Drink Offering

You're It
Originally uploaded by nailbender

Being new at this whole blog experience I am sure you could understand my confusion! I have just been tagged, for the first time, by a new friend at Journey through Faith.

My very first thought was...You will never catch me running! Seriously, I never played tag as a kid and it would be down right hilarious right now:)

My silly self moved on to trying to remember just how many of those "Do Not Remove" Tags I have actually torn off ! I think I can only count about 7. What is the penalty for removing those tags anyway?

Not to mention the number of tags I have torn out of my kids shirts because they are so darn itchy!

If you have ever received a gift from me you must have noticed that I never fill out the little tag that dangles from the bag! I never know what to write and don't you just re gift the bag anyway? I am saving the tag for you!

Okay so here is my very first attempt.....

These are the rules:

1) Link to the person who tagged you.

2) Post the rules on your blog.

3) Write 6 random things about yourself.

4) Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them.

5) Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

My Six Things:

I really like fuzzy Socks! Especially the ones with the toes in them. This is very strange because I really don't like wearing them. I just think they are completely adorable.They look very nice in my drawers and make me laugh! My favorite pair look like froggies. I have been known to show up at life group in a pair of scooby doo slippers!

I have a very bad habit of pouring out people's drinks. I don't know why?.. but when I walk in the kitchen, if there is a cup with liquid in it I pour it out. This habit really annoys my husband who leaves cups with water and tea sitting around all the time. I don't even think about it I just do it automatically.

I need sunshine! I crave it! I was made for the light. I do not enjoy the heat though, just send me to Alaska and I'll bask in the Sun. I feel like I live in the bat cave because everyone else in my family likes dim light. So I make up for this by overloading my house with green plants! I am not sure of the connection but it works!

I absolutely love to read but I have a very short attention span. I usually have about 4 books that I am in the process of reading at the same time.I do most of my reading in the middle of the night because I believe that sleep is way overrated and there are so many other things I would rather be doing!

Candles are awesome. Not because of the fragrance as you might think. I just like the way they flicker. I find it completely charming to visit a friend and find a candle lit. It makes me feel cozy.

I am slightly OCD. I use way tooo much fabric softener and dish detergent. It took me much to long to find the right picture for this post and I have changed my 6 things about 10 times. Some of you are thinking right now that there is nothing slight about it!

Now your it!

The Devine Life

Sweet Violets

Life As I Know It

Okay I can only think of three people who might do this. Sorry, I hope I don't fail my very first game of Tag. (Sam you already Tagged my friend Lily)

This was Fun!

My Mom just called to tell me of a beautiful dream she had tonight of my sister Michele. Most of you who read this blog know that my sister Shelly entered Heaven last year after a Brain infection caused by a tumor. God gave us 8 years with her after doctors said she wouldn't live six months. Numerous times God answered our prayers with miracles of healing for her. She spent her years devoted to foreign missions in Kenya and Romania.
Mom said she was sleeping and she heard my sisters clear beautiful voice.
"Mommy" she said. "Come and play with me in a field of flowers."
She was dressed in tennis shoes and sweatpants (typical Shelly) and they ran and played, and danced in the flowers. "I love you Mommy" my sister said just before my Mom woke up.
I listened to my Mom share her dream. We cried, and then laughed at my sister running around in Heaven in a pair of sweatpants and grungy tennis shoes!
I am grateful for the dream. Thank you Lord for Eternal Life and a field of flowers.

Name what you think should be your first 5 priorities in life? Then order those priorities the way they actually are at present in your own life. Do they match up? Why or why not? If needed, what is one thing that you can do today that will help your two lists match up?

I believe my personal priorities should look like this:

1. God (Personal relationship, Lifestyle of worship,Word, Witness)
2. Husband (Helpmate, Friend, Lover)
3. Children (Inspiring lifelong devotion to Christ, Home school)
4. Church (Devoted to one another in brotherly love)
5. Lost (the great commission)

Talk with me, become a fly on the wall of my home and you will find that my priorities change from moment to moment. I am effected by the present...circumstance, need, and mood. Balance and consistency is what is needed in my life to Maintain the priorities that God has placed on my heart.It is so easy to get distracted from what is most important in the Journey that God has created for us.

Possibly the best personal family blog on the Internet can be found here at Sit a Spell

A dear friend of mine shared this blog address with me almost 8 months ago and I am hooked!

I find myself challenged, inspired,laughing hysterically, crying and amused by the thoughts and experiences of this family and their church home and friends. Mark and I pray for these people each time we read a post...even my kids pray for their kids....Funny how this world has become. We know more about this family in Texas than some people on our block.

If you are reading my blog it's probably because you know me. Most of you probably read this blog already!!

But if you are out their browsing for blogs to read...stop reading mine and go here now....you can always come back to me later.



My group of close friends and I have talked, laughed and shared about posts from this blog. We have been inspired in ways that have moved us to action. We even used the book Her Hands found on this website for our ladies small group.

We even decided to hang out at the park (check older posts) after reading about all the fun these guys have hanging out.

Anyway....Just a blog about a normal family (that's questionable) loving and serving the Lord as God leads and the community they impact.
Check it out!

Okay! I really need to know how often you purchase a hairdryer?

I just spoke with a friend who said she has had the same hairdryer for 6 Years. What am I doing wrong? Is there some unspoken rules for hairdryer opperation that my mother failed to explain to me? Do they come with operation pamphlets that I have failed to read?

Today I blew up my 5th one in 3 years! On average in my adult life I would guess that I have purchased about 17 hairdryers!

Now........you have seen my hair....nothing extraordinary to speak of....just normal wet head that needs to be dry.

My hair is thick....soo on average it takes about 8 minutes to completely dry my hair on high heat. So my hair dryer is used only about 40 minutes a week(assuming 2 days a week I am too lazy to wash my hair) So about 3 hours of hair drying a month. Which means I am receiving approximately 18 hours of dryer performance before sparks begin to fly!

I know what you are thinking... Of course I clean the hair out of the little thingy on the back of the dryer! I learned this after the first 2.
So what is the problem?

I am the only user of my dryer, for the most part. If it has been more than 6 weeks since Mark has had a haircut, he may decide to use it. For about 30 seconds...I have observed that it only takes a second to dry hair that is only an inch long......

Somewhere there is a landfill....full of my hairdryers...
I need a hairdryer repair shop ....Do they recycle hairdryers....

So tomorrow I must go and purchase a new one....
(I have never seen one at the goodwill)
Any suggestions?? I am as lucky with hairdryers as I am cars.

I had to put the dryer in a bag and set it outside....I can't get the smell to fade and now I will lay awake all night waiting for the smoke alarm to go off because of the sparks that must have gone into the wiring of my house from the flames that shot out of my dryer.

If you ever see a copy of Hairdryers for Dummies pick it up for me!

Wow...I have been putting so much thought and prayer into this whole strengths and weaknesses thing. It occurred to me today that yes we should identify our strengths and build on them. We should encourage and help our children to identify the natural talents and abilities that God has graced them with and inspire them to grow in these areas.

At the same time we should also recognize that although God can and does work through us ,often using the talents he has blessed us with, He receives the most glory and honor as he works through us in spite of our weakness. Or as he works in our weakness! Thank you Lord for creating each individual so unique and with varying skills and talents and strengths...Thank you Lord that you also work in our weakness and sometimes through our weakness to bring honor to yourself!
Little ones to him belong...They are weak but He is Strong...
Yes Jesus loves me...the Bible tells me so!

Finished reading the book and taking the online assessment: Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath. This was an interesting book and a lot of fun. Here are my findings, a list of my strengths according to the online assessment.

1. Belief: I have certain core values that are enduring. I am family oriented, altruistic, spiritual, and value responsibility and high ethics in myself and others. I believe that success is more than money and prestige! Consistency is the foundation of all of my relationships. My friends call me dependable. My work must be meaningful, and matter to me, it must give me a chance to live out my values. I am most passionate about people and things closet to my heart. You do not have to share my beliefs but you must understand and respect them or conflict will erupt.


2. Individualization: I an intrigued by the unique qualities of each person. I am impatient with stereotypes or generalizations. I instinctively observe each person's style, motivation, how each thinks, and builds relationships. I draw out the best in others, build productive teams, allowing others to work at what they do best. I can show you the world through another persons eyes by using my discernment. When you are having difficulty understanding where someone is coming from consult with me, my intuitions will be sound.


3. Communication: I Like to explain, describe, speak in public, and write. I feel the need to bring ideas and events to life. I find it easy to carry on a conversation and do well in roles where I have to capture some ones attention. I should think about a career in teaching or ministry (HA) I need to search for new ways to state my purpose or frame my ideas. I should expand my vocabulary. (and get rid of my redneck accent) opps negative comment!


4. Woo: Stands for Winning others over. I enjoy the challenge of meeting other people and getting them to like me. Strangers are rarely intimidating to me, they energize me! I am drawn to them, I want to learn their names and get to know them, and ask questions. I am rarely at a loss for words and derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and getting to know people. I cam put others at ease and help them to feel comfortable, I can help you network to broaden your connections.
5. Futuristic:"Wouldn't it be great if..." I am the kind of person who likes to view over the horizon. The future fascinates me, it is inspirational to me. I am a dreamer who sees visions of what could be and it fascinates me. When my present seems too frustrating I conjure up visions of the future and they energize me and others too. I can paint a picture of the future for others as well. Push me to make the future seem as vivid as possible. People often latch on to the Hope I bring.

Okay....That's my list. What do you think? Does this list describe me?

What are your strengths. Buy the book...Take the test...and build on your strengths! Focus on what God designed you to be!

Do you have the opportunity to do what you do best everyday?

Chances are you don't.

We usually devote most of our time to fixing our weeknesses, rather than building on our strengths or talents. We focus on our shortcomings more than our strengths or skills. Most people can quickly list all the weak /trouble spots in their lives that they are working on.

Even with learning programs we are forced to identify our weakness and strive, or study, or struggle to improve in these areas.

When our kids come home with reports from school...we automatically notice their weakest scores as what we need to assist them with.

What if we identified our strengths and worked towards maximizing them further?

Have you ever caught yourself saying "you can be anything you want to be when you grow up!"

I'm not so sure I agree with this statement.

Our current culture does. If you want to be a millonaire just "buy this book" or watch a saturday morning infomercial. If you want a deeper more fullfilling life, just follow these guidelines or find the "secret".

What if we taught our children this instead:

"You cannot be anything you may want to be....but, you can be a whole lot more of what God has already designed you to be!

Hangin out with peeps at the Lowes Ymca Fireworks spectacular! We had an Fantastic time. Games for the kids, Rock climbing, Glow sticks, The Lake Norman Orchestra, and Pretzels! So nice to celebrate with our friends. The fireworks were Awesome! Next year taking the big white tent, drinks, and more friends! Let freedom ring...let the whole world sing! Thank you Lord for our great country.
God Bless the USA

What would your life say?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvDDc5RB6FQ