HOW COLD IS IT????

Ok This is going to be a fun post :)

I am 43 yrs old. I have lived in OK since I was 4 and as long as I have been here I have NEVER known OKLAHOMA to close schools because of the bitter cold temps. Well, guess what ~ THEY DID!!! For the REST OF THE WEEK

We are suppose to be in the single digits or at 0 with the wind chills dipping to 25 below!!! BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I went to the grocery store just because I NEEDED some milk but when I pulled up I COULD NOT believe the parking lot! There were no buggies to be had and the lines were INSANE!! It was worse than any holiday I could ever remember and this wasn't a holiday! Well I looked at my phone at Facebook to see if I could tell what was going on and sure enough .....I got my answer! School in nearby Tulsa had already closed for Thurs and Fri due to the cold temperature that was on its way. One of our meterologist had put a status up telling everyone to go get Bread Milk and Toilet Paper LOL Apparently they listened :)
Well, I got a phone call from my dear friend Kat and was sharing our weather news with her and she and I were having a great time talking about all I was seeing at the store.

So many people had clearly jumped up out of bed or off the couch (mind you, this is 3pm in the afternoon) and thrown on sweats with boots and most had bed head ....seriously I've never seen so many horses butts (thats what I call it when you have bed head or a whole in the crown of your head HAHA) in my life in one place at one time! Well as I was walking down the aisle and I saw this precious lady with her RED HAT :) Kat said ...you gotta take a picture and put it on your blog....so...I did

Isn't she precious :)


Then I decided you needed to see our forecast to show you just how cold it is going to be!

Thurs/Friday



Friday/Saturday


Someone commented on Facebook that if parents would stop sending there children to school in shorts and flip flops maybe we wouldn't have to close schools LOL ....I have a friend whose teenage boys wear shorts and TRUST ME she does NOT send them to school this way they CHOOSE this!!! CRAZY KIDS :) but they are godly kids
they just don't get cold I guess


Well, I hope you have enjoyed this silly post and if you would kindly send WARM wishes my way....oh wait those are kind thoughts ~ oh well, you can do that as well but in all honesty we need WARM AIR!! At the moment we are having SLEET fall and snow is headed this way....don't think it will be much but anytime ice comes first it makes for scary driving conditions so pray for all the Oklahoma drivers ok :0) We kindly appreiate it

Love and Blessings to you all....I love you sooo ♥

But wait ~ We need more time

I shared with you all yesterday that I was going to have lunch with my friends Tamara ~ who lives here and also, for the first time my bloggy friend Lori from Girly Muse. You know how you feel so connected to someone and then wonder when you meet, will it be the same? Is she all I thought ~ or will I live up to what she expected!!! Well, For me I can say that having lunch with these girls was a little moment in time that was pure Heaven. They both have tremendous hearts for the Lord and this time was just precious to me and only made me love them MORE!

Tamara lives here and we really haven't spent much time together. She recently had shoulder surgery and we have talked here and there but each time there was this instant connection. Clearly, we are both Sanguines and this means that when you meet us we are already your best friend and your gonna pretty much know and hear everything going on in our lives (like it or not LOL) I learned so much about her yesterday and know I have a friend for life and an accountablility partner for sure! I am thankful that we will have many more lunch dates, coffee dates and who knows what?? ;)

Lori ~ well let me just say this. She is the most adorable thing EVA!!!! My favorite thing ~ I was taller than her! JUST KIDDING...not about being taller but about that being my favorite part. I feel like I have known her all my life and am so thankful to have found her and her sweet family! Did I tell you she brought her Momma ~HONEY and her precious children! The infamous Greyley....OH my I have such a heart for this sweet girl! She is so talented ....she sings, she knits and is just as sweet in person as I imagined her to be. Then there is the precious Indigo. You just want to eat him up. He was in his own little boy world.... while we chatted away, every so often you would hear his make believe battleship flying into the air or an explosion occuring while the troops were running in to save the day...you know that world right :) I love it! Her momma ~ HONEY is just soo sweet and the Love of the Lord is ALL OVER HER! I was so very blessed to be able to meet all of them and one day I hope to be able to do it again and have wayyyyyyyyyy more time! Lori is sweeter than I ever could have made her out to be and so very genuine ~ You know ~ She is the Real Deal. A beautiful woman of God, an authentic friend who cares very much about you. I am so thankful to have had this time with her and look forward to many more visits....SOMEDAY SOMEHOW ~ THE LORD KNOWS
:)





THIS IS US ......left to right ~ me, Lori and Tamara


Indigo ♥


Lori and her momma HONEY



Greyley ♥




I wish for everyone to be able to meet to bloggy friends someday....I have many more that I hope to hug their necks and share time with and hope the Lord will bless me with the opportunity and that you all will as well....It is such a gift to receive! Thankyou Lord and Thankyou Tamara, Lori, Honey, Greyley and Indigo! I will forever cherish this day

My Daybook

FOR TODAY... Janaury 5, 2010 WOW :) that seems strange to type

Outside my window... Freezing temps in the teens BRRRR and snow is still everywhere!! More in the forecast to come as well

I am thinking... about a few things....My lunch date with my bloggy friends today ~ Lori from Girly Muse is coming to town WAHOO!! and Tamara from Catching up with the Conners who lives here and is my real life friend, well they went to college together and so today the three of us are going to lunch together!! (pictures to come) Then later I have to return to REHAB for my shoulder....I am scared! LOL Went to the dr. and being off for 4 weeks has done some damage. If I don't get things going I will have to go in for a manipulation. They will put me asleep and "manipulate" my shoulder and rather I should say....tear my shoulder through the scar tissue OMG OWWWWW! please pray this WON'T happen!!

I am thankful for... my family and the time we had during the break!

I am wearing... jeans and my awesome warm sweater with my cowboy boots today

I am going... out in this bitter cold with JOY and Warmth in my heart

I am currently reading... Jenna's Cowboy (review) and the Judas Ride (review)

I am hoping... and (praying) for the health of many bloggy friends

Noticing that... when a situation arises that brings fear or uncertainty and my response is "Jesus ~ I trust you" that it brings so much peace. This was my devotional yesterday and WOW....amazing. simple yet amazing...

From the kitchen... Really stumped with a menu lately....today is chicken w/scallpoed potaoes and green beans which will be YUMMY :) after that IDK ~ got any suggestions?

Around the house... don't know if we will ever be back on the right bed time schedule...usually this doesn't hit until spring break and I know that the kids won't get in bed at a decent hour but this break has really gotten us off schedule!

One of my favorite things~ the gift of friendship


From my Picture Journal.....

Me and my Rylee ♥




May you experience the Lord and HIS unfathomable L♥VE today!

Sara Evans is now an author

This video gives you a peek into this book and more about the other 3 books in the series



A redemptive story from multi-platinum recording artist Sara Evans.

Jade Fitzgerald left the pain of her past in the dust when she headed out for college a decade ago. Now she's thriving in her career and glowing in the light of Max Benson's love.

But then Jade's hippie mother, Beryl Hill, arrives in Whisper Hollow, Tennessee, for Jade's wedding along with Willow, her wild younger sister. Their arrival forces Jade to throw open the dark closets of her past--the insecurity of living with a restless, wandering mother, the silence of her absent father, and the heart-ripping pain of first-love's rejection.

Turns out Beryl has a secret of her own. She needs reconciliation with her oldest daughter before illness takes her life. In the final days leading to the wedding, Jade meets the One who shows her that the past has no hold on her future. With a little grace, they'll meet in the middle, maybe even before that sweet by and by.

My review:
This is a great novel by first time author and country singer Sara Evans. Jade Fitzgerald is a young woman who has dealt with the pain of rejection and has not reconciled some relationships from her past and is forced to do so with her upcoming wedding. This is a story of redemption, forgiveness and Gods grace. Learn how Jade deals with the abandonment issues left in her heart by her Father which in turn of course, affects her relationship with God. See how the Lord mends her relationship with her mother and how they deal with some difficult news. I would encourage anyone to read this book and look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series!

Thank you Thomas Nelson publishers for allowing me this complimentary copy and in return I have given them this humble opinion and my review free of charge :)

If you would like to purchase The Sweet By and By please visit Thomas Nelson Publishers here

Love and Blessings

In all things

Gods Word tells us this:

In all things we know that God works good for those who love HIM and are called according to HIS purpose. Romans 8:28

I believe and have stood on this Word many times in my life but I see it so clearly in this past few weeks of my Dads life and in the days since he has gone to be with Jesus.

When I left I never dreamed we would have lost my dad as quickly as we did and the main thing I have struggled with since, was the fact that as we were checking out of the hospital I believed STRONGLY in the doctors words "NO NO you don't have DAYS left you have WEEKS left." We lost dad 6 days later. Remember we had planned on driving my Dad back to Okla to see his mom but then daddy took another bad turn and we flew my Nana immediately to Florida. Although Dad was not awake or coherent when my Nana was there by his side she was able to share her heart and say things she wanted to say that otherwise wouldn't have happened. God worked Good for Dad and for Nana

My brother and I live in the same small town and have lunch periodically but never really talk on a heart level or spend much time together. Over the course of the last 3-4 years we have taken a trip to Dads in May to attend the TPC Sawgrass Golf Tournament and also spend Dads birthday with him. This was one time a year that my brother and I would spend together and I grew to love these trips. When we would return home it would go back to normal ~ not really taking the time for one another yet we were building something.....

When we got the call of Dads admit to the hospital and made the arrangements to go to Florida my brother had plans to return after only 4 days and although I hated for him to return (not knowing if Dad would make it for him to come back) I knew it wasn't likely that my brother would stay indefinately and be able to handle seeing Dad the way he was but he COMPLETELY surprised us all. He stayed the entire time ~ HE was INCREDIBLE with my Dad and honestly I couldn't even begin to share the healing and life changing events that took place in my brother. God worked good for my brother and my Dad



What has taken place for my brother and I is only from the LORD. We have worked side by side for the last month caring for our daddy in every capacity imaginable. We have shared our hearts with each other, strengthened one another and depended on each other as well. This is something I will forever praise the Lord for. In the midst of the pain there is a GIFT. This is true no matter what you go through because whether you are dealing with a pruning of your flesh, a loss of a loved one, or working on broken relationships God watches over HIS Word to perform it. He Cannot Lie and His Word says ~
In ALL THINGS WE KNOW THAT GOD WORKS GOOD FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND ARE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE Thank you Lord for YOU worked good for me and Tony

So, stand on His Word today. Trust HIM. Praise HIM. Walk with HIM and see what Good HE will do for YOU


Love and Blessings

less sugar in Cereal ~ Thanks General Mills

If your kids are like mine ~ cereal is not just for breakfast :) We eat cereal for a snack, or sometimes dinner YEP I said dinner! Well, I was glad to learn that General Mills is decreasing the amount of sugar they put in their yummy cereals. Here is some great info they shared regarding cereal in general:

Did you know that ready-to-eat cereal eaters consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber than non-cereal eaters? Cereals also deliver important vitamins, minerals and other essential nutrients, making cereal a top source of key nutrients in children´s diets.

Other cereal benefits:
Ready-to-eat cereals, including presweetened cereals, account for only 5% of sugar in children´s diets.

Ready-to-eat cereal is the No. 1 source of whole grains in a child´s diet today.

More frequent cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and lower Body Mass Index measures.
Studies also demonstrate the benefits of eating breakfast. A 1998 study showed that children who eat breakfast tend to perform better at school. Compared to children who skip breakfast, children who eat breakfast score higher on tests, are less likely to miss class or be tardy, have fewer reported discipline problems, and make fewer trips to the office.

For more information about kids and cereals, please visit Cereal Health and Wellness

Right now if you visit here you will find a $1 off coupon for one of four General Mills cereals. If you choose to participate we will also provide you with VIP coupons for 4 boxes of General Mills cereal to help your family come together at the breakfast table every morning.

THANKS General Mills and MYBlogSpark! for giving me complimentary coupons and allowing me to pass this information on to you

AMAZING book

The Book:
Tass Saada was a PLO sniper and Arafat's chauffeur, a Muslim immersed in anti-Israeli activity. As a young man he came to America, where he started a family, changed his faith, and began reconciliation with Jews. Later on he returned to Qatar to face his family and former boss, Arafat, with stories from his new life in Christ. The encounters are astounding. You'll embrace Saada's engaging story. You'll be enthralled by his conversion and the biblical teaching regarding Arabs and Ishmael. You'll be encouraged by his changed life and the story of hope in reconciliation through Jesus. Don't miss this enlightening true story by Tass Saada, written with Dean Merrill.


My Review:
As I read this book I found myself in awe and saying a variety of things such as: "WOW" ~ "Lord, your mercy and grace overwhelm me" -OR- "Oh my gosh!" Once an Arafat Man is NOT my typical choice of books and even when I received it, I honestly thought it would go on the bottom of my review stack, but I felt the Lord calling me to this book. I am so very thankful! This book is by far my favorite of 2009! Taas Saada was a young man who whatever he set his mind to, he conquered. In his young age he was a very determined young boy who believed strongly in fighting for his people and was destined to be a leader no matter what the situation. This is a story of mercy, of grace, and an amazing look into the Life of a Muslim man and how the Lord can change that heart. You will see how a family can overcome many obstacles despite different belief systems and how the Lord can restore relationships despite the pain caused over many years.
I strongly recommend this book on so many levels. It will encourage, inspire, and I must warn you~ You might not be able to put it down!! I know I couldn't.


Thank you Tyndale for allowing me to read this book free of charge, in return I gave them this humble opinion ~ my review. If you would like to order Once an Arafat Man please visit Tyndale.com

Spiritual Sundays

I have been enjoying the final days that we are all home and together ~ before we get back into our routines. I LOVE it when we are all home together. My DH had vacation this week so we have just been having some really good FAMILY TIME!

It's a new year for Spiritual Sundays and if you haven't ever joined in ~ please do! If you want to be blessed please take time to visit here and read the many different posts. While there let Charlotte and Ginger know what a wonderful place it is! Thankyou ladies so much for sharing this wonderful place with so many!

Today I am sharing out of my Jesus Calling devotional. It is written by Sarah Young.


Come To ME with a teachable spirit, eager to be changed. A close walk with ME is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to the old ways as you step into a New Year. Instead, seek MY face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with ME involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind. As you focus your thoughts on ME, be aware that I am fully attentive to you. I see you with a steady eye, because my attention span is INFINITE. I know and understand you completely; MY thoughts embrace you in everlasting love.
I also know the plans I have for you: plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Give yourself fully to this adventure of increasing attentiveness to my Presence.



May you all have a blessed Sunday

2010

I pray you all have a very blessed and prosperous New Year! May you all feel HIS Love and HIS Peace cover you each new day





♥ Love and Blessings ♥

Getting out of my box

I really dislike "new years resolutions" so I don't make them. My way of thinking tends to be "why make a resolution only one time a year because the Lord may wish for me to change in ways too many to count and certainly more than one time during the year!"

What I feel HE is saying to me for this season is this ~ Get out of your box Loren ....I see this in my reading, I feel this in my ministry, in our own walk with HIM as well. I feel HIM stretching me and my family and I am excited to see what this looks like!
I am seeking HIM diligently and I know HE will show me the way

What about you? Are you seeking HIM, are you taking quiet time to Listen to what HE is saying? HE longs to speak, to share HIS will for you ~ You are HIS Beloved

I am reading quite a few new books for review and LOVE when the Lord brings things into your life that all have the same theme! I haven't finished them but I can tell you I will be HIGHLY recommending them once I am done!

Francis Chan ~ "Forgotten God ~ Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit"
Tass Saada w/Dean Merrill ~ "Once an Arafat Man ~ The True Story of how a PLO Sniper found a New Life"

and on a lighter note

Peggy Yarber ~ The Judas Ride


I pray everyone has a safe New Years Eve and enjoys their families. We will be having a quiet night at H♥ME with our kids and some of their friends and our Precious Grandbaby will be spending the night with us WAHOO!! This is a change as we usually spend the evening with our group of friends playing games or in the most recent years we have gone to a church and spent the evening on our faces before the Lord in Praise and Worship and just in prayer and hearing what the Lord is saying to us and for the coming year. We plan on doing this here at home this year and I am excited to bring in this new Year here in the Peace of our own H♥ME with the LORD leading us every step of the way!


Love and Blessings to you all