More ramblings from the rambler

This will be one of my very unusual rambling posts (haha, ok, stop laughing now)...

It's been a very rough week. My friend, Sunday, and her husband took their boys fishing at a local river on Monday. Long story short - their 5yo drowned. His body has not yet been recovered. Please pray - then pray some more - for them all. This alone makes the rest of this post hardly worth writing, except that I need to post something else or I'll just depress everyone for the 3rd time this week.

I went out Wednesday afternoon to help search the riverbank, and apparently the only thing I found was poison oak (to which, I am highly allergic). Luckily, my coworker was able to call me in a prescription for Prednisone (oh yay, don't you love it? like I need MORE bloating??)

I just started listening to the revised edition of Beth Moore's Breaking Free cd set today. I was LOLing in my car when she talked about her need to do her own Bible study before. She said "I kept Amen'ing myself, and yelling at the the videos "I have BEEN THERE sister!" --- well of course I had, it was MY STUDY!" Ha! I just love her so much. What a blessing her teachings are.

Hmmm, what else? Oh yeah, my sweet online buddy (whom I've yet to officially meet in person, despite the fact that she lives in my little town!) was featured in Complete Woman Magazine this month for...of all things...abstinence! Now, when you see the cover of this mag, that's probably the last thing you think of (Kendra What'sHerName from Playboy/Reality-show fame on the cover in a bikini). But they did an article about women who are waiting until marriage for sex, and Katie was one of them! I'm so proud of her, and the example she is setting for other young ladies!

Speaking of abstinence, have you downloaded your FREE audiobook from Jonathan Acuff?? The first essay reminded me of the subject matter of Katie's article. It's so funny! I love that our God has a sense of humor and gave us one, too!

Ok, so - I need some serious Mamavation regarding my workouts - again! I put a hold on my YMCA membership over the holidays and forgot about it. I joined the gym my hubby goes to, but haven't been at all this week. Then today, I found out my hold at the Y has ended so now I belong to TWO gyms and still not working out!!! If that doesn't deserve a kick in the pants, I don't know what does!? So give it to me, ladies (and gents if you're out there). Kick away!!! I need it!

Gotta get to my sweet babygirl's fastpitch game now...then to church for a run-through for our Child Hunger Ends Here! benefit concert on 4/30. Y'all come now, ya hear???

Post-Friday Fill Ins

Yeah, yeah, I'm late...as usual!

1. Why are you making me angry? You wouldn't like me when I'm angry...(anyone remember that??)

2. I want you to take a chance and enter my giveaways! :)

3. If I want to do something, then it will be on my terms.

4. Smile at a stranger and see what happens.

5. I could use a nap right about now.

6. Posting this and then going to do some cleaning.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to possibly going to see Menopause, the Musical, tomorrow my plans include church in the morning and then a nap - missed it last week because we were at church from 7:45am - after 6pm!

Friday Fill-In: Snow Day Edition!

It's that time again!



1. No, we will NOT worry about the foot of snow forecast for today - hot chocolate & blankies are ready!

2. I loved watching Popoo (grandfather) mix molasses & butter, then dip his homemade biscuits in it at the old kitchen table.

3. I watched the steam rising from the hot cup of coffee (or tea) and thought: "Life is good."

4. Chris is going to be okay, one of these days. 

5. I'll take snow over ice any day!

6. Christmas gets more commercialized every year, at least from my point of view, and that stinks!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to the holiday concert with hubby (if it's not snowed out), tomorrow my plans include wrapping gifts and relaxing with my hubby & pups, watching movies and thanking God for a warm home during this weather. And Sunday, I want to be able to go to church (snow can't keep us away!), have lunch and nap!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Good times: Ain't we lucky we got 'em.

2. I need to declutter my home.

3. Sleigh bells ring only in Christmas carols.

4. Sometimes I really wish my kids were still little.

5. Once more, same as before!

6. Are you ready for the end?

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to resting after a day of cleaning & making Christmas gifts, tomorrow my plans include an early Christmas get-together at my mom's, and Sunday, I want to lay on the couch with my dogs and nap after church!

DOH! Wrong Friday! LOL

I pulled up the wrong Friday Fill-In! Oops!

1. The last band I saw live was Casting Crowns with Michael English & Natalie Grant.

2. What I look forward to most on Thanksgiving is spending time relaxing with my family.

3. My Christmas/holiday shopping is not even started...ugh.

4. Thoughts of cleaning fill my head, but here I sit.

5. I wish I could wear something cute and sexy again... (out with my hubby, of course) unfortunately, those words don't match my bod right now.

6. Bagpipes are awesome!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sorting clothes for the give-away at church tomorrow, tomorrow my plans include And Sunday, I want to the give-away in the morning, taking Kelsey & Megan to Danville, then a House Party at Hannah's!rest after going to church and Robert's memorial service!

Friday Fill-In

1. Moving on up, to the East Side.

2. Thanks to our soldiers, Americans can live free.

3. My best quality is I like to serve others.

4. Just give me the details.

5. In nearly 10 years, I'll be 50 years old!!! :o

6. A shower and a few thousand bucks is what I need right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to sorting clothes for the give-away at church tomorrow, tomorrow my plans include And Sunday, I want to the give-away in the morning, taking Kelsey & Megan to Danville, then a House Party at Hannah's!rest after going to church and Robert's memorial service!

Friday Fill-Ins

1. The crickets sing, a happy song.

2. Share a smile wherever you are.

3. I want to get far away from the rat race!

4. To retire a millionaire at 30 ; this was a dream.

5. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

6. Where I come from, lotsa' front porch pickin'...

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to hopefully giving hubby his long-awaited birthday gift (outside event, if not rained out AGAIN), tomorrow my plans include the Buckhead Betties purse warehouse sale (!!!) and Sunday, I want to rest - hopefully without this cough I've had for 2 weeks!

Catching my breath!

Ok, so it's been a CRAZY couple of weeks for me, and I've fallen way behind on my blogging. My deepest apologies to my millions of.....uhh...3 or so regular readers. :)

Hubby and I took a trip to Gatlinburg last weekend to celebrate his 45th birthday. He is so great about traveling! He loves it, I do too, and with the new'ish Harley we are on the roads for new adventures all the time now. Fun, fun stuff.

His birthday surprise from me got rained out on Tuesday. I was CRUSHED! Since he doesn't know what it is, he wasn't so crushed, which is good. I rescheduled it for the 24th @ 10am. I refuse to tell ANYONE what it is, though, because - as I told him - "Next to [his] kids, it'll be the best gift he EVER got!" and I don't want it ruined by someone spilling the beans. Actually, I did tell one person, but I won't even tell you who that is, because then hubby would read it here, and the might be tempted to badger that person to find out what his gift is. He hates surprises, but this one is GREAT. I can't wait! :)

I am fighting off the flu that's spreading around my town like crazy. Had a sore throat yesterday, but with some Coricidin & lots of prayer, I'm feeling better today ~knock on wood~. I have to finish up on my grandmother's 99th birthday party, which is tomorrow afternoon. She was the rock, along with my grandfather, of our family. I can't imagine life without her around. Not to worry, she says she's living to be 110, so we still have some time. :) The picture here is the most recent, with her brand new great-great-granddaughter (my precious little first great-niece!) Have you EVER seen a more beautiful woman who's 99 years old??? This picture was just taken last week, btw.

I also have to get all the prep finished for our Annual Downtown Fall Festival, also tomorrow (all day). Our Servant Evangelism Team always sets up a booth and gives away popcorn, cotton candy, and temporary tattoos to the kiddies. It's SO much fun, but a little bit of work too. I love it, and look forward to it each year. Come on out if you're in the neighborhood! I think we're expecting around 20,000 or so folks this year. ~now thinking that 400 cotton candy bags is NOT going to be enough...decides to hit up Walmart for more today~

Oh, and there's the two websites I'm supposed to be finishing up for my niece and her step-sister, who both own their own businesses. I have a pretty smart family, huh? :) I promise I will finish them SOON, ladies!! Hey, ya get what ya pay for, right? ;)

Ok, my BIG news for today:

• FINALLY calling Time Warner Cable and canceling our $45/month home phone service and going back to the MagicJack. I finally figured out how to keep it from messing up my sound card, and now all is right with the phone world @ my house! And we're saving $520 a year now!
• Put a hold on my YMCA membership, since we haven't used it in about 3 weeks. Will save another $123 on that (going back in January).
• Really want to cancel cable, too, but I don't think I can live without LifeTime (Army Wives) and Food Network. Not to mention CNN, Comedy Central, Fit TV, etc. None of which I actually watch, mind you, but I do DVR a *lot* in the hopes that one day I will be able to sit/lay down and enjoy the shows.
• I rearranged my office so that I can leave the treadmill folded out 24/7 in hopes that it will motivate me to actually get ON it at some point. My goal is 30 minutes a day, no matter what. Barring death, swine flu, or fire - I will be exercising again!
• Started eating healthy again a few days ago - and have dropped 4 lbs! (yes, I'm aware it's "water weight", I don't care. Don't harsh my mellow!!)

Ok, I'd better get off here now and stop boring you good folks. If you want to check out a totally new and uber-cool chick online, see Stesha's New Blog. It's brand-spanking new, and yesterday was her birthday. So...consider it your gift to her, and have a look!

Peace Out!
Wow, I think I've had too much coffee...sorry for the blabbering!

Friday Fill-In

1. I have a history of being a tad bit controlling.

2. What really goes on in a man's head is something I wish I knew.

3. I'm eating (or recently ate) cheese, fruit, & fresh veggies w/the girls.

4. I will soon be on the road.

5. So that's it, that's amore'!

6. A little is better than nothing!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to going to bed, tomorrow my plans include Dixie Classic Fair and Sunday, I want to relax once we get to Gatlinburg!

Late Friday Fill-In

Was busy yesterday with my daughter's last day of Rush Week (high school sorority - she was a Biggie (big sister) this year) so I didn't get to do my Friday Fill-In. So, here goes nothing:


1. My car suits my needs.

2. Mopping the floors is coming up next.

3. Lately, things seem hectic, yet unfulfilling.

4. My bed is one of my favorite 'hiding' places.

5. What happened to the years since my children were small??

6. With God, everything is not impossible! (that doesn't really read right, but you get my point)

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to maybe a movie with the hubby, tomorrow my plans include church, lunch, hopefully being lazy.

First Friday Fill-in

My First Fill-in Friday!

1. He was a carpenter who became my Savior.

2. Cuddling up indoors and the changing tree colors are what I look forward to most this time of year.

3. My best friend is Jesus.

4. I sometimes want to just run away where no one knows me, to be honest with you.

5. Appearances can be an idol.

6. The last person I gave a hug to was my beautiful, amazing, wonderful daughter on her way out to school.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner & a movie with my hubby, tomorrow my plans include a trip to Carowinds, but don't tell hubby - it's a surprise! And Sunday, I want to relax after a great church service and lunch.

Frugal Friday

Well, this is really a Trash-to-Treasure post, but I did save $$ by doing this myself instead of buying new so... I had been wanting a bread box for the longest time, and had been looking at stores for them. Of course being the tightwad that I am, I hadn't bought one. Lucky for me that I happened upon one at the thrift store for $6.00!

Here are the before & afters... I'm pretty proud of myself, and this looks great in my kitchen! I might do the trim in a different color at some point, but right now I don't trust my painting abilities not to mess it up.

I'm pretty sure I owned this exact style in the late 80's...
maybe mine had geese on it, though.
(Admit it, you were into the geese too!)


And after a $1.12 can of spray paint: