Monday, June 29, 2009

We're Back.....

Well the trip to the deep south is over and it's back to the rat race! We had a great time with my sister and her husband. We did alot and traveled over 3600 miles. I don't need to sit in the van for 19 hours again for a very, very long time! Those of you that drive straight through to Florida when you go are much stronger then I!

Anyway I thought I would post a few pictures and let you know a few little ditty's about our trip. Maybe over a few posts. First up, things we tried that you only find in the south:

Because of Linda talking about Chick-fil-a, I told Steve we have to eat there, so here is a picture of Chick-fil-a, and Bekah and I(and champ) outside of Chick-fil-a:








It was already stinkin' hot so we had to keep Champ out of the van when we ate. People probably thought we were nuts eating outside, but hey the dog is king! I even tried the sweet tea. It was good. I remembered that's how I used to drink tea when I was younger.

Next on our trip to NO, my sister said we need to stop at the Cafe du Monde for Coffee and Ben-Yays (I know this is the phonic sound, I can't remember how to spell it!). Ben-yays are square donuts that the dump tons of powdered sugar on. Oh boy were they good!:





Oh it was stinkin' hot there too!! Bekah kept walking in and out of shops just to be in the air conditioning!


On just about every corner in the deep south, we kept seeing a Waffle house! We'll we just couldn't take it any more so on the way home from Pensacola we finally at at a Waffle House! It was very good, and our waiter was a hoot! He was a young man named Donte who just loved to talk. He found out we were from Michigan (ya know because of our accent!) and told us he was born in Saginaw and goes back there now and then. I loved him, he was very funny. He and Jeremiah had a fascinating conversation about Guitar Hero (hummm....) Sorry no picture of Donte:

We did eat at Sonics and Ci Ci's Pizza for the first time too, but I think we now have those up here so they are not uniquely southern.

So there you have it! We start out with food! I do have to add here that while I was down there I didn't gain any weight! That was a big surprise, because my sister had so many snacks and we eat all the time. Steve thinks I sweat it off!


Thursday, June 18, 2009

Mississippi here we come!

Tomorrow morning bright and very early we will leave for Mississippi! We are excited to see the sights of the south! My sister lives in Gulfport, so that will be our home base, but what I was wondering is what do some of you southern ladies recommend we do? We plan on seeing New Orleans, and want to head into Alabama and the pan handle of Florida. So any advice?

Pray for our trip! It will be 16-18 hours in a vehicler, most likely with a white pooch perched on my lap!

I'll try post pictures!

Monday, June 15, 2009

The Death of Common Sense

(I read this in our communities Senior Citizen Newsletter. Yes I read it because if has great stories and information. I thought this would be great to share)

Today we mourn the passing of an old Friend by the name of Common Sense.....
Common Sense lived a long life but died from heart failure at the brink of the millennium. No one really knows how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, factories, and offices, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness.
For decades, petty rules, silly laws and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, the early bird gets the worm, and life isn't always fair.
Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more then you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it's okay to come in second.
A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including feminism, body piercing, whole language and "new math".
But his health declined when he became infected with the "If-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth-it" virus. In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing federal regulation.
He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers and enlightened auditors. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies, reports of six-year-old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but cannot inform the parent when the female student is pregnant or wants an abortion.
Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment then victims, and the federal judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to professional sports.
As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments, regarding questionable regulations of asbestos, low flow toilets, "smart" guns, the nurturing of Prohibition Laws and mandatory air bags. Finally when told that the homeowners association restricted exterior furniture only to that which enhanced property values, he breathed his last.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Trust and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers: Rights, Tolerance and Whiner. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Friday, June 12, 2009

A Little creative help n eeded


I just bought this basket from a garage sale to showcase my pine cones from California. I have absolutely not creative talent, so I am looking to all you wonderful ladies to help me add some pizazz to this decoration! HELP!
There's also my dried Eucalyptus leaves! Tee Hee I may have to through them out, but they are my only souvenir from the Eucalyptus grove we went through!

Tolerance is not a two way street....

That is the comment that former Ms. California Carrie Prejean just made on the Today show. After watching the interview I sat back and thought about what is happening in America and what will continue to happen. What is my role in all of this?

First of all I so agree with her. Regardless of the racy photos (which I wish she would have had better since not to do), her crown was taken away because of her stand on marriage being between one man and one woman, and not same sex. We all know that the entertainment industry would have loved those photos otherwise.

Are we all ready to take the stand she did and be persecuted for it? A time is coming and even is now where we have to stand up and speak out for what God says is truth! I love that country song that goes "you've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything". Do we know what we stand for are are we ready to defend it?!

That brings me to the second thing I was considering. My blog. How silly right?! Well I've been praying about what the main point of my blogging should be. Yes I still want to blog about my wonderful family and the trips we take, and things we do, but my blogging has to have a heavenly purpose in order for it to continue. What I feel God is laying on my heart is what he prepared me to do by reading Ezekiel. I need to be about pointing people to the God of the Bible, The God of Israel! They need to desire to know Him and His word! I want to be a part of that growth!

So that is where I feel God is leading me. I'm still praying into the wonderful changes that Lisa is going to help me with, and I am waiting on him! Oh look I typed waiting! That is one thing I have desired God to teach me (could it be I'm getting it?!!!!).

Again I hope and pray that when I blog, all things point to God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Counsel of the Holy Spirit!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

God is creating something new.....

Lisa from Extravagant Grace just let me know that I won a bloggy make over from her 500th post Party! How exciting is that! She asked me if I wanted it since I am taking a bloggy break and the future of my blog is uncertain! Well I said yes because this is what I am thinkin': God is taking me and my blog in a different direction! He wants it to be all about Him! He wants me to stop thinking about me and all the things that so easily entangle me and be about His work! So as I pray (just like I've been doing), I will continue to pray for his guidance and leadership as I work with Lisa to put this new blog together! How exciting is that!! Did I say that already?!!! I am so excited to see what the future holds! Maybe and rightly so I will blog only to Him, then I believe I will be satisfied!!!

Thanks Lisa! I never thought I would win something like this, and I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Monday, June 8, 2009

A couple of things.....


So I've been on my bloggy break and trying to decide whether I should return and in what form. I think in a way that even the thought is very silly, because what am I thinking this blog this is anyway! I desire to blog, and I know that most of the time I have thoughts I need to get out, hence my initial post here, but why am I really blogging and what am I expecting from it? You see I have issues with "insert confession here" needing to be liked and accepted. None of you have that problem do you?! Well I began to notice that I was looking more at the comments or lack there of, then just getting what was on my mind out or showing others what God was teaching me. That is wrong, and I don't like it, so I have stopped. Another issue I had with blogging is time. I need to prioritize my time and not let it consume my day. So that being said, I am going to ask a selfish thing here. I am asking that you pray concerning whether I should return to blogging and in what form. I will be praying the same thing on my end. I want it to all be for God's glory and now my own, and if I can encourage anyone along the way, so be it!!! Thank you for your prayers!


One more thing that has been on my mind this morning. What are your thoughts on this question:


Are we still a Christian nation?

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Lisa's having a 500th post party!

Extravagant Grace



Hey everyone, head on over to Lisa's @ Extravagant Grace. She is having a party that your invited too! Tell her Kim invited you!

Now back to my break!

Bloggy Break Interruption for Sweet Award!

Even though I am on a bloggy break, I had to acknowledge this Awe-summ award! Lorrie over at My Spot on the Shore gave this to me! What a sweet heart! It is so good to know that some of the things I post blesses others hearts. It all comes from how God is speaking to me, and we all know his word does not return void, AMEN?!




Here is how it works:

I'm suppose to name 7 things that make me awe-summ...
(that's the part a find a little hard...but here it goes...)
1. being a follower of Christ makes me awe-summ! (this is the same as Lorries, but hey it makes me awe-summ too!!!)
2. Being with my wonderful family
3. Going camping with my awe-summ family
4. Being Obedient to God's call
5. Relaxing in the Upper Peninsula
6. Seeing myself as God sees me through eyes of love
7.Lovin' on the kids at church
Now I pass it on to 7 folks who I think are awesumm-
all the blogs I have visited are awesumm, but these are the ones I find myself going back to faithfully because they inspire me:
Of course Lorrie @ My spot on the Shore
Mari @ My Little Corner of the World
Andy @ Agile, Mobile, Hostile(because he is serving our country and that is awesome!!!!)Andy I know it's not a manly award, but hey you are awesome and so are all your fellow soldiers!
Cheryl @ "Your Friend - Cheryl"
Marsha @ Marsha's Musings
Beth @ I'm heading towards my Destiny
Lisa @ Extravagant Grace