Thursday Thirteen

13 More Things You Don't Know About Me

(and could probably care less!)

1. I've shared my love for Donny Osmond many a time, but you don't know that I also was madly in love with Rick Springfield! I have many of his cd's and listen to them alot.

2. After I take my shower I am always very cold, like most people. But I am also very thirsty and want an icy cold drink waiting for me. Crushed ice, please!

3. I hang up on telephone soliciters. And it feel so good. I have no patience for them anymore. Don't call me, I'll call you when I'm ready to give to your fake organization.

4. Babies, and it doesn't matter whose baby it is, really bring me joy! A baby can smile at me while I'm at Wal-mart and that little sweet face will stick with me the rest of the day. God's little miracles. Truly they are.

5. I have a loud laugh. And sometimes I snort when I laugh. I think it's annoying, others say it's contagious. But it's one of my favorite things to do so I keep on laughing!

6. When I was about four I stole a package of Juicy Fruit gum from the dime store. When we got to the car I showed my mom and she marches my little hiney right back in and I had to tell the store manager what I did!

7. When I travel now I always look at people and wonder if they are bloggers and if I know them. Some day I might just run into one of you!

8. I love a new box of crayons! The bigger the box, the bigger the smile! And the smell......MMmmmmm! Pass the coloring book please.

9. I can't make good tasting rice krispie treats. I know! It's like the easiest thing in the world to make and mine always taste stale. What's up with that?

10. I saw I Am Legend and even though it was good I do not want to see it again. It left me feeling empty and sorta depressed. I don't like that feeling.

11. My husband bought me a cd boxed set of '80's music! Now we're talking good music! And why yes, it does have some Rick Springfield songs on it!

12. If bouncing one's knee a lot drives you crazy then we might have a problem. Just tell me to stop and I will try. My husband hates it too!

13. In high school I was known as a goody two shoes because I didn't smoke, drink or swear. Now I would be called a worn out pair of goody two shoes..lol!

1000 BLESSING'S FRIDAY

201. Beautiful songs like "Mary, Did You Know?" by Mark Lowery and "A Strange Way To Save The World" by 4Him that keeps the focus on what CHRISTmas is all about!

202. My beautiful daughter turned 21 years old. She moved in when she was just five. She has been a huge blessing to both of us and what a privilege it has been to raise her. Thank you Lord for this wonderful child!

She's prettier than this picture, but this is recent. We'd ben travelling since 3 in the morning, so she looks rather tired!

203. My precious Awana girls. We had our Christmas party on Wednesday and many of them had made special things just for me! I think they know how much I love them! And we were able to share with them the true meaning of Christmas. Many of them had never heard it before.

204. Everday I am blessed with relief from my painful hips. I know I can't stop talking about them, but I can't help it! I dropped my brush on the floor and I actually bent down and got it all by myself! And I did it witout even thinking. Go me!

205. Blessed with some good customers at our shop. One couple came over today and took us out to lunch to say thanks for all our hard work. I like it when someone notices how hard my husband works for them!

I'm keeping it short this week because I know you have so much to do, but I want to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas! I'll be with my family, but I know I will stop and think of each of you and wondering what's happening at your place! Love you all!

Thursday Thirteen

13 Things I'm Without This Christmas

1. My father, who passed away January 11th. I miss him, but knowing he is in Heaven and no longer suffering brings such peace!

2. My crutches!!! It's been almost years since I had to start using them and right now I can walk (or wobble in my case) around my house. I still need them for long distances and stairs, but no longer are they my best friends!

3. We no longer have two kitties. And it's okay! They didn't die, they just found new homes. They spent much of their time destroying ours so it was time to get rid of them. And I have to tell you...I don't even miss them. Me bad!

4. Eggnog. Darn. I don't even like the stuff anyway!

5. Tickets to the Donny & Marie concert in Las Vegas next July. I NEED to go peeps! That's all I'm asking for this year. I promise not to ask for anything else. :o)

6. No family feuds. Well, it's this way every year because everyone in our family gets along. Praise the Lord! We are blessed!!

7. Smaller jeans. Yes, I still haven't started a new way of life with better eating habits. And I won't make it a New Year's Resolution either. I just need to do it! Pray for me please!

8. Money. Not because we spent it all on gifts either. We're just kinda poorly this year. And we're fine with it too. It's gonna be a laid back Christmas with lots of laughter between family and friends!

9. Not so much pain! I still have arthritis every where else, but I can sit in any chair I want to, even if it's hard and not cry! I've seen pics of myself during the time I hurt so bad and my eyes just show the pain even when I smiled. The latest pictures of me you can really tell a difference. I am so thankful everyday!

10. I can't find my address book so I could send out cards. I have no idea where I put it. Well, duh. If I did know where I put it, it wouldn't be lost!

11. I'm definitely without loneliness! I am surrounded by my family, church, friends in real life and on line!

12. I'm without the hustle and bustle of the season and that's okay by me!

13. But I am WITH the true meaning of Christmas! If it weren't for God sending His son there would be no Christmas.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

In "Other" Words

"Don't blame suffering in the world on the anger of God. He's not mad; he didn't mess up. Follow our troubles to their headwaters, and you won't find any angry or befuddled God. But you will find a sovereign God. Your pain has a purpose. Your problems, struggles, heartaches, and hassles cooperate toward one end -- the glory of God."~Max Lucado, It's Not About Me~

My struggles and pains are no different than anyone elses. Many people say to me, "I know I'm not as bad off as you....." This may be true at times, but you can easily find someone else in a circumstance that you do not wish to be in. But you know what? Someday we might find ourselves going through the same kind of trial. God's timing is perfect folks! And if and when we are faced with such trials He gives us the strength and courage to face it head on. We also need to remember that with each trial comes learning. There is a purpose.

When I was in high school I had arthritis and stayed on crutches for four years. To me it was no big deal...most of the time. Anyway, my government teacher stopped teaching class one day and walked over to my desk and asked, "Do you blame anybody for your situation?" I was confused. My friend leaned over and said, "He's asking you if you blame God?" That was the furthest thought from my mind! I told my teacher, "If it weren't for my Lord and Savior I would not be able to handle the pain. This I am sure. And someday I will be free from it all." He just turned and walked away. To this day I don't know why he asked that, but I hope he was able to see Christ through me.

I love the following words so much. I can't remember right now where I read this, but the first time I read it I thought WOW, my trials are coming from the throne of God! I learned very quickly that when you have a disability people WILL watch you and how you react in situations. I fail many times I know. When I am not in the Word of God daily it shows! My one hope through all this is that I do glorify God and people can see Christ in me.

There is nothing--no circumstance, no trouble, no testing--that can ever touch me until, first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with a great purpose, which I may not understand at the moment. But as I refuse to become panicky, as I lift up my eyes to Him and accept it as coming from the throne of God for some great purpose of blessing to my own heart, no sorrow will ever disturb me, no circumstance will cause me to fret, for I shall rest in the joy of what my Lord is--that is the rest of victory!

Is that awesome or what? When you find yourself down please copy this to your computer so you can read it and know hat there is a reason and purpose for what you are facing.

Mama said there be days like this....

Ever get caught up in the middle of a mess without trying? Yep, that would me. And I have no idea how I even got there!

Maybe it wasn't so bad after all being home bound for so long.

Enough about me. Please be in prayer for my dear friend Steve. His father was out shoveling snow yesterday and came in the garage to sit a spell and suddenly died. Probably of a heart attack, but I don't know for certain.

My heart is aching for him right now. Steve is about eight years younger than I am. He's just too young to lose his father. I've been missing my dad terribly this week and when I got the news of his dad I just let loose. I know it's okay to cry, but it was one of those uncontrollable sobs where you can't catch your breath and then you end up with a terrible headache. I wish you all could have met him. Someday you will!

I know everyone is busy in Blogville, but if you happen to stop by I hope you are doing well this week. I'm praying for so many of your requests you left on your blogs. If there is something else you would like me to pray for please let me know.

Casting all you care upon Him for He careth for you.

1000 Blessings Friday & Friday's Feast

1000 BLESSING'S FRIDAY

191. I am blessed and full of joy because I was able to go on a 3000 mile trip with my husband and daughter last week! And I did super de duper too. We went to Cumberland Gap, Tennessee to see family. Orlando, Florida to a trade show and got lots of cool free sa-wag! Goochland, Virgina to visit his sister and bil and Washington D.C. to see the Declaration of Independence and the nation's Christmas tree. See above pic.

192. After seeing the Declaration of Independence and realizing what those men really did for us as a nation I am thankful and blessed to live in a country where we have so many freedoms.

193. I have been able to go to church and hug people and NOT get sick!! Yay for me. That means my immune system is good to go. And it's always a blessing to be able to go to church and serve and be fed by the Word of God!

195. And I am blessed with happiness because I feel I have been able to let you secret Donny lovers come out in the open and stand tall and tell the world that "I heart Donny Osmond!" I knew you were out there!

196. Blessed with some answers to prayer. Being reminded that God's timing is best in all circumstances.

197. Excited that we may have found two employees for our restoration shop. And they already live in Indiana so they wouldn't have to move too far away.

198. Blessed with a small group of girls at Awana. All but two are unchurched and this gives us a great opportunity to teach the girls their verses and what they mean. And we can focus on salvation lessons and many of the good old Bible stories we loved as children!

199. Blessed with bargains. I found two t-shirts, 1 nice top and 1 pair of black comfy pants and they were only $1 each at Wally World!

200. Blessed with my dear sweet family that so generously and unselfishly take care of each other. We make a great team. When something needs done we all pitch in and do what we can. When the task is done we love just being together. I am thankful my kids are so willing to talk to us about their day. They are cool kids. I heard a quote the other day that I liked. I have three adopted kids, but I forget which three!

FRIDAY'S FEAST

Appetizer

Make up a word and give us its definition.

My husband and I have our own secret language that is too strange, even for me, to share!

Soup

What is currently your favorite song?

Nope, I'm not even gonna say any Donny songs for this question. Shocker, I know. I am loving Mary, Did You Know? sung by Mark Lowery. My husband sang it for his sister's church and it was beautiful. The words are so powerful.

Salad

What's at the top of your Christmas wish list this year?

Okay. Now I can mention Donny! I usually don't ask for anything but I NEED to go to the Donny & Marie concert in Las Vegas next July. Remember how I've been stuck in my little old room for nine months without seeing daylight and only eating a cracker or two and maybe having a sip of water? *pouty lip* Hmpf..can't break ya, can I? Well, it was worth a shot!

Main Course

Name a scent that reminds you of someone special in your life.

My Aunt Pauline's home always smelled like peppermint. She was a dear too. She never married and lived with her folks and took care of them all her life. She wasn't in that good of shape herself, but she had a servants heart. What a wonderful role model she was for us nieces and nephews!

Dessert

Who is someone on television that you feel probably shouldn't be and why?

Having a teenage son at home I feel for him trying to live a christian life. You can't turn on the television without seeing someone practically nude such as that show with Hugh Hefner and his three girlfriends. They blur out their private places, but it can still do what they are intending for it to do. If they want that show on tv then let it be pay per view please.

I apologize for the mess up on the Friday's Feast. I keep trying to fix it and it is not letting me so I am going with what I got! Hugs to all!

Thursday Thirteen

On our trip last week we were able to make a side trip to Cumberland Gap, Tennessee. My grandmother passed away about 15 years ago, but this is where she lived. I spent many summers deep in the holler, as they call it. A lot of happy times were spent here!

13 Memories of my Grandma!

1. Waking up every morning to the smell of homemade biscuits and gravy and anything else you could possibly imagine.

2. Grandma always reminded me of Granny from the Beverly Hillbillies. She was tiny and had a lot of spunk! Go, go, go. She could outrace any of us!

3. Her beautiful white hair. It wasn't gray and yucky looking like some older people get. It was as white and as clean as fresh fallen snow.

4. Her Singer sewing machine. The old kind with the manual foot peddle. I have several things like pillows and wall hangings that she made for me on that very machine. And one summer she even taught me how to sew on it! What a treat that was!

5. Grandma didn't own a set of measuring cups. Her hands were used to measure out flour and sugar. I was always amazed too how she never used a cookbook either. And everything she made was delicious and perfect.

6. She always made me a couple of fried apple pies for the road! Let's just say they never made it very far.

7. She believed a girl should dress modestly. I was not allowed to wear shorts or tank tops. But I didn't mind. I usually wore a little cotton dress and went barefoot!

8. In the pantry she kept a few cardboard fans with pictures of a church or Jesus on them. Since she had no air conditioning we were allowed to use them as much as we wanted. Simple things like that always made me happy.

9. One of my favorite times was sitting on the swing on the front porch with her and watching the cars go by. Sure there may have been only two that went by, but during that time she would tell stories from when she was a little girl. I sat in awe and hung on to every word she ever spoke.

10. As much as my mother would hate me telling this I just have to. I think this is disgusting now, but when you are five years old it looked pretty cool. My grandma dipped snuff and could spit between her two fingers farther than I had ever seen! I thought she was the coolest ever!

11. I always left her house with some kind of treasure. A small quilt for my dolls, a necklace made from pumpkin seeds, or a little wooden box she knew I would like to keep my things in.

12. She loved my dad very much. My father was always building her a set of stairs or fixing the barn, anything he could do to help her out. Now mind you grandma had her sons that lived right there with her and my dad always spent his vacation working at her house. She knew what a special man he was too and it pleased me that she acknowledged that fact!

13. She loved Christ even more. And one sweet day I will meet up with her again!

Pretty Please?

I'll be your bestest friend if you get me this for Christmas! Give it some thought and check it out at: http://www.donny.com/donnymariemgm.html

I'll even act suprised when I open my gift!!

I Feel The Love

De honored me with this award a while back. Thank you De. My prayer is and always has been that people see Christ in me. I know that I fall short of glorifying Him in all I say and do. I'm working on that. I also know that without Christ I am nothing.


This award originated with Dan King over at Management by God, who states, "Mathetes is the Greek word for disciple, and the role of the disciple (per the Great Commission) is to make more disciples. The role of a disciple of Christ is to carry His message to the ends of the earth. It is with this heart that I have created the Mathetes Award.


"Those who receive it are to pass it on to other disciples who are sharing the good news in their own bloggity ways. Here are the rules: Winners of this award are to pass this on to five other"disciples". As you pass it on, I just ask that you mention and provide links for (1) the originator of the award (Dan King of management by God), (2) the person that awarded it to you, and then (3) name the sites of those you believe are fulfilling the role of a disciple of Christ.


I would like to pass on this award to these ladies. Each of them has been an encouragement to me whether it be in their comments or their posts.

Anew and Afresh
As We Sail
Gold in the Clouds
Jesus and Dark Chocolate
Mission Kim Possible

Christine honored me with this award a long time ago. Thank you my dear, sweet friend! I say this every time, but I just absolutely adore her. She just makes me happy. Love you girl!

I give this award to anyone that stops by today! I know I tend to get all sappy sweet and you probably roll your eyes every time I say this, but I am thankful for each and every one of you. I know God directed me to Blogville just when I needed it most. In my darkest hours you were there encouraging me and keeping me focused on Him. Thank you!

Happiness & Joy

My cheeks hurt because I haven't stopped smiling since last Wednesday. I. Me. Amy, went to Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, Orlando, Florida, Virginia, and Washington D.C.!!!!!!!!!!!

God is SO GOOOOOOD to me! All I could do the entire trip was take in all of God's creation and smile from ear to ear. I'm sure I looked goofy, which was okay while I was in Florida ;o) Get it? Who woulda thunk that I would be travelling so far after such a long year! Not me!!!

And you know what's weird? The pain I was in was the absolute worst I have ever been in and you'd think I would never forget it. But now I feel like it is so far behind me and way in the past! That's a good thing, right? I'm moving forward. I won't, however, forget how God helped me through each and every moment. If it weren't for Him I would not be here today. I give ALL the glory to Him and I praise Him each and every time I step foot outside my house.

I can't wait to visit each and everyone of you. I missed you very much! When I was in Georgia I wondered how far away I was from Amy. And when I was in Florida I wondered if I would see DeeDee anywhere! Yeah, I know they are both big states, but you never know. It's a small world after all! And I'm not talking about the ride. :o)

Fresh Girl posted this meme and I have politely borrowed it for today!


Four jobs I have had in my life:

At the age of ten I was the neighborhood babysitter until I got married. Can you imagine letting a ten year old take care of a newborn today? Plus I was on crutches some of the time during those ten years. I guess the parents knew I was serious about taking care of their youngins! And I made good money too :o)

Cute little sales clerk at Hickory Farms – but only for the Christmas season. Side note: this is where I met my future husband! Yay!

Accountant for my FIL’s robotics company. It was a family business and practically every son, daughter, son-in-law and daughter-in-law worked there. We even had two of our cousins working there. We should have called ourselves Nepotism, Inc!

Now I am President, accountant, secretary, gopher girl, and janitor of our own automotive restoration business. We mainly restore Mustangs!

Four movies I would watch over and over:

Any home movie of my husband, my kids, and my nieces and nephews!

Jesus of Nazareth

While You Were Sleeping

Anne of Green Gables

Four places I have lived :

Indianapolis, Indiana

Lafayette. Indiana

Crawfordsville, Indiana

The Bugle Hotel on the Isle of Wight – technically we didn’t have a permanent residence, but my husband and I spent the entire summer of 1985 living there while he worked on some robot thingy. We even had the honeymoon suite the whole time we were there. And good thing too because we had only been married eight months! I was working for my father-in-law at the time, but he knew his son would not be happy spending that many months away from his new bride, so they sent me!

Four TV shows that I watch:

I love the oldies like Andy Griffith, The Brady Bunch and Little House on the Prairie!

Project Runway – I am so not into fashion, but I find the creative side of the show very interesting.

American Idol - I am the worst singer ever!

My new show for the year is Pushing Daisies – very quirky. Reminds me of, well, me!

Four places I have been:

Switzerland - I so want to go again for our 25th anniversary!

Tower Hotel in London – I have a beautiful picture of the Tower Bridge taken from our room. It's like you could almost reach out and touch it.

Disneyland – went there for our honeymoon! It’s like the funnest place ever!!!

Lichtenstein – best hot chocolate in the whole entire world! MMMmmmm!

Four people who e-mail me regularly:

My dear friend, Teresa, who lives in Pennsylvania now. I miss her.

My husband sends me lots of little lovey dovey notes during the day!

I’ve just started chatting with another woman who got arthritis about five years ago. She’s in need of some encouragement and I hope I can do that for her!

And I have to tell you all that I do get e-mails from Donny Osmond! Sure they go out to all that have signed up for his newsletter, but I’m pretty certain he put me at the top of his list!

Four of my favorite foods:

Absolutely anything my husband cooks up! He’s a genius in the kitchen. And the funny thing is…..he is extremely picky! A meat and potatoes man. He makes THE best French onion soup, tortilla soup and beef tenderloin I have ever had!

Penne Rustica from Romano’s Macaroni Grill

My grandma’s biscuits and gravy

Cheeseburger from In ‘N Out! I’m slobbering right now, thank you very much!

Four places I'd rather be:

I would love to be sitting with any of you right now!

And if I can’t have you, then I would like to be sitting with Donny!

I would love to go Krueger National Park on a safari with my husband. As long as I don’t see any dead animals or anything getting killed!

But my favorite place to be is sitting around the table with my family and laughing, talking and playing games!

Four things I am looking forward to next year

Leaving my house without my crutches – on purpose!

I would love to go see Donny & Marie in Las Vegas in July!! Does anyone out there want to send me? Pretty please. I’ll be your bestest friend!

Being able to work at Vacation Bible School – I’ve missed the past two years. It’s always an exciting week with the kids!

Simple things that I used to take for granted like going to lunch with my friends, shopping the clearance aisles, running to my mom’s just to be with her and taking my kids to the doctor, dentist, or even to practice driving. I’ve really missed being able to do those things.

I am going to tag some completely new ladies I have met over the past few weeks and I hope you do this!! And if any of my other friends want to do it too, then please do and let me know. I love getting to know you better!

As We Sail
Daughter of the King
Gold in the Clouds
Mama J

Friends, I am leaving for Florida Wednesday morning at 3 am. I have a lot to do tomorrow as far as packing and such so I probably won't be around for awhile. I'll be back on Monday to catch up with y'all! I love you guys! And I will be thinking of all of you while I am away. You're always in my prayers and on my heart.