they were good tears, tears of His own healing. 

I pray this song brings healing to you as well.

Georgia

This week I am grateful - To be living in the South!

The yummy food.

The kindness of strangers

The lingering warmth of summer.

The quiet and restfulness of our neighborhood.

The sweet, warm, heavy air that wraps me in home.