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Thursday, April 7, 2011

♥THANKFULNESS ♥

T= Today's
H= Heavenly
A= Anointed
N=News...
K= Kindness and
F= Faithfulness are
U= Undoubtedly GODS
L= Love Language that
N= Never
E=Ever
S= Subsides
S= Soooo......


Lets Spread the Good News and Bring Glory to our Lord

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Biggest Loser thoughts.....

I have shared with you all before that I am a HUGE fan of NBC'S reality show, Biggest Loser ~ No Pun Intended ;)

This Season has been, in my humble opinion, far different than any other season I have watched. One of the biggest surprises for me, and I believe a first for the show, was when 54 year old twin brothers, both of whom are police officers from Oklahoma decided that Biggest Loser was not for them. They made the choice to throw their weigh in (by eating behind clothes doors) and they were eliminated within weeks of one another. I can't even imagine having this kind of opportunity and throwing it all away! Soon after they were gone, the other contestants revealed some really ugly alliances and game playing. No doubt this game play has existed in prior seasons, but NEVER to the degree seen this season.

By far, this season has some of the heaviest contestants to date. The heaviest male is Arthur. A 34 year old stay at home dad. He weighed 646 pounds before going to the Biggest Loser but did some weight loss at home. When he weighed in for the first time at the ranch, an astounding 510 pounds.

Then there was the heaviest femaie, Courtney. A sweet 22 year old girl who met Bob (one of the trainers) at a Finale one year. She weighed over 400 pounds when she met him and she looked into his eyes and told him...."I am going to be the Biggest Loser one day" She landed a place on the Biggest Loser ranch the following season. But prior to coming she lost a 112 pounds ON HER OWN AT HOME! She weighed in for the first time @ 323.

I have experienced a myriad of emotions this season. I have thrown things at my TV, I have yelled at the contestants as if they can hear me, and last night I was a blubbering idiot at the elimination of one of the contestants. It was THE MOST HEARTBREAKING elimination I have ever seen.

A few weeks ago, Arthur was eliminated. I yelled at the contestants, I was sooo disgusted. I told my husband "this is it. I am done with this show! It's not about losing weight anymore, it's just a bunch of game play for these people. He reminded me, this is a game AND a competition ~ Arthur had to go home because he fell victim to dirty play tactics. The contestants who were voting didn't view the situation as "He is the heaviest man ever on this show and his life is literally still in danger if he doesn't continue to lose this weight" NOOOO, they got rid of him because of their "family alliances" This episode was a huge lesson in people reaping what they sow. Arthur had made a HUGE mistake a few weeks earlier and it came back to get him. I wonder though, all of those that voted him off because of their game play ~ how will they reap in their choices?

Last night found me in tears .... Courtney was automatically eliminated based on her weight loss percentage not being enough to save her. When Courtney came to be a contestant on the show, I don't recall ever seeing someone so positive, so determined, and so very precious to all of those around her. She NEVER EVER got involved in the game play. She literally inspired soo many of the other contestants and was doing an amazing job losing weight. Over the past 3 weeks though, Courtney's body hit a plateau and her weight loss started to level out. Her team member was sent home last week which meant she was the only remaining red team player. This allowed her to have her trainer all to herself. To say he worked her hard would be an understatement. He killed it and Courtney let him take her to new levels, pushing her to dig deep. When she stood upon the scale she only needed to lose 2 lbs. That's it..... 2 lbs. The scale seemed to tick FOREVER and it finally stopped and what it said broke my heart. Courtney lost 1 pound. Just 1. No one could believe it. Not her. Not the trainers. Not the other contestants.
No one. I am pretty sure if you could have seen every one across America who tuned into the Biggest Loser you would have seen every mouth on the floor and heard countless gasps.

There have only been a few times I've wanted the beg and plead for the rules to be bent for a contestant. To PLEASE allow them to stay. Arthur was one. And without a doubt, Courtney is the other. I wasn't the only one in tears. A big portion of the remaining contestants were also crying and so did a couple of the trainers. Why? Because this girl has the heart of gold. A smile that captured the hearts of many and a determination that hasn't wavered no matter what has been thrown her way.

These two contestants have been labeled as Season Favorites....They were just 2 ordinary people. Two People who were very obese, yet they both made decisions to change their behavior and ultimately save their lives. They both began their journey at home and were successful. I am certain they will continue on and reach their goal at home now. I would have liked to see them in the Final Round but I hope they know what an inspiration they have been even if they didn't win the Title of "Season 10's Biggest Loser." They played this game with integrity and character and they can hold their head up high and be soo very proud of all they have accomplished within themselves and for all of those who watched their journey to a healthy life.

I wonder..... if I was put on a National Show where camera's were on me, day in and day out, would I encourage all of those around me AND those who tuned in each week? I would like to hope so but I know One thing for certain.... it would be through the Grace of God and by the power of the Holy Spirit in me. Afterall, Through Christ ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE right :)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Did You Know???

Did you all know that Blogger will be offering new templates in the very near future?? Here is a glimpse into what they will be offering.....




Here is what they are telling us:

Today we’re previewing five new dynamic templates in Blogger that you’ll soon be able to customize and use for your blog. These new views use the latest in web technology, including AJAX, HTML5 and CSS3, to deliver a host of benefits to you and your readers:
Infinite scrolling: read more posts without having to reload or click to a second page
New layouts: different views suited to different types of blogs
Speed: download images as you view them, not all at once in advance
Interactivity: there are now more ways to experience and engage with blog content

If you want more information or to look at these options individually go here


What do you think?? Really different huh!!??

Well, There is your Tuesday Tidbit ;)

Monday, April 4, 2011

Monday's Musings

The weekend brought us Much Joy, Some Excitement, Warm (a high of 88'!! we tied the record that was set in 1965! WOW) and Oh SO VERY WINDY Weather and some Cherished Family time!

We had asked if our grand-daughter Rylee could come and spend the night with us not just so we could see her but to give her a little one on one time. Sooo, Saturday evening Jenna was at work and Jantzen had gone to see a movie with his friends so we were able to really have some one on one time with Rylee! We took her to the park and played, watched the ducks and her favorite is the swing! She could swing for hours on end if you let her

Swinging away





Rylee and I watching the ducks swim in the pond ~ she was just mesmerized!


We started a new series at Church titled "WEIRD ~ BECAUSE NORMAL ISN'T WORKING ANYMORE" Pastor Craig Groeschel has written a book and this is going to be yet another AWESOME SERIES!!

Mid-day Sunday we heard a horrible sound. We ran outside to see what it was and saw a HUGE tree laying on the ground. The wind was blowing so incredibly hard but we had no idea it was that bad! WE COULDN'T BELIEVE OUR EYES! There on the ground was a 40 FOOT TREE! Gone just like that! We pulled it to the firewood pile and will be chopping it up for next winter :)

Shortly after this happened our oldest daughter came over with our grandson and we spent the day together as a family. We sat outside enjoying the warm air & had dinner together. Jenna had to leave to go to work around 7. She works at a place that serves frozen yogurt in which you can choose your own toppings and let me tell ya....IT IS DELICIOUS!! So we ended our day by going to have some delicious yogurt! Was a perfect ending to a very perfect day!

How about you guys? How was your weekend? Hope you all have a blessed week!

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Spiritual Sundays ~ ♥ Who is Jesus?



WHO is JESUS?

IN CHEMISTRY.....
HE turned water into wine

IN BIOLOGY.....
HE was born without natural conception


IN PHYSICS.....
HE disproved the law of gravity when HE ascended into Heaven


IN ECONOMICS......
HE disproved the Law of Diminishing return by feeding 5,000 men with 2 fish & 5 loaves of bread


IN MEDICINE......
HE cured the sick and the blind without administering a single dose of drugs

IN HISTORY.....
HE is the BEGINNING and the END


IN GOVERNMENT.......
HE said that HE shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace


IN RELIGION......
HE said that no one come to the Father except through HIM


SO, who is HE?

HE IS JESUS!

Join me in celebrating HIM

HE IS WORTHY.

Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master.

Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher.

Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer

He had no army, yet kings feared Him..

He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world.

He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.

He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today.

I feel honored to serve such a Leader who loves us!




To Join in with Spiritual Sundays go here

Friday, April 1, 2011

TGIF ♥ Is your car a Racist?


Besides being a Captain on the Fire Department, My Brother owns and operates a Tint Business. He has been soo very successful and early this year he actually hired a friend (Devin) to help him keep up with all the business he was getting. Alot of the time, the guys are in the shop tinting cars while other times they are out and about doing commercial jobs. On this day however, they were in the shop working on a Ford Edge and decided they would take advantage of the cars "Voice Prompt" and listen to the radio of their choice.

Devin who is Vietnamese decides he will "Instruct" the car and what station they would like to listen to. For some odd reason the car WILL NOT register his commands but then as you will see, My brother ever so calmly directs the car and viola' it works. This happens yet again & again & again LOLOLOL.....Poor Devin! Listen to what she tells him when He says "Go back" Oh my!!! we have laughed and laughed!! Hope you will too!

Happy Friday my Friends and remember to visit KIM for More Friday funnies


Laugh at yourself first before anyone else can.
Elsa Maxwell

Thursday, March 31, 2011

Dear God, I can't find my......


I would venture to guess that just about everyone has lost something at some point in their life....Keys, shoes, glasses etc. When you lose an item such as these what do you do? Do you retrace your steps and hope to find the item that way? Do you ask a member of your household if they have seen the item? Do you PRAY and ask GOD to show you where the item is??

19 years ago I was a new believer. Something I experienced that proved to be HUGE in building my Faith was when I would lose something.....my keys, my purse, my glasses or dare I say it .... even a shoe ~ God would take me too the lost item

EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.

This has continued over the years and still to this day God takes me straight to it!

Wednesday proved to be another example of HIS Faithfulness and HIS care and concern even in the little things. We had planned on taking Jenna's prom dress to be altered. I was loading up the car with all the items she would be wearing and of course that would include some high heels. Because I haven't changed out my closets from Winter to Spring/Summer I had to do a little hunting for those particular shoes. I found one shoe right away but couldn't for the life of me find the matching shoe. I looked all over my closet, Jenna's closet, the mud room closet where we keep the "out of season clothes". I LOOKED EVERYWHERE!! I might add, I was on a tight schedule and didn't really have time to be hunting for one shoe! So I did what I always do when I can't find something ~ I prayed and asked God to show me where the shoes was.....

Not 30 seconds later did I find the matching shoe!!

It just NEVER ceases to AMAZE me and bring me SUCH JOY when the Lord does this!! Like a sweet kiss from HIM saying I Love YOU and care about you .... even this.

There have been times that I have shared with others how the Lord has shown me my "Lost" items before and some will say...


Oh gosh! How silly! I would never "BUG" God with such small details ~ OR ~

You seriously ask God to help you find your keys or a shoe? Like I am some weirdo or something LOL


You know what.... I do. I ask and HE shows. It encourages me soo much and has at times, turned my day around ~ from frantic to joy-filled! Just knowing the Lord heard me and cares that much..... WOW

What about you? Has you ever asked the Lord to show you where your keys are? Or even a lost shoe? Isn't it just awesome when HE does that!! :) If you haven't ever asked HIM before.... just know this! HE really does care and loves you enough to help you find what you are looking for! Even a lost shoe!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

An Important Read

My Friend Melanie shared this on Facebook and I thought it was important enough to share here as well! An unbelievable and oh so important read (in my opinion) It's longer than my normal post but it's an important read



THE PRESIDENT WITHOUT A COUNTRY



© 2011
"We're no longer a Christian nation." – President Barack Obama, June 2007

"America has been arrogant." – President Barack Obama

"After 9/11, America didn't always live up to her ideals."

– President Barack Obama

"You might say that America is a Muslim nation."

– President Barack Obama, Egypt 2009


Thinking about these and other statements made by the man who wears the title of president … I keep wondering what country he believes he's president of.

In one of my very favorite stories, Edward Everett Hale's "The Man without a Country," a young Army lieutenant named Philip Nolan stands condemned for treason during the Revolutionary War, having come under the influence of Aaron Burr. When the judge asks him if he wishes to say anything before sentence is passed, young Nolan defiantly exclaims, "Damn the United States! I wish I might never hear of the United States again!"

The stunned silence in the courtroom is palpable, pulsing. After a long pause, the judge soberly says to the angry lieutenant: "You have just pronounced your own sentence. You will never hear of the United States again. I sentence you to spend the rest of your life at sea, on one or another of this country's naval vessels – under strict orders that no one will ever speak to you again about the country you have just cursed."

And so it was. Philip Nolan was taken away and spent the next 40 years at sea, never hearing anything but an occasional slip of the tongue about America. The last few pages of the story, recounting Nolan's dying hours in his small stateroom – now turned into a shrine to the country he foreswore – never fail to bring me to tears. And I find my own love for this dream, this miracle called America, refreshed and renewed. I know how blessed and unique we are.

Is Shariah law coming to a court near you? Get "Stealth Jihad" – Robert Spencer's expose about efforts to quietly establish the Muslim system in Amerca

But reading and hearing the audacious, shocking statements of the man who was recently elected our president – a young black man living the impossible dream of millions of young Americans, past and present, black and white – I want to ask him, "Just what country do you think you're president of?"

You surely can't be referring to the United States of America, can you? America is emphatically a Christian nation, and has been from its inception! Seventy percent of her citizens identify themselves as Christian. The Declaration of Independence and our Constitution were framed, written and ratified by Christians. It's because this was, and is, a nation built on and guided by Judeo-Christian biblical principles that you, sir, have had the inestimable privilege of being elected her president.

You studied law at Harvard, didn't you, sir? You taught constitutional law in Chicago? Did you not ever read the statement of John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and an author of the landmark "Federalist Papers": "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers – and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation – to select and prefer Christians for their rulers"?

In your studies, you surely must have read the decision of the Supreme Court in 1892: "Our lives and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it should be otherwise; and in this sense and to this extent our civilization and our institutions are emphatically Christian."

Did your professors have you skip over all the high-court decisions right up till the mid 1900s that echoed and reinforced these views and intentions? Did you pick up the history of American jurisprudence only in 1947, when for the first time a phrase coined by Thomas Jefferson about a "wall of separation between church and state" was used to deny some specific religious expression – contrary to Jefferson's intent with that statement?

Or, wait a minute … were your ideas about America's Christianity formed during the 20 years you were a member of the Trinity United Church of Christ under your pastor, Jeremiah Wright? Is that where you got the idea that "America is no longer a Christian nation"? Is this where you, even as you came to call yourself a Christian, formed the belief that "America has been arrogant"?

Even if that's the understandable explanation of your damning of your country and accusing the whole nation (not just a few military officials trying their best to keep more Americans from being murdered by jihadists) of "not always living up to her ideals," how did you come up with the ridiculous, alarming notion that we might be "considered a Muslim nation"?

Is it because there are some 2 million or more Muslims living here, trying to be good Americans? Out of a current population of over 300 million, 70 percent of whom are Christians? Does that make us, by any rational definition, a "Muslim nation"?

Why are we not, then, a "Chinese nation"? A "Korean nation"? Even a "Vietnamese nation"? There are even more of these distinct groups in America than Muslims. And if the distinction you're trying to make is a religious one, why is America not "a Jewish nation"? There's actually a case to be made for the latter, because our Constitution – and the success of our Revolution and founding – owe a deep debt to our Jewish brothers.

Have you stopped to think what an actual Muslim America would be like? Have you ever really spent much time in Iran? Even in Egypt? You, having been instructed in Islam as a kid at a Muslim school in Indonesia and saying you still love the call to evening prayers, can surely picture our nation founded on the Quran, not the Judeo-Christian Bible, and living under Shariah law. Can't you? You do recall Muhammad's directives [Surah 9:5,73] to "break the cross" and "kill the infidel"?

It seems increasingly and painfully obvious that you are more influenced by your upbringing and questionable education than most suspected. If you consider yourself the president of a people who are "no longer Christian," who have "failed to live up to our ideals," who "have been arrogant," and might even be "considered Muslim" – you are president of a country most Americans don't recognize.

Could it be you are a president without a country?

Monday, March 28, 2011

Firsts and Lasts


When your daughter is a Senior in High School, let me tell you..... "The time flies by way tooo fast!" Experiencing so many things for the very last time can at times break this mommas heart.



Her last High School Spring Break
Her final football game as an Athletic Trainer
Shopping for her last ever Prom Dress
Her final Basketball game as an Athletic Trainer
Multiple Senior Nights recognizing them and all of their accomplishments
Her final Soccer game as an Athletic Trainer


Along with all of these Lasts in her life we are also experiencing Many "Firsts"

Applying to Colleges
Being accepted and deciding where to go
Attending College Open Houses
Filling out countless Financial Aid Forms
Going to the College Greek Discovery Days


I will be honest, whether we are experiencing a First or a Last Situation I am in need of some serious KLEENEX! This weekend alone, we found the most beautiful Prom Dress for Jenna's very last Prom EVER! The very next day we were up and on the road by 7am to drive down to the College she has chosen. We went down to "Greek Discovery Day" to see if joining a Sorority is something she might be interested in.

During the Parent session one of the college advisers told us our #1 assignment as parents is to stop being Helicopter Parents ~ definition ~ to stop hovering over our children.

All the Parents listened and laughed and if they were like me they had to look within and ask...."Am I a Helicopter Parent? Do I hover?"

The Lord has blessed me abundantly with my children. To love them, care for them, and lead them in the way they should go. Each day has been such a gift! I know I haven't always done things perfectly, and no doubt at times I have definitely hovered.
I know letting go is a process, so for now, I am CHERISHING every single day....whether it is something we are experiencing for the first time, or sadly.... the last time.

I am so excited to see all the Plans God has in store for my girl....her Hope, her Future

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Friday, March 25, 2011

TGIF ♥



Hip Hip Hooray It's F-R-I-D-A-Y

You know what that means :) It's time for some Friday Funnies! Kim over @ HomesteadersHeart hosts FF each week so if you want to enjoy more funnies head on over there or even better than that, join in with us, and share your own funny!! The More Funnies, the more Laughs for everyone!!

My Son found this funny and he said "Mom, you are going to love this and I bet you will want to use it for your Friday Funny" He was CORRECT!! This is soo cute! This sweet baby can't figure out if his Momma blowing her nose is scary or funny??


Happy Friday my Friends!

Thought for the Day:

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
-- Mother Teresa