Lot's Wife

Do you remember Lot's wife? She was too preoccupied with what she was leaving behind to look forward and have trust. And well as you know, that story doesn't have a happy ending.

This morning I woke up and God has placed this story of Lot's wife on my exhausted mind. I had read Mama's blog about Gramma and this picture had struck me:

Mama, HayBee, Gramma and Darbey Rhea

At the time of this picture, we thought Gramma's life was pretty much over. We were looking back because it was so hard to look forward. Little did we know, we still had many, many memories to share.

Yesterday, after leaving the hospital, I looked back at this picture and thought that I wish we could go back to this time. Yesterday, Gramma was not doing well. Doctors were taking her treatment hour-by-hour, and threats of ventilators and life support were looming in the distance. I should have been looking forward.

God blessed us with another great memory and milestone today as Gramma "earned" Most Improved Patient in the CCU this morning. Traces of Gramma were back today: she was sitting up, talking and making progress on her breathing, so I was encouraged to look forward.

These Heavenly words encouraged me, let them encourage you too!

Psalms 121
¹ I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
⁸ The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Looking forward love and all of mine!

Hard Candy Christmas

This is one the Girls' favorites.

Hard Candy Christmas.

And come on, it's Dolly -- you can really belt this one out and no one can say otherwise. Not even a grumpy Gardener Guy -- bah hum bug.



Christmas Caroling love y'all, and all of mine!

In Everything Give Thanks

1 Thessalonians 5:18: In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Thank you Lord for my tire blowing out tonight.
Thank you Lord for having a safe road for me to pull off onto.
Thank you Lord for the nice man who stopped, and keeping away other creeps.
Thank you Lord for canceling my conference today so that rather than being stuck in Independence, MO as planned, I was in a safe rural community.
Thank you Lord for the two new flashlights that I hadn't carried in yet, batteries included!
Thank you Lord for a full tank of gas so that I could sit and wait in a warm car.
Thank you Lord that I had cell phone reception and could call Gardener Guy.
Thank you Lord that Gardener Guy worked in a mechanic shop in his teen years so he knew how to safely change my tire.
Thank you Lord for reminding me to not ask Gardener Guy if he "knew what he was doing."
Thank you Lord for letting Gardener Guy be my hero tonight.
Thank you Lord for the quiet ride home listening for another blowout.
Thank you Lord for my family that will read this and have a good laugh.

Thank you Lord for letting me crawl into bed tonight with Gardener Guy and this day will be over.

Thanksgiving love and all of mine!

You better not pout, I'm telling you why!

What is your earliest memory of Christmas time?

I have lots of faux-memories thanks to watching many, many hours of home videos.

But, one of earliest real memories was when we lived at 1901. Mama slept in my room with me and Baby Haley Beth, while Daddy and Z slept in his room on Christmas Eve.

I woke up early and went out to the family room, (apparently our tradition of waiting for the fam wasn't ingrained yet). I scanned the room of Santa's deliveries and went back to my room to pout to Mama. I thought that Z and Daddy were camping out to watch for Santa, but really Santa had brought Z a pop tent.

I made the Nice list-- and got a pink Fisher Price vanity. I sure do hope that's still in the basement somewhere. Then again, Mama might have sold it with Z's first bike in a garage sale.

That hurts, doesn't it Mama?

Merry Christmas to all, and all my love!

New Army

Old Navy Christmas Wishlist 2010.

Ok... so some of these are sold-out, or you know, only available in Darb's size; but this is a WISH list. Typically, I shop Gap Online, but I love how Old Navy uses color, more-so than Gap. Keep in mind, I keep it safe with colors. Jeepers, that was fun playing on Paint.

Other items on my Christmas Wish List:
-Blackberry Curve. I'm due for a free upgrade.
-Rubber cutting board. My glass one is a little too noisy, and well, breakable.
-Weekly planner: Wal-Mart special.
-Lunch box: I think Mama Out-Law is taking care of this one.
-Winter Coat, with hood. My current coat's zipper fell off this week.
-Books or games for my classroom/office.

Gardener Guy and I each splurged this year. I bought a couch, he bought a truck. So ... we're doing stocking stuffers for each other, and Jasmine might get some chew toys, or a new old sock.

What is on your Wish List?

Holiday love and all of mine!