Well, as Laurel pointed out, I am WAY overdue for a post on here. To make a long story short, I will just say that my attention span has been too short to write out a post. This one was pretty easy, though. Laurel tagged me to list 6 things about myself that others might not know about me.

Here are the rules.

1. Link to the person who tagged you (as I did with Laurel).

2. Mention the rules.

3. Tell 6 things about yourself.

4. Tag 6 other bloggers by linking to them.

5. Go to each person's blog and leave them a comment to let them know they've been tagged.

Well, I am going to break rule #4 since I haven't been on blogger in a long time, I have no idea who to tag and whether they have already participated. Instead, I will just say that if you want to share your 6, feel free, but leave me a note so that I can go and check in on you!


My 6 Facts
1. I love for someone to play with my hair or massage my head...I relax immediately!!

2. My third grade teacher told me that I would be a "C" student in Science at the very best. I went on to middle school and competed in state science fair for three years. I placed each year, but won the second highest award overall in my last year. I am thankful for the teacher that told me I couldn't suceed in Science, as well as the one that encouraged me to be soooo much more(Mrs. Rawlings)!

3. I enjoy reading about scientific studies that reveal God's design.

4. I am addicted to my Cricut diecutting machine and my paperdoll cartridge. It is therapy to make little clothes for my friends' daughters.

5. I miss my "men" during the day when they are at work or school.

6. I dream vivid dreams, in color.

Okay, so maybe another president won't be sworn into office before I decide to update my little blog corner of the internet!

Then Sings My Soul Saturday~HAPPY

This is one of my son's favorite songs! I am HAPPY about several things that will take place tomorrow. We will be able to use our master bath shower for the first time in over a month since our renovation began. The leak first appeared in January and I am HAPPY that it is finally resolved. My son has a soccer game tomorrow and it makes me HAPPY to cheer him on because I know what a privilge it is. Lastly, I will be spending the afternoon with some awesome girlfriends scrapbooking, but mostly just talking! That makes me HAPPY, too! Seriously, I am counting my blessings because I had let myself get too stressed out to focus on the little things that matter like friends and family(and a hot shower at home) :)

For more great music, pop on over to Amy's.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday~It's Like Me

Earlier this week, I happened to pick up the Sunday edition of the Atlanta Journal solely for the coupons. I didn't get around to going through the paper until Thursday and I almost missed one of the headlines. The article was about my rheumatologist, Dr. S, and how he had passed away the previous Saturday. I haven't been to see him since 2004 because I decided to pursue other treatments, but I knew that he had been seriously ill with pulmonary artery sarcoma(cancer). I will always remember how he consoled me the day of my diagnosis when another patient said that I would die soon. I vividly remember how he told me that my mild lupus was the disease most people would wish they would have if they had to have a disease. Neither of us knew how his own health would soon deteriorate. He just had such a big heart for all of his patients!!
I knew that he was Jewish, but I didn't know how involved in the Jewish community he was until I read that article. It saddened me that he died without knowing Jesus and I wondered if anything would have been different if I had kept going to his office. I kept thinking of this song by Kutless and how many opportunities to share our hope we miss all the time.


ALSO...

My sweet friend Tonya blogged about a fun game. I am always up for games of all sorts and I love to learn about other people. So, anyone that wants to play, leave me a comment and I will give you a letter. Whee, I get to be Vanna White for a day!!!

Things I love that begin with the letter "S"(BTW, thanks for that letter, Gabe-He is Tonya's son)

1. SON~My fun six year old, ALEX!

2. SANDY~She is my sister! Whenever my dad would get in a hurry and try to call one of us, he would stumble over our names. We are forever known collectively as "Standy". Get it? Stephanie mixed up with Sandy!!

3. SINGING in the SHOWER! Where else would a BAD warbler belt it out?? I bet my neighbors aren't thrilled that I turned off the air and opened the windows.

4. SUSAN AND SANDRA~I love my aunts, but I wish that they did not live in Texas and Florida respectively.

5. SNUGGLES!!!

6. SCRAPBOOKING FRIENDS! Laurel, Roxy, Sandy, Misti, Lisa, Rebecca, Diane

7. SCRAPBOOKING SUPPLIES!!!!!!!!! Oh, what fun!

8. SISTER-IN-LAW~Autumn is one of my closest friends and is like a sister to me!

9. SAVIOR~These uncertain times remind me that this is not my FOREVER home! It is with Jesus!!!!

10. SARAH PALIN~I just LOVE her!!

For more uplifting songs, visit Amy!

Then Sings My Soul Saturday~I can hear your voice

Earlier this week, I was praying for Ann, a sweet family friend, who is in the end stages of pancreatic cancer. I have learned so much from God while praying for Ann over the last couple of months and this time was just as powerful. I had my MP3 player going softly in the background and this song that I am sharing came on just as I was starting to get upset. I never really listen to this CD of Michael W. Smith's, so I was unfamiliar with this song. The lyrics really resounded with me!

I'm in the river that flows from your throne
Water of Life
Water of Life
It Covers me and I breath again
Your love is breath to my soul

I can hear Your voice as You sing over me
It's Your song of Hope breathing life into me
I can feel Your touch as I come close to You
And it heals my heart
You restore and renew

This song was a gift in a difficult moment!

Cousins and Cowboy Boots

 
 
 
 


My Cousin Kana made a friend for life when she eagerly jumped at the chance to play soccer with Alex. She grabbed her boots(she's from Texas) and came outside to teach him a few things. Alex adored her, from start to finish, and I am afraid that she didn't have a moment's peace the whole weekend!

Thankful Thursday~God's presence in my life

I am thankful that despite feeling angry at God and doubting Him in so many ways, He has been fully present in my life over the last couple of months. Perhaps soon I will be able to come here and share some of those experiences, but for now, my heart has softened and I am finally able to accept things that I can't change.

I am thankful that I still remember feeling and knowing that Jesus was with me as I watched the towers fall seven years ago today. There is a story to that, but I will save that one for a later post.

I am thankful that I was able to attend my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary party this past weekend. It was not only a milestone in years, but because my grandfather was not supposed to survive Christmas two years ago!

I am thankful that we finally received some rain this week and that property damage was minimal despite the strong storm Monday night.

I am thankful that my husband supports my crazy ideas like learning guitar. Thanks for the lessons and the guitar, sweetheart! I am enjoying the chance to torture others with my "talent"!

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! I will be praying for all of you in Texas as Ike approaches.

Go visit Iris at Sting My Heart to be inspired by other thankful hearts!

Thankful Thursday~Thankful for Legs and Lupus

Yes, I know that I have been gone a while from posting. So long that I forgot how to sign into my account and I still might have to get my friend Tonya to give me a refresher course in linking within a post. Haha! One of the biggest reasons that I have been away from the computer is that I have made some changes in my daily routine. That leads me to what I am thankful for each and every day.

As some of you may remember from an earlier post, my grandfather(paternal)had both of his legs removed within the past year due to disease. I am so grateful that he is still with us because he defies all of the doctors and their odds each day he is alive. In my heart, I know that he would love nothing more than to walk across a room, but that is just not possible given his age and overall health. So, I began to feel that the best way to honor him is to put my own legs to good use. Our family joined the local YMCA. I have been a devotee of water aerobics and the cardio machines for about a month. It is my grandfather's wish that none of the rest of us will have to live our lives without our legs.(Diabetes is frequent in my family). I am grateful that I have the opportunity to take care of my own health while I still have the legs and strength to use them.

Another thing that propelled me to the Y was that my Lupus was giving me fits. I was so exhausted each day and my poor son just wanted to play with his mama. I am grateful that things had taken a turn with Lupus so that I couldn't be complacent any longer. I may have Lupus, but it does NOT and WILL NOT have ME!!

For anyone looking for an exercise facility, I can't sing the praises of YMCA enough. I am thankful to have such a wonderful place for my whole family to get fit and play together. In fact, my son wants me to play one of his favorite songs every time we head on over to the YMCA. Can you guess the song?? Yep, that good ole tune from the seventies by the same name. I am also thankful for Youtube! So, get ready to dance and by all means, TURN UP YOUR SPEAKERS! BTW, the performance in this video uses a puppet machine, so it is worth watching.



Visit Iris at Sting My Heart to read more thankful posts.

Happy Thankful Thursday!
~Stephanie~

Favorite Foto Friday~Unwelcome Visitor!!!!!

 
So, I have no idea what the FFF theme is this week, but I am pretty sure that it is not about front porch snakes. I had to post this, not because it is my favorite, but because I need to "talk" about it so I can sleep tonight. I don't mind snakes as long as they disappear, unseen whenever I am around. I don't want them in my house, in my yard, or on my front/back porches. It shouldn't be too much to ask that they stay way off in the woods away from all us city slickers.




My sister came home from the store tonight and just as she began to climb the step onto the porch, she heard "plop". There was this snake right there between her and the front door. She actually took the time to evaluate its triangular shaped head and black markings. Bless her foolish heart, she even took out her key and made a dash for the door. Me, I would have run back to the car and locked myself inside. Quick as a flash, my cellphone would have dialed up hubby on the inside of the house to open the garage door. No one would recognize the streak that would be me as I flew to the garage.




Right before she came home, I was getting ready to go down to the basement. That is my happy space and it has all of my scrapbooking supplies. I have never minded the insect critters that make up my unfinished space, but the thought of that snake winding up my leg as I sat at my desk was too much for me. Harrison Ford said it best,"Snakes, why did it have to be snakes?????" Amen Indy! The welcome mat on my porch does not include snakes!!!!!

So, my husband came home just a few minutes ago from a softball game. I had already called him on his cell phone about the snake because I am a thoughtful wife(okay, maybe a panicky one, too!) He said,"Stephanie, do you want to come down here?", he called up as he went out the front door. "Uh, no, as a matter of fact, I don't want to come down there, but thanks for asking!" Of course, I begrudingly went downstairs because I was afraid that he would turn from a computer programmer into a snake wrangler. Someone has to be close enough to dial 911, you know! He coaxed me out on the front porch by telling me that the snake had climbed up into the Camellia bush alongside the porch. So, I tentatively stepped out on the porch with my camera in hand. As I was focusing, my darling husband goosed me on the arm in a mock snake bite. We now have a skylight in our porch where my head went through it!!! But I have some "great" pictures of our new pet. Anyone need us to adopt their cat?????



For pictures of cute children, not slithery serpents, visit Sarah at Kiss the Frog 4 for me.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday~For Alex

I haven't seen this movie or play(RENT), but I really like the concept of measuring time with love. This song makes me want to stand up and sing, so get out your earplugs. Last night, my sweet boy graduated from preschool and the school put on a circus for the occasion. I have tons of memories, art projects, worksheets and pictures to measure each year that he went to this awesome preschool. So, this post is dedicated to the little clown that makes everyday a "gift from Above". Thank-you to his wonderful teacher, Ms. Rhonda and his directors, Ms. Penny and Ms. Denise for their dedication with all the children. We will miss you!!!!! Alex, I love you, Punkin Doodle and I can't believe that you still want me to call you that!!!!!

To hear more great songs for Saturday, visit Amy at Sign, Miracles and Wonders.

Miracle Monday~He knows ALL of our pain!

I haven't felt like posting for a while because this particular post has been on my heart for several weeks. Today is a day that is unpleasant to remember. Everyone else celebrates Cinco de Mayo, but it brings up waves of grief for me. I can't celebrate something that has caused so much pain for someone that I love. What I am about to share is the true story of my childhood best friend, Amy, and the loss of her brother, Ryan. It is not easy to write, but I hope that it honors Ryan's memory and brings comfort to Amy's family on this difficult milestone.

In May of 2004, I was visiting my husband's family one Saturday. My cell phone began ringing soon after we arrived. I glanced down and noticed that one of my parents was trying to reach me. They never call me when they know that we are visiting David's family, so I knew that something was wrong.

I walked outside to answer the phone and heard my mom sobbing as she wordlessly passed the phone off to my dad. By this time, I feared that one of my grandparents had passed away. I was deeply saddened and shocked by what my dad told me next. I have never witnessed my dad in tears, but he was choked up as he began to tell me why he had called. I will always remember how his voice cracked as he quietly said,"Stephanie, I just thought you would want to know that Amy's brother was murdered Wednesday night. He was shot in the driveway of his home and died in Bo's arms right there." He went on to tell me that the cause of the shooting was unknown. We would later find out that Ryan had been shot by two Hispanic gang members as a way to gain favor among the gang the itself. It just so happened that Ryan was a random victim of gang activity that took place on Cinco de Mayo.

After I ended the call with my dad, I stood motionless in the spot where I had answered that call. I remembered thinking that the particular tree where I stood would forever be connected with that call in my memory. It seemed surreal to be standing among the beautiful cherry blossoms on a warm spring day while receiving the worst news of my life. To this day, I can't look at that tree without recalling that horrific phone call.

I waited until the next day to phone Amy and her family, because I still had to return to my in laws and try to have a "normal" visit. The phone call that I made on that Sunday to Amy was the hardest call that I have ever made. It was Mothers' Day and my heart was grieved, as a mother, to think of Amy's mother, Linda, suffering a loss like that. I would like to say that I was strong as Amy picked up the call, but I fell to pieces when I heard her voice. It hurt that my childhood friend was enduring the worst of the worst and there was nothing I could do to lessen her pain. When we were five years old, I would walk her to class because I didn't want anyone to pick on my best friend. Here we were almost 30 years later and she was facing something that I couldn't fight off for her. I desperately wanted to attack them and torture those then unknown assailants in a way that they deserved.

Ryan's death became the biggest spiritual crisis that I have ever had. I wanted to know why Ryan was taken just as he was making significant, positive changes in his life. It just wasn't fair to his family and that made me angry. They shouldn't have to live out their lives without their son, their brother and their friend. He was a big hearted guy that looked out for others. Ryan got that kindness from his own family. They welcomed people into their home with open arms and were always a soft place for those that might be hurting. In fact, Amy's parents were like second parents to me when we lived on a naval base in Mississippi over 30 years ago. It didn't make sense that they were forced to grieve for Ryan.

Soon after he passed away, I heard a song by Casting Crowns that reminded me of my struggle with God. I love how the song Who Am I highlights that God knows and feels our hurt, but it took me a while to really understand that He is there. I think of Amy everytime I hear that song because I want her to know that He feels her pain and hurt, too. I don't have all of the answers about why it happened, but I do know that God can take something bad and bring some good from it. One of the things that I owe to Ryan is my search for spiritual answers. Prior to his death, my faith was just a routine and something that I thought I should take part in each week. Tonight, the lesson in our lifegroup was about forgiving others as God, through Christ, has forgiven us. It was hard to sit through that lesson because I haven't forgiven the two murderers for what they have done to Amy's family. I am not sure that it is my place to forgive them. I am not the one living daily with Ryan's loss. At the end, we were asked to write sometime this week on a piece of paper the name of someone we most needed to forgive.

I will be writing GOD on my paper because I am only beginning to understand that He did not kill Ryan. Instead, He is always there to heal our hearts when we have been wronged by the actions of others. God has held me when I angrily demanded answers and revenge for Ryan. And I don't think I am loved any less for questioning Him. God was there the night Bo and Linda held their dying son. He is with them now as they live through another milestone, another year without Ryan. It is a miracle to me that God knows our every hurt. Where else in the world can we find that depth of comfort?

Amy, I hope you know how much my family loves you and your parents. We don't talk as often I would like, but I pray for you each and every day. I wish we were still those happy little girls that almost got kicked off the school bus for singing Delta Dawn WAY too loud. Maybe we were best buddies then because God knew that you would need a longtime friend to understand your loss. Whatever the reason, I am grateful that I met you that long ago day while you and Cheryl played Barbies at the BOQ. Forever know that I am just a phone call away!

Visit Beth at A Mom's Life to read more Miracle Monday stories.

Please pray for Grumps

My grandfather has been taken to a local hospital with stomach issues. He apparently has some type of internal bleeding. An upper GI will be performed later today, so please pray for the doctors to pinpoint the cause soon. My grandfather has been through so much over the last couple of years with dialysis, numerous surgeries, and the loss of both legs. Please keep him and my grandmother in your prayers!

Thankful Thursday~Your Love Amazes Me

 





Nine years ago today, I married my best friend. The years have flown by and I can remember our wedding like it was yesterday. In fact, it doesn't seem like I have known him for 16 years, but I have. David and I met through a mutual acquaintance, yet neither one of us can remember her name! She was in one of my classes and she invited me out with some of her friends one night. Neither David nor I knew it at the time, but she was hoping to set me up with David's roommate, Pete. She had an enormous crush on Peter, but he was not interested in her. So, she was hoping to live vicarously through me, but I have yet to understand how that was going to work for her.

I was not looking for a boyfriend or even someone to date. My agenda at that time was to get out of college and I was tired of the dating scene in Athens. Yet, I met my future husband that night and he wasn't the long-haired, drummer named Pete. Instead, I met David and he had the warmest smile of any guy that I had ever seen. He is handsome, but it was that smile that hooked me!! We went on our first date the next night to hear a local performer named John Berry. John would go on two months later to hit the Nashville country music charts.

For several years prior to meeting, David and I had both spent time at local establishments(yea, bars~the library was just TOO crowded, haha) listening to John Berry's music. The venues were always small, yet we never crossed paths. I guess it wasn't the right time for us to meet.

David has been the best friend that I have ever had! He stood by me through some really tough family times and his own family filled in the gap during those years. He has supported me as a stay-at-home mom and I am forever grateful for that. When I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2003, he immediately provided for my needs whether it was rest that I needed or emotional support. Plus, he is an amazing dad to our son! The most important thing that I can attribute to him is my faith. Because of His relationship with Christ, David has been an example for me and has endured many, many spiritual questions from his ever curious wife!

David, I am excited about our date tonight. I also picked this song by John Berry because it sounds like something fun to do on our date. So, come on and "Kiss Me in the Car"


To be inspired by more thankful hearts, visit Iris at Sting My Heart.

Then Sings My Soul Saturday~My Savior, My God

My Savior, My God by Aaron Schust

The emotion in this song always takes me back to my junior year of high school. During the spring of that year, I became close friends with a senior named Linda. We were both on Flag Corps, so we spent almost all of our free time together. She had already shared many, many times about Christ's love for me. Still, I remained skeptical. I finally agreed to go with her to a Friday night Bible Study because her faith did interest me. The group she took me to had a funny name...People in God's Service or P.I.G.S. At first, I was a little put off by the name and the kids that were there. I thought I had stumbled into a weird cult, not only due to the name, but most of the teens there had come from broken homes, alcohol problems, drug problems, and the guys all had long hair,etc. My parents were(and are) still married and I had never tried drugs or alcohol because I was too scared. So, I was a little unnerved by my surroundings and not sure what to expect from the evening.

One of the guys led the worship/study time and I remember feeling included right from the start. Unlike high school, no one spoke or acted judgemental toward anyone else. I quickly figured out the most important thing that I had in common with these kids was the desire to be unconditionally accepted. As the study wrapped up, everyone was encouraged to seek out a place in the house or in the yard for some quiet time with God. I had no idea what this meant and I was unsure of what to do. So, I spent that time studying everyone else. Some were weeping, others were singing, and there were a few animated conversations going on with God, too. This fascinated me because I had absolutely no idea what prayer was, how to do it, or even why. What I noticed as the group came back together, was the peace that had settled over the gathering.

I enjoyed the summer at those Friday night studies and I went along as they ministered to other people in the community. A favorite place to serve was the local nursing home where most of the kids would visit and pray with the residents. It was a beautiful time for me, but was also extremely confusing. As the summer months went on, I expressed to someone in my family that I wanted to be baptised. It did not go over well! Christianity was a crutch for the weak and lazy to keep from making decisions for themselves, I was told. I brokenheartedly walked away from something I was beginning to believe toward an upbringing that left me empty. It was a heartbreaking turning point in my young life that impacted me throughout many seasons.

For the past few years as my heart has drawn closer to God, I have been looking for a group of believers like those awesome kids. It frustrated me that church seemed to be a place of who you knew and how you knew them. I missed the passion and the awe for God that I had found that spring, along with the unconditional acceptance. The thought that kept nagging at me was that maybe I should keep looking for THAT church and THOSE people. I even tried that out for a time, but I only ended up frustrated with the results. Recently, I have come to realize that I was given that special time to discover the fire within and to take that wherever I am planted so that others will be able to find their own way to a deeper relationship with Christ. In figuring that out, I began to see that God had placed people in my life with that same passion and thirst for Him. I love and cherish each one of those special people He brought into my spiritual walk! I only wish that I knew how to find the girl that started it all, Linda.

For more songs, visit Amy at Signs, Miracles and Wonders. Not everyone is as long winded as myself...I promise!!! Haha!

Favorite Foto Friday~Sibling??

Well, this week's theme for Favorite Foto Friday is siblings. Alex doesn't have any brothers or sisters and my own sister would have my head if I posted a picture of her. So, I will just post a picture of the little boy that keeps asking, not for a dog, but a brother or sister! Yesterday, he told me that he wanted one of each to carry around in HIS tummy! The pictures here are from an impromptu Easter egg hunt with Cousin Jacob that turned into an Easter Egg Race/Wrestle Fest. They are both only children, so they act like brothers in EVERY way!

To check out more cute photos, go over to Kiss the Frog 4 me!

Thankful Thursday~Random Thoughts

I am thankful today for my sweet husband who hurried home on Monday to pick-up Alex at school because I had suddenly become ill. He also stopped by the store without any prompting from me to pick-up necessities like Ginger Ale, Jello, soup, and Saltine Crackers. Thank-you for looking out for my unspoken needs, Sweetheart!

I am thankful to the wonderful little boy that loves me everyday, but especially when I am sick. He always offers to give me back rubs and showers me with expressions of his affection for me. I love you, TigerRoo!

I am thankful that God is not a procrastinator like myself. See, He could have created everything except Man and decided to rest on the sixth day instead of the seventh. It could have gone something like this,"Whew, I think I am going to make today the Day of Rest. Maybe tomorrow I will get around to creating Man. He is going to be a project and a half. I will have to create Woman just to keep him in line! So, I am just going to rest here in my Heavenly Hammock and I'll get around to Man one of these days!" Yep, I waited until April 14th to start our taxes and I finished in time despite my bout with the stomach flu. I guess that is what I get for procrastinating!

I am thankful that we endured our first THE TALK with Alex tonight. You know the talk I am referring, too! It is the one that all of us parents worry about from day one. I give all the thanks to God for giving me the words to explain some of the Birds and Bees. I pray that Alex will continue coming to us for those answers instead of seeking them out from the World. For those of you that missed us at church tonight, now you know why. Alex's timing is impeccable!

I am thankful for my in-laws. They are so much fun and I love being with them. My FIL sent me a joke today that I will share here.

The Human Race


A little girl asked her mother, 'How did the human race appear?'

The mother answered, 'God made Adam and Eve and they
had children, and so was all mankind made.'

Two days later, the girl asked her father the same question.

The father answered, 'Many years ago there were monkeys,
from which the human race evolved.'

The confused girl returned to her mother and said, 'Mom, how
is it possible that you told me the human race was created
by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?'

The mother answered, 'Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about
my side of the family, and your father told you about his.'

For more Thankful Thursday, visit Iris at Sting My Heart.

Word Filled Wednesdays-Manna or Jello

The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. Exodus 16:35

I am a little loopy tonight, so I might be the only one out there to understand why I chose this verse. Food and I have been on the outs since yesterday when I was besieged by a stomach monster. Ginger Ale has been my best friend through it all and I am still not hungry for even Jello. So, this is where the story gets interesting.

My son was going to get to go with my husband to our church softball game IF he ate his dinner. There was a Stouffers chicken pot pie in the oven for each of them, but my son is picky! Instead, he devised a plan to rid himself of the offending meal and still get to go the game. "Mom," the sneaky thing said as he patted me sweetly on the head, "Won't you eat my chicken pot pie so that I don't have to eat it, but I can still go to the game? You haven't eaten anything all day!" He knew that I wouldn't have one to eat, but he was hoping that I would love him enough to sacrifice for him!!

I got to thinking about this verse during dinner. Don't you know that God was probably sick of hearing how the Isrealites didn't like manna? Can you imagine how hard it would have been to get finicky kids to eat the same thing over and over? But wait, aren't we like that today? God provides for us, but it wasn't what we had in mind. So we dismiss it and beg for something else to "eat".

I think I could stand to be a little more content and blessed with what God has given me, even on days when I don't want any of the food that he provides.

For more Word Filled Wednesdays, visit Amy at

Good-bye Germs

I will be taking some time off from posting because the stomach flu has found me. Last week, I told my aunt in a random conversation that I never get stomach bugs because I have a stomach of steel. Never say never! Here I am humbled...and queasy.
And there sure are a lot of food commercials on T.V. when you feel sick to your stomach!!

I've Been Tagged!!!

Hi Everyone,
I am visiting family right now for Spring Break, so my computer time has been very limited. Melanie at The Fruit of the Spirit was kind enough to tag me for a TAG, YOUR IT game(my son's favorite game to play in real life).

Here are the rules of the game for Tag if you want to play. Anyone reading this can participate because I am too new at this to know who has not been tagged. So feel free to share in the game, but do leave me a comment if you participate so that I can visit your blog to get to know you! These are the real rules, if you don't want to cheat like me!
1) Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog
2) Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3) Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4) Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my 7!!!

1. My first car was a 1974 Orange Datsun 610 with two bullet holes in the drivers' side. No, I did not shoot the car, but my Mom and I were accused of that by the GBI. We had left it overnight because it broke down near our house. The next morning, we got a call from the GBI to come to the place we had left it. We arrived in a gray car, so that was the first reason we were the prime suspects-there was a gray scrub mark where the "getaway" car left its mark. The other reason that we were their suspects...bumper sticker on the car "If this car was a horse, I would have to shoot it!" They thought we shot it for insurance money, even though we only had liability on it. Later, they determined that someone had tried to shoot the lock mechanism in order to steal it. Hmmm...why would someone try to steal a broken down junker that spent more time on the back of a tow truck than the road?? The mystery of the bullets was never solved, but we were local celebrities for a short while. I can live without that kind of fame!

2. I love to go on cruises with my family. Our last one was in November to Hawaii, but my fav stop so far was Tortola, B.V.I. during a Carribean cruise.

3. I am a night owl, which is why I am up right now posting!!!

4. Before I became a stay at home mom, I was a certified massage therapist. Other than being a mom, that was by far my favorite job.

5. I am wanting to learn how to play guitar. I don't have one, so in the meantime, I am reading "Guitar for Dummies"! You might be laughing at that, but those Dummies books really break stuff down.

6. I seem to always procrastinate...ask me if I have finished our taxes yet and I will tell you that it is not the 15th yet! Oh, and it has been days since I started this post and I am still not finished!

7. I took a 5 question test to see what punctuation mark I am. I am a Question Mark and my husband guessed immediately which one I was...I guess I ask him too many questions!! :0) It was a fairly accurate test and if you would like to participate, the link is below.

You Are a Question Mark

You seek knowledge and insight in every form possible. You love learning. And while you know a lot, you don't act like a know it all. You're open to learning you're wrong. You ask a lot of questions, collect a lot of data, and always dig deep to find out more. You're naturally curious and inquisitive. You jump to ask a question when the opportunity arises. Your friends see you as interesting, insightful, and thought provoking. (But they're not always up for the intense inquisitions that you love!) You excel in: Higher education You get along best with: The Comma

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

My Soul Sings Saturday

Alex and I like to sing this song together, but sometimes he wants to play a game instead. He points to either me or himself when it is our turn to sing a part. For some reason, his share of the song is always a great deal more than mine when we get done singing. What do we think he is trying to say about my voice?? I guess I won't be auditioning for American Idol.

For more songs, visit Amy at Signs, Miracles, Wonders.

Favorite Foto Friday-Spring Break Slime

Alex and I have had a FUN week visiting my parents. We have spent time with them and some of my Mom's family. It has been wonderful! For the past two days, Alex and I have gone off on my parents' golf cart to explore the city. They live in a planned community with over 100 miles of cart path. Today, we visited FOUR different parks, a fun library, the pizza parlor from my Senior year(when my parents moved there) and lakes/ponds. ALL by golfcart...totally cool fun with AWESOME weather! On the way home, we stopped at the duck ponds for some more fun. It was less crowded than some of the others, so it was nice to sit and relax. The kids here have been open to playing with all ages, so we have really enjoyed that! That isn't something Alex is used to back home. Anyway, I have let him play in the pond spillway both days because I would have been there as a kid. I knew he would eventually get ALL wet, so I wasn't upset at all. I was thrilled that he was having such a great time with other kids. This afternoon, he was playing with two other boys along the edge of the pond. One of them decided to start sliming the others with pond scum. Alex was not a happy camper at first, until he realized how much fun Hide and Slime can be with friends. I almost joined in the fun, but I figured that the green would totally stand out in my blonde hair for the fundraiser we attended tonight. Maybe next time...lucky for me it is supposed to rain tomorrow, so no slime for me!