Snow Day #2

Lake was out of school yesterday because of a terrible snow storm that dumped a 1/2 inch of snow in our area ;-) (Greg and Mari, this is the point where you all laugh uncontrollably). Today he is out because of extreme cold? (It is 17 degrees outside right now....I think that is why they are out....the roads are clear, so cold is my guess). (Insert laughter). We have spent the past 2 days playing, eating, and playing some more and then eating some more. I just finished making the boys pancakes and now we are playing Playstation until its time for Lake's guitar lesson and then on to his basketball game. I assume I will be back on regular blog schedule tomorrow as the temps here will climb into the 50's........

Some Stuff

It's time again for a new LPM memory verse. This time I picked Zephaniah 3:17:

The LORD your God is with you,
He is MIGHTY TO SAVE.
He will take GREAT DELIGHT IN YOU,
He will quiet you with his LOVE,
He will REJOICE OVER YOU with singing."

Why did I pick this particular verse?

Because I like it.

Schools let out at lunch time today because of an ice/snow storm that is moving in (there is ice in Knoxville which is just down the road from us). The problem is that the thermometer on my car says it's 40 degrees -- this may come as a chock to some, but this might not turn out to be much of a snow "event". The forecasters here are not necessarily known for their accuracy (but don't tell them that - they call themselves the "Accurate Storm Team"..........too bad they are not so accurate most of the time. I will say that there is some sleet coming down as I type........I did stop by the store for some cream in case it actually does snow. My kids would revolt if there was snow without making snow cream.

Yesterday, after church, I went to Kaden's bedroom to take a nap (which never happens here and I do mena never) and Lake came and rested with me. After we woke up, Kaden came in, jumped on the bed and hugged Lake's leg.....then he looked at me and said, "What? You never saw a guy hug a chicken leg before????" He also asked me if I thought it would be funny if he had some shorts that said "I heart Las Vegas" on the back........He has been singing really loud and asking "How'd ya like that, Simon?" Or "Was that good to you, Dog?" .........I really have no explanation for where he gets these things. Really I don't. BUT, I am thinking it might be time to limit American Idol watching around here.

I have been running errands since 7:30 this morning and I am not done (snow or no snow --- just like the mailman - rain, sleet, snow, hail, dark of night......exhaustion). Gotta run now, but will be back soon with lots and lots of fascinating things to say...........(okay, maybe fascinating is too strong a word ;-).

It's time for a little..............

Randomness......Long time, no random post. All serious and no randomness makes Beth a dull girl. I have been having randomness withdrawals....okay, maybe not withdrawals, but since I don't have anything else blog worthy to say today I thought that a little randomness may be in order..........read at your own risk preferably while drinking a strong cup of coffee.



First I would just like to say that I have been unaffected by the recent peanut butter scare. Even under threat of death, I continue to eat and love peanut butter.

Can someone tell me what sprucing up the National Mall has to do with stimulating the economy? Seriously. And while you are at it can you also tell me why they call it a mall? Can you shop there? No, so if we are going to spend all that money to "spruce it up", why don't we make it a real mall where people can actually purchase clothes, shoes and accessories? That, my friends, would stimulate the economy.

Also, would someone tell me why giving each American family $1 million dollars would not stimulate the economy? It would be cheaper than what they are proposing and it would pay off many delinquent mortgages thus eliminating the housing crisis. I think it's a brilliant plan. So, why didn't you people write me in as your candidate for President?

I just have to say that I believe Nancy Pelosi to be a forerunner of the anti-christ.

I like that Michelle Obama wears dresses instead of business suits all the time......that woman is like an amazonian. I thought their little girls were so cute in their little dresses and coats at the Obamathon that was the inauguration. Can you imagine being their age and living in the white house? Too cool.

I am still not happy that all our surrounding cities are placing video cameras at red lights. If you run the light, they take your picture and send you a ticket in the mail. I don't make a habit of running red lights, but should we really have to be on video everywhere we go? I just think this kind of thing is opening doors for big brother to watch us anywhere we go (even though I don't know exactly who big brother is or why he is called big brother) .

Blagojevich is a total nut. I cant believe Al Franken is even a contender for political office much less elected. The political scene in America gets stranger and stranger by the day.

If Bernie Madoff had made off with all my money, I think I might hunt him down and hurt him. Not kill him cause that would be wrong, but just mame him so that he would be in constant pain remembering what he did to me and all those other people who trusted him....but that's just me.

I watch one TV show all year. American Idol. This year, Lake has had a ballgame at 7:30 every night Idol has been on. Sometimes life isn't fair.



Yesterday, Kaden was watching a Disney movie and the characters were in a museum. The characters were walking with trepidation (that's my big word for the day) through this museum as "impending doom" music played. Kaden said, "Oooh No. They are in a museum and ALWAYS something terrible happens in a museum.....I am NEVER going to a museum!" I guess it's a good thing we aren't really cultured or sophisticated around here....he shouldn't have to worry since we don't frequent the museum scene.

Speaking of museums, when I went to Paris, we were in the Louvre and I was chastised by a "Museum Cop" for trying to take a pic of he Mona Lisa. What is up with that? Everyone in the world has already seen her and I cant even have a pic to prove I saw her in person?

I keep getting emails from people with weird names like "valkfyw892" and they want me to buy Viagra..........

I hate that Viagra commercials are on TV (and often), yet I will admit find them to be kind of funny. They always show grandma and grandpa hugging out in a field of daisies after a long bike ride......and then they give the warnings and side effects of the drug and then they tell the symptoms that require calling a doctor and I burst out laughing every time.........

My son has had lots and lots of homework lately....must be almost time for state standardized tests. Whatever happened to the good old days where if you didn't pass, they socially promoted you just so they didn't have to have you in class for another year? Not that I would know anything about that........I am just kidding, people! Only Kidding!!!! My son does have lots of homework, but he is an A student.

Speaking of the good old days.......I miss the days when you could call a business and talk to a real person or a real person who speaks English. Yesterday I had to call Sears to reschedule a delivery. It took me 20 minutes to finally get to speak with a human....my conversation went something like this:

Automated Computer with Woman's Voice: Thank you for calling Sears. Please say what department you need or wait for the tone to hear a list of departments.

(I listen to the list and find that Washers/Dryers is the department I need)

Me: Washers and Dryers

ACwWV: You said "Tires", is that right?

Me: No

ACwWV: Okay, let's try this again. Please say what department you need.

Me: Washers and Dryers

ACwWV: You said "Tires" is that right?

Me: NO!!!!! WASHERS AND DRYERS!!!! I SAID WASHERS AND DRYERS!!!!!!

ACwWV: Okay, let's try this again. Please say what department you need.

Me: (silence)

ACwWV: Okay, let me transfer you to an associate that can help you.

Associate: (in my best foreign Accent) Hello, this is Sanjay, how may I help you?

Me: disgusted, mad, wondering where the English speaking associates are and why I can never talk to a person FIRST..............after several "huh's?" and "excuse me's?" I finally got my delivery rescheduled............


Yesterday was cold and rainy here. This morning it was 62 degrees with gale force winds (okay, I added the gale force part, but the wind was very high). This afternoon it is supposed to snow...........do you see a pattern here? Yeah, me neither. What does the Bible say about "signs in the weather"? 62 in the morning and snow in the evening? Yeah, that has to be a sign.

Okay, sorry for the stream of consciousness that is this post.........for the two of you who are still awake and reading this.....Mom/Dad......I have one request of you both............send money.

Quick Little Story For Ya

So, (have you noticed I always start my posts with the word "so" - kinda makes it seem like I am talking to you in person)..........I wanted to share a little story with you about how God has worked in my life recently (I know He is always working, but this is a concrete example). I am in bit of a hurry, so please do not examine my grammar or spelling too closely.

Many of you know that Beth Moore and Travis Cottrell were at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Georgia (where my dad works) this past weekend. Some of the LPM "Blogging Siestas" had planned a "little" get together (with each other AND Beth Moore!). I was invited by one of my favorite blog friends (Stephanie -Notes from the Soul- check out my sidebar - no time for linking) who lives near Woodstock to come and stay at her house for the weekend (yes, I know that my dad and sister live in Woodstock, but I really wanted to hang out with these girls for the weekend). Not only was I invited to stay with her, but she invited some other bloggers to stay who I really wanted to meet in person.

Anyhoo........I prayed about it for a month or so and I never really had peace about going. I just never got the go ahead from God. The hubs said go and my mom offered to watch the boys,but I never felt "right" about going. I SO wanted to go, but I knew it was not meant to be. I didn't understand why. I kept thinking, "Lord, why does everyone else get to go and I don't?". I mean these are my friends whom I have never actually gotten to see in person and Beth Moore for cryin' out loud! I kind of felt like I was missing the prom or something.

Sometimes God makes us wait for years to understand something and other times He reveals His plan immediately......this was one of the more immediate times. The hubs' grandmother died on Monday of last week. I knew that her death could not be the reason God didn't release me to go to Georgia for the weekend, after all, she died on Monday, the funeral was on Wednesday and I wouldn't be leaving until Friday or Saturday. What I didn't know and what God DID know is that because of the recent cold weather and snow, we wouldn't be able to have her burial until Saturday afternoon. He knew back in December when Fran and Stephanie asked me to come to Georgia, that the hubs' grandmother would die on Monday and not be buried until Saturday. God knew I would need to be there for my husband, our boys and for his family.

God knew what I needed long before I understood what He was doing.

Proverbs 16:1 says, "The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh"..........in other words, we have all sorts of plans that we want to carry out, but without God's wisdom, they are useless because He knows the future. I had a plan in my heart to go to Georgia to hang out with my girls, but God had the wisdom to know that wasn't the best thing for me to do at that particular time. I love it when answers come quickly like they did this time, but it is important to remember that even when the answers don't come for years, God is still working and He still knows what we need when we don't understand what He is up to.

More Snow Pics

In my last post, I told you that he hubs' grandmother passed away this week. We have been so busy with arrangements and services that I haven't had much time to blog or read blogs ;-(......hopefully in the next couple of days I will be back on track. I don't want this to become a photo blog (you guys know I have way too much to say for that to happen, right?), but I have some pics from the past couple of days that I wanted to share with you.........I know that a few inches of snow is nothing to our friends from up North, but to us a few inches is like a few feet! This is the south, people, let us have our snow moment no matter how pitiful it is! ;-)

Some Snow & A Homecoming *Updated with Pics*

So, I have been asking for snow for some time now and it seems that my request has been granted. It is snowing (hard) right now and has been for some time. We have about 3 inches so far and it doesn't look like it will quit any time soon. The weathermen are saying that we haven't seen the worst of it yet (okay, this is where you Northerners double over from raucous laughter). The kids are begging to go out and sled, but it is 31 degrees and pouring snow......it goes against everything in me to let them out in this right now, so they will have to wait until the snow stops. I know, bad mommy........

On a less happy note for us, the hubs' grandmother passed away this morning at around 4 am. She was 98 and had been in poor health for about a month and a half. Up until a month and a half ago she lived on her own and took care of herself. Funny lady and full of life even up until a few days ago. She will be missed by so many people, including all four of us. Even while she was in the hospital over the past few weeks, she could remember back to when she was 5 years old - this woman worked from the time she was a small child and when I say worked, I mean daylight to dark physical labor. If we had a question about how to do something, we knew we could call her because she knew how to do everything! Some of our funniest dinners, were when she came over to eat and told us stories from her younger days.I wish we had her stories on video to remind the boys when they are older what a fun great-grandmother they had. They will miss her, but they know she is with Jesus and we will see her again because of 'Christ in us, the hope of glory'.

I will probably be somewhat of a stranger to blog land until later in the week as we will be busy with funeral plans and services. If I get a chance this afternoon I will post some pics of the snow so those of you who are South-er than us can see some real snow and so you Northerners can see what we call real snow and laugh. See you guys later in the week!

This is a pic from last week when Kaden was so sick. I took his picture because he was so pitiful (and cute at the same time). He is sitting with a towel on his lap just in case.......

The boys filling goodie bags for Kaden's friends who came to the party.

Here is Kaden getting ready to ride go carts at the party with my sister's youngest child......

New Memory Verse(s)

So, last week, I told you that my first memory verse of the year was Jeremiah 33:2-3....."This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

I am happy to announce that not only do I know it by heart, the hubs also knows it from memory (no kidding, go ahead, quiz us!). I am writing these verses in a little notebook and it has been sitting on our bathroom counter for 2 weeks. Gives me something to do while I am teasing my hair -just kidding (kinda). Having that verse in front of me while I am getting ready gives me something to meditate on AND starts my day off the way it should be started-- in the Word.

The second set of verses that I have chosen to memorize is a little longer, but memorizeable nonetheless (is memorizeable a word? spell check says no, but this is my blog and I can use imaginary words if I want to, right?). I decided to memorize Romans 8:31b-34 this time which says:

"If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us".

Why did I choose these verses?


*If God is for us, who can be against us?

We memorize scripture so we can recall it when we are facing temptations or circumstances....I need to remember that God is FOR me. Me and God? Yeah, we are on the same side. Ya see, sometimes I work against Him thinking that I can do His job better than He can. And every time I try that, I fail, so I need to remember whose side I am on and WHO is on my side. Makes the battles a lot easier to fight when you know which side you are on.

*He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

God, the One and Only God of the whole entire Universe, gave up His most prized possession, Jesus, for me. He allowed His precious Son to die for me even though He knew how vile, sinful, ugly, and evil I would be. He had to turn away because He couldn't bear the sight of what my sin did to His precious child and yet, He still allowed Jesus to die for someone like me. If He loved me enough to give up His beloved Son for me, it makes sense that He loves me enough to take care of all my needs. He allowed innocent Jesus to take my place and die like a common criminal on the cross, He must think I am worth saving, worth using for His glory.

*Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.

It doesn't matter what the world says, my identity is in Christ. Let the world say what they want, I don't answer to the world. God chose me and He will defend me.

*Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

Jesus is praying for me right now. He has been praying for me for years and will continue to pray for me until He calls me home. Jesus is sitting at God's right hand in the heavenlies mentioning my name to the Most High God. When we feel alone, burdened, devastated, unwanted, unappreciated... Jesus knows our deepest hurts and He is talking to His Father, our Father about them. That, my friends, is something I just cannot wrap my small mind around...it seems impossible that Jesus is praying for me.....but He is and He is praying for you too.

Jesus is praying for you right now. And if that doesn't bless you then nothing will.