Good Morning, Sunshines!

I've written several posts - never posted them.  I'm not sure why I'm losing interest in blogging because I do really enjoy it.  Whatever the reason, I'll try to do better but know better than to make any promises. :)

I did start a blog post about Charleston. Being a Sandlapper (native SC gal) and loving this city so very much... my heart was broken and hurting so bad over the shooting in the church.  So many levels it just ripped me up.  So thankful for the love these families showed to the world.  So much to learn from their forgiveness.  Like I said, I wanted to write but honestly didn't have the words to say. Just please pray for these families and for our country in general.

So I shared the beach pics and Macy's Hello Kitty pics in my last post.  She did have an actual party that we had to move last minute due to the incredible heat wave that hit the South.  It just wasn't possible to have these kids sweltering outside in the heat, so we called a local church and moved it indoors.  So thankful, it would have been miserable otherwise.

Rainbow theme!  So glad we had streamers to make it more festive. 

We found Pin the Tail on the Donkey! The kids did surprisingly well!

She didn't know what to do with all the attention on her while we sang Happy Birthday to her! 

Macy and her cousin, Chloe, playing with party blowers. 

Presents! We are so proud of how she shared and let others play with her gifts.
She's grown so much from last year where no one could touch her stuff. Thank goodness!

Anything else interesting I can share with you? Hm... let's see. Let's go to my photos and see what else we've been up to lately... Fourth of July! I don't have a lot of pics but a few.

Cousins Meghan, Rylan, Emmett and Wade with Macy

Macy was so happy to have a playmate!

Cousin Hugs!

Watermelon.  This child loves watermelon!

Fireworks. The only halfway decent pic I got. Macy fell in love with fireworks and sparklers. 

Ok, so there are the pics I can share with you.  Otherwise, I have a favor to ask.  I'm getting back into the same boat I was in this time last year with abdominal pains for no apparent reason.  It's pretty much a constant ache with more intense aches at night.  Lots of fun, let me tell you.  I've tried to get in to see my doctor earlier, but no dice.  So can you say a prayer that God would direct the doctors to the problem and provide them with a solution? I do appreciate it.

This is a verse that hit me yesterday:

Be cheerful no matter what; thank God no matter what happens.  This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.  1 Thes 16-18

So... that is what I'm trying to do.  Be thankful even in the discomfort because for some reason, this is God's plan for me.  I don't know what the reason is right now, but I'm trying my best to put it in His hands and have faith.

So there is my life in a nutshell.   :)  And maybe I'll do better at this blog thing. :)

Marching Forward

How the heck did we end up in March already?  Heaven help, the time is zipping by and I feel like I'm getting left behind in a daze.

One thing that has me out of it - my health is having weird issues again.  Tummy and chest, scary stuff when you say chest issues.  I'm still trying to pay off the crazy bills from June so I really don't want to go somewhere and have more bills pile up.  I'm trying to stay calm and convince myself it's all tummy related like I was told it was so quit worrying that my chest hurts, too. *sigh* Do you pray? And if so, can you say a prayer for me? Thanks.

I also have an acquaintance - the wife of an old boyfriend (99% of the time I end on good terms, so no hard feelings) - she has some serious health issues with major surgery coming up at the end of the month.  March 23 to be exact.  I told her I believed in God and was sending up prayers for her, her family (they have three kids) and the doctors.  It's really serious stuff, so if you wouldn't mind saying a prayer for them, too, that would be great.  I appreciate it greatly.

I'm so excited - I introduced one of my online friends to one of my real life friend's online store and she loved it! I mean, I love her stuff, but it was so cool to connect someone else to it, too.  You are welcome to visit - she was interested in calligraphy and it just so happens my friend sells calligraphy teaching kits! I know, how perfect!  www.leenmachine.com Go ahead and click it - you know you want to. :)

Have you heard about these people who role play online by stealing other people's photos of their babies and children and such? They make entire role play lives around these photos of kids they don't know.  Seriously, go to twitter or instagram and look for #rpbaby.  Completely terrifies me of having pics of the sweet nieces online.  I'm sure someone thinks that's harmless, but I think it's horrible. Thoughts on this anyone? Because I'm half tempted to just take down the blog and keep my private instagram and private facebook.

On a much happier note, I'm heading to my brother and sister-in-laws for supper tonight and I'm taking Vulture Dip.  Sounds totally gross but it's yummy.  My brother is bonkers for it.  Just so happens I found the exact recipe I use online - here it is.  The blog is called "Food from the Forest" but she has the recipe there if you'd like to try it.  Think spinach, cheese, tomatoes, picante sauce... it's good, trust me.  I'll probably pass on it to play it safe, but I'm glad to bring him something he loves.

Ok, let me go get ready to head for their house.  I'll post cute pics again soon - once I figure out how to easily watermark them before posting. :) Happy Hump Day!

2014 Wrap Up

2015 has already been quite eventful, and I haven't even had the chance to wrap up 2014 yet! So let's do that before 2015 totally overtakes me and I just blow off the 2014 wrap up all together.

January - It seems I started doing a photo a day in January.  Here is the first post. I'm not sure how long this lasted - I guess we'll find out as I move through the year.  I kinda hate I quit because it's great to look back and see what you were doing on a day by day basis!

February - February brought snow to the South.  Yes, we kinda lose our freakin' minds when it snows because we don't see too much of the fluffy white stuff around here.  So photos galore and happy children playing in the snow is the theme of this Photo Challenge Wednesday.

March - I was pretty darn happy in March.  The ice and snow melted and Spring slowly started to emerge.  Lots of fun photos of pretty sunsets and flowers and all things nature. And sweet niece voting! See more here from one of my Photo Challenge Wednesdays!

April - I love otters, did you know that? I think otters rock! I also love Spring, flowers, mild/warm temperatures, and cuteness on babies. :)  April I only posted three times - all three Photo Challenge Wednesdays, which I find impressive.  Check one out here.
























May - Spring time photo shoot with the chappies!  Sweet niece #1 is a perfect princess to pose for photos. She is really photogenic, too.  Sweet Niece #2 ... well it's a bit harder.  You can check out some of the pics here. Just looking back over May, I can see how work was pushing me under without a breath, trying to drown me!

June - Things got ugly in June.  June was sickness for me and about 8 doctor visits?  June was sickness and emergency surgery for my sister, too, which was obviously stressful.  And an election, which is what my job is all about.  Read some here, which was written before we realized she would have surgery.  It also shows photos of my house all cleaned up!, thanks to the goodness of my mom and sister. But there was a lot of good in June, too, as this post shows. Painting party being one of them!

July - Let's finish up the medical drama, including mom getting shingles, in this first post.  You'll also get fighter niece! HI-YA! And then, because I know no one wants all that drama, I shared fun photos of both kids and great scripture verses.  

August - Ahhh... August.  With August came EDISTO.  (Or Edislow as it's called).  Man, if we all didn't need a break to soak up salt water mist and melt into warm sandy beach.  Yes, Edisto is good, and you can see how good here and here. I also got crazy crafty with my LOVE canvas here and the office-grown pumpkin, fru-frued up for the fall holidays, which is featured here. :) 

September - It's my birth month! But during an election season - yeah, it's not as much fun.  But I got Downton Abbey so WHOOPIE!  Also took Baby Sweet Niece to a pumpkin patch - loads of fun! Check it out here! 

October - Man I love autumn and the beautiful leaves of the season.  Love it.  Enjoy lots of it here. And a stroll down a Friday's Letters Lane here. 

November - This is a very excited Ellie! She's part of this Friday's Letter! Along with Shrek, Sunsets, Macy baking cookies, ... all kinds of funness.  And one little Thanksgiving blog with no photos here. 

December - Obviously, the Election is over bc I finally caught up on Halloween and Thanksgiving here!  A new kitten appeared in this post "Run Faster, Catch Up With Life!"

And I think I will end it there.  Of course there were dozens of posts outside of those highlighted here, but eh, that's the past! Onward to the future! :) And to the first post of 2015! :)  Thanks for joining me on the journey. 

I want to laugh, too!

I thought I'd share my week so far with you. Especially the Macy part because she is hilarious!  She has learned to jump with both feet barely leaving the ground. It's so fun to see how excited she is about this. It required much clapping.

She also wants to be in on the laughter. We were all in the family room laughing when she runs in. "Hey! I want to laugh, too!" Then she throws her head back and laughs like a mad woman. The funniest thing I have seen in a while! She's so passionate about it! It's great! 

Work is kicking into high gear and my to do list is stressing me out. I'm dependent on others doing their part for me to do mine. And surprises also don't make me happy. Stress stress stress. I already feel it messing up my tummy and making me sick. :(

So I read tonight no where in the Bible does it say to stress or worry. But it does  say over and over to trust God. I'm going to have to learn how to do this or I will not survive the upcoming months. Faith. 

And as a wrap, I'm deleting a few people from social media that stress me out. I read about six mistakes Christians make on social media tonight. One of them is being someone you are not. I can't handle the perfect life people. I'm not in a place where I can see the perfection and know it's not truth - and not feel bad about myself. We all tend to show only the good. The smiles and happy days. But no one is really that happy and perfect. And it makes me feel bad. So, enough is enough. :) 

Thanks for the download of emotions. I hope the rest of your week is great and I'll see you back on Friday!!

Friday's Letters - Woop woop!

Dear Friday's Letters,

I'm so glad it's Friday.  I'm almost always glad it's Friday! :) The week has been a mismash of work and play, but all in all, it's been ok. Let's start on these letters, how about it?

Dear God, Thank You.  Although my news isn't perfect, it's better than what I feared.  I've tried hard to just breathe and have faith that You have the larger picture in mind. I failed many times over the past two months, but you keep picking me back up and giving me a hug. Thanks for your love. And thanks for surrounding me with so many great Christian people who encourage me and pray for me - it's so wonderful. THANK YOU.

Dear Week, two DR appointments in one day isn't exactly fun.Especially when I discover I need READING GLASSES in addition to my contacts? What what? So I'm on a quest to find cute reading glasses. I really want purple.  AND then the tummy doctor said all my tests continue to be normal. *sigh* Yes, that's good! But it also leaves us somewhat shooting in the dark to address the pains and sickness I get sometimes with eating. Fun stuff.

Macy at the Children's Museum

Pink fingernails and piggies

Sweet niece #2 and me. :)

Dear Macy, you've been such a sweetie and I've enjoyed every moment with you.  The Children's Museum and lunch with MawMaw, PawPaw and your Mommy was such a treat! Then painting your fingers and piggies - you are too cute!! I love you and your sister so much!

Dear Timehop, I love seeing what I was posting about or talking about this same day in years past.  I find it interesting that this is the blog I posted 365 days ago:  Listen. Pray. Faith. 

Can you see him hiding??

There he is!  

Dear Great Pumpkin, Ok so you had us fooled for a while thinking you were a squash plant. Then you showed your colors and you are a volunteer pumpkin, in our flower bed at work! I toss my frufru pumpkins in the end of the flower beds at the end of autumn, so I guess that's where you started.  However, since you are dangling over the edge of the flowerbed, you aren't going to last too long.  We have to figure out how to get you back in the bed or support you somehow. (see here and here for FruFru Pumpkin tutorials)

Dear SheReadsTruth, Congratulations on your new app! It's beautiful! I'm currently going through Ruth, and I so enjoy it.  I am disappointed in having to pay for plans (sorry, being honest) when YouVerison plans are free? But the beauty included in everything you have to offer, it's great. And the community I can plug into is also great.  Check it out if you haven't already folks!

Dear Weekend, you promise to allow for little rest, so let's get out there and enjoy ourselves!  Ya'll have a great weekend and we'll see you back here next week!

Photo Challenge Wednesday: 9

Ya'll, I had one of those moment where God took care of me! I teach training classes at night that don't end until 9 p.m. I've never been nervous teaching the night class but there was scheduled to be only one guy and me. In a building where no one else would be.  So yeah, I was nervous. But then one other guy signed up... and then, a gal that works close to me and her son. I told her, YOU ARE MY ANSWERED PRAYER! :) I was tickled to have the problem solved.  I never asked for a solution, but God knew it was worrying me and took care of it. :) 

So, let's get into my week: 

Wednesday, February 26, 2014:   Let me tell you - this little girl has her PawPaw wrapped around her little finger. They are such a good pair, Macy and her PawPaw.

Thursday, February 27, 2014:   The boss and I hit a trade show in Columbia, the state capitol.  Love the Palmetto Trees! The trade show was EH but the day was beautiful. That night I made a set of shamrocks for the boss to give to her friend's little girl.  I was so honored to be asked!

Friday, February 28, 2014: Dindin with Donna! This bizarre paper box is located in the lobby of the restaurant we ate at - and it always kinda creeps me! But at least it's something unique and entertaining.

Saturday, March 1, 2014:  Sweet Niece #2 picking flowers for her daddy.  I just thought this was too adorable.  Mom and I hit furniture stores that morning and learned a lesson about sales: DO NOT spend 2 hours talking about yourself and your opinions if you expect me to purchase your product.  Oh my gosh.  Mom was much too nice to that man. 

Sunday, March 2, 2014: My brother was baptized! For the second time! We grew up Presbyterian and we sprinkle as infants.  He and my sister-in-law joined a Baptist Church, which doesn't recognize the sprinkle and goes for the dunk! Good service, lots of energy.  Really enjoyed it and am so happy they have found their home church!

Monday, March 3, 2014:  Driving home and I finally got a pic of this barn and trees! It was SO COLD.  We went from in the 70's on Sunday to sleet on Monday. I can't wait for winter to be over and spring to get here. Hopefully one day soon!

Tuesday, March 4, 2014:  Awww... Macy snuggled with MawMaw reading her FAVORITE book, There was a Coyote.  Find it here on Amazon. She A.D.O.R.E.S. this book.  And it's so cute because she has it memorized so she'll start reading it to you. SO CUTE. I have class tonight from 6-9 p.m. so let me go set up. :)

Hope you enjoy!

Ho Ho Ho

Good gracious, where have I been in the last week+?  Sheesh, I've just been a slacker, I guess.  Lots going on with Christmas and everything that revolves around it.  

We've had the celebration on my Dad's side of the family, several parades, most of us have trees up, cookies have been baked, a few gifts swapped, cards mailed (just a few more to go), and one Christmas pageant.  Gifts need to be wrapped, but maybe that will happen this week after work.

I'm getting excited! Especially hearing Macy say, "Santa, ho ho ho... toys!"  She's getting excited, too, even though she doesn't REALLY understand why it's exciting.

A few pics of the reason celebrations - ya'll enjoy!

Clay & Angela's beautiful Christmas tree! 

Macy after the Christmas play.

Katie as Aunt Bethany from Christmas Vacation. 

Snow Village in Clay & Angela's House

Santa stopped by my office for a surprise visit. Thankfully, we were being good!

If I don't get back online until after the holidays - ya'll have a very Merry Christmas!  Take time from the gifts to give thanks for the greatest gift of all - our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! :)  

God Bless you and your family! 

Thankfulness before Thanksgiving

I have two people still posting their thanksgivings in Facebook for the month of November. Go girls!! I decided not to do it this year, but don't mistake that for be not being extremely grateful. 

I spent quite a bit of time last night reviewing my thankful/prayer journal from this year. I wrote up a long blog about it, only to have this app Bloggo, eat it. I'm not sure I'm thankful for Bloggo right at this moment. 

I am thankful for the many answered prayers. My immediate family is here for another year. Dad is doing ok with his bladder cancer and so many people have shown their love & support of my family. Prayers have gone up in a fierce way. We are waiting for his biopsy results in December. Regardless, seeing the love and support from so many has impacted us in great ways. Thank you. 

To look back and see prayers answered: all the sick I've prayed for, from the young to the old, the simple requests and special requests. Not all were answered how I would have liked but I also know God's ways are greater than mine and His understanding is much greater than mine. Those I lost this year hurt my heart but God is always there. 

I prayed in ernest about my finances. Out of the blue I checked www.fpu.com and found a Financial Peace University  class being held five minutes from my house. This doesn't happen-I live in the middle of nowhere!!!  I'm moving so very slow but I feel good again. What a blessing!!

I've had my share of ouchies and lessons learned. People have let me down and disappointed me. People I care about. But that was also a blessing as it taught me to turn my troubles over to God and let Him judge and decide how to handle others' issues. 

I've often thanked God for the Christian bloggers, photographers, shop owners, friends, and pen pal!!  Y'all have no idea how wonderful and inspirational you are!! Ladies of Faith, you are so appreciated and a great blessing to my life! Thank you so much!!!

And last but so not least, I'm thankful for this relationship God is creating between me and Him. I have really enjoyed reading His word and learning how to be more like Him. I won't say it's always comfortable but it is beautiful. 

I have a loving family, peaceful home, good job, wonderful friends, blessed church family and God. Life is good. Here's to another year of thankfulness!!

Mike Mike Mike - What Day Is It?!

Oh ya'll, when I went to see Sweet Niece #2 this morning before work, I was accosted with sweet kisses! Is that not the BEST way to start your day?  Loved it!

In our office, SOMEONE does the whole Hump Day commercial (what are they advertising again? I don't even remember) every Wednesday.  And leading up to Wednesday. Oh heck, we are always acting like a bunch of camels in our office. :)

So my message today is what I keep seeing in all my devotionals: FAITH and APPLYING FAITH.

Like this, " But without faith no one can please God.  We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who seraches for him."  Hebrews 11:6

I really like this verse,
"But it is just as the Scriptures say, 'What God has planned for people who love Him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!'"
1 Corinthians 2:9

FAITH! Do I have faith in the plan God has for me? Or am I trying to go it on my own?  Well, as we learned in Sunday School this week, even though we often muddle up the plans, God is so amazing He will still prevail and His plan will still come to fruition.  Yes, we may create some painful detours, but He will always see His plan come to be. So that's nice to know. I can't screw it up so bad that it won't happen!

AND - to know His plan for me is so great that I can't begin to wrap my hands around it because it is beyond my eyes or ears.  It's never entered my mind, the plans that God has in store for me! Amazing!

Yes, so amazing. So wonderful.  So blessed we are.

Friday's Letter

Dear Weekend, I'm looking forward to you, although I'm not sure what my plans are for you yet. Maybe I'll make some more felt food for littlest Sweet Niece's Christmas present.  Dear Lord, just today I've seen the circle of life in the birth posting from one blogger and another losing a family member unexpectedly.  I've been getting the message:  In all things give thanks (even during our suffering). I'm not sure how to do this, so please work in my heart on this one?  Dear Self, Girl, you make some stupid mistakes.  Looks like one could be catching up with you. Dear Praying People, please include my Dad in yours - thanks.  Dear Sinus Sickness, I've battled with you for over a month. I simply refuse to give the DR another $97 when I haven't finished paying off the last visit. Can you please just give me a break and GO AWAY?  Dear Sweet Nieces, I'm soooo happy to have ya'll together this weekend. :) I'm looking forward to the day when both of you are old enough to spend the night at Aunt Bethie's house!

63 more minutes until quitting time! :) Woop Woop! Hello weekend, here I come! :)