Everyday Blessings...

I absolutely love this video. For some reason it makes me cry. Don't know why. I hope that you enjoy! You will need to pause the blog music to hear it. Blessings.

We took official Senior Pictures today. It was fun. Here are the son's choices. I think they are all good, but chime in one which one you might pick if you want to. Of course, this first one is just a sweet mom and son picture. Have a blessed day. 1- I love this one 2- He likes this one 3-He DOES NOT like this one. ? 4- Pretty cool colors 5- Love how his blue eyes show up so nice in this one 6- My favorite Proverbs 3:4-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

My Mom sent me these thoughts and I loved them. A great book to read that reminds me of this blog entry is: "Sister Chicks on the Loose". I love the main character in this book. She is spontaneous and fun and fully lets loose and trusts God. Let's dance a little today. I know I need to. Blessings on this day...let's make it a good one not only for ourselves but for those around us. Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible. How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration...

Picture thoughts: Sweet silly husband and I being incredibly goofy The cross that Michael made for me. I love it. THOUGHTS FOR TODAY (April 27, 2009)... Outside my window...It is cloudy and cool. The sky is kind of red. I think this means maybe it is going to storm later today. I also see a big fat Robin. I think that means that spring is here to stay. Ahh... I am thinking...that I need to get my list written and going for the day. I am also thinking about how thankful I am to have another week to live and be productive. I am thankful for...my husband, every minute left with Will before he goes to college, for the two years left with Wes. For good health and for family that I love to be with. For my parents that take care of everyone and love to travel to see the grand kids do whatever they do. From the boys rooms...I hear the battle of the ipod docks. One is blasting Michael Buble and the other Switchfoot. It used to bother me A LOT, but now I just go on. Wes is cleaning his room bec...

Isaiah 43 1 But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 3 For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;"

Would love to write something catchy and encouraging but well...I have nothing. I woke up last night at 3:45 am and could not go back to sleep so I got up and messed around and balanced my checkbook and talked to God a little. I am paying for it now. It is nearly 6:00pm and I just want to crawl into bed and shut my eyes. We attempted today for the second day to take Senior pictures of Will but it turned cloudy again and so we have put it off once more. Not knowing the protocol for doing all of this senior stuff I am probably going to get into a bind about Graduation announcements pretty soon. Will just does not care about pictures or any of that goofiness as he calls it. We tryed to go out in our back yard and take some ourselves this afternoon. HA! He just kept on saying that it was stupid and he was embarrassed. Good grief! This boy just does not like to be in the limelight. I do think that the picture above turned out pretty cute though. It might have to do because I am not sure we ...

Ok , I got tagged, so here goes! This is hard, I actually have to think a little! 8 Things I Look Forward To: 1. Getting up everyday and having quiet time with God and drinking that first cup of coffee. 2. Summer! The annual trips to Blue Haven and Red River 3. Trip to San Diego with our family to celebrate Will graduating 4. Meals when we all sit down together with plenty of time to laugh and talk 5. Every hug and "I love you" that Will and Wes give me. 6. Being with my extended family at Red River and singing in that big tent with thousands of Christians 7. Heaven and seeing Mamamia and DaddyHollis and Bill Shockley and Granny and Grandad and meeting David and Johnathon and Ruth and a whole host of other wonderful people, but mostly meeting my Jesus face to face. 8. Spending the rest of the days of my life with Sid and growing old together. 8 Things I Did Yesterday: 1. Planned for the food for Project Graduation 2. Drove my new/used car...so fun! 3. Went to Aggie Muster 4...

It was a good weekend. We were able to go to a town not too far away on Sunday and hear Colt and Brad speak to a group of young kids. They did a good job. We then went to someones house and ate an incredible meal of ribs and beans and cobbler. The boys were seeing how many ribs they could eat. Wes won at 21, then Will and Colt tied at 18...it seems that even eating is a competition. ha. It was good to be together. Here are a few photos of the day. Also, I put a list of thoughts to think about today down under the pictures. I pray that your day is a blessed one. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to GOD about what is going on in your life. Try to make at least three people smile each day. Life isn't fair, but it's still good. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. You are not so important that y...

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. 1 Cor. 6:19-20 We had a great day for track yesterday. Our oldest won the high jump and will now advance to the regional meet. So fun to see your children compete athletically. How anyone jumps so high off of the ground over a little bar is mind baffling to me anyway. Younger brother threw his personal best in the disc and shot. He is improving all of the time. We are proud of both of them. Blessings on this beautiful Saturday. :)

Today is the day! Go to these websites to see if your town is hosting a Tea Party! If they are not...drive to the nearest one! Show up for a peaceful rally to protest high taxes. http://www.teapartyday.com/ http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=91398 The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. -- Thomas Jefferson We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. -- Winston Churchill Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world. -- Daniel Webster Let's all get out, join together and be heard! Blessings.

We had a great weekend at NTLCT in Dallas. We are all very tired, but enjoyed the time together and watching the youth do their events. Blessings on your week! I might write more in a few days about the weekend, but for now, here are a few pictures... Devotional on the last night. Silly kids in the pool. Notice the hand! Who is that? Goofiness Sid and Wes. Always laughing Large Chorus W and W Bible Bowl crowd.

Anyone want to head out with me for a wonderful West Texas track meet in a few hours? I just took this picture looking down the road from our front yard. The weather channel says it is blowing 45 to 50 miles per hour with higher gusts. Heavens to Betsy!! This may be the thickest dust storm we have had yet this spring. Will may break a high jump record with this wind, if he can only see the pit and where to jump through the dirt. ha. I am planning on getting a good exfoliation on my face out there today. I am trying to think of the positives. I don't need to take a shower or fix my hair. All is good. Have a beautiful day today no matter what your weather. Blessings. Amy

Good morning! Blessings on this beautiful day! No wind this morning and it is warmer! yippee! I could not resist showing you the beautiful sunrise that God gave us this morning. I feel like He is just saying, "Wake up and taste all that I have planned for you, if you will only have the eyes to see it." Below these first two pictures is the photo of Will's foot and the hands of Wes symbolizing the washing of the disciples feet. The next photo is the drawing by Wes. John 13:1-17 (New Century Version) 1 It was almost time for the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that it was time for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. He had always loved those who were his own in the world, and he loved them all the way to the end. 2 Jesus and his followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already persuaded Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to turn against Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had given him power over everything and that he had come from God and was going back...

MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH White House confirms it got 2 million red envelopes President's mail worker claims letter campaign 1 of largest in 35 years Posted: April 06, 20098:21 pm Eastern By Chelsea Schilling© 2009 WorldNetDaily The White House mail office has confirmed it received a "deluge" of as many as 2.25 million red envelopes symbolizing the empty promise of lives snuffed out in abortion in a massive campaign that was larger than most White House mailing movements in the last 35 years. White House mail worker "Steve" has handled letters for 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. for more than three decades. Every single package and letter destined for the White House goes through his office. Asked if he has seen a flood of red envelopes bound for the White House, Steve chuckled. "Uh, yes," he said emphatically. "Believe me, they made it here." Steve said while Obama has been occupied in Europe, his administration has noticed millions of red envelopes...

Good morning. I don't know if it was the hard and busy weekend or the constant wind and dust, but I woke up this morning with a headache that was a rough one. It hurt so bad that I was hanging over the toilet rim for several hours. Yuck. Even the light still hurts my eyes and it is afternoon. Anyway, I don't know what a migraine feels like but I think I might have had one. We are beginning to feel the true fatigue of Sid trying to finish his doctorate and start a new job at the same time, plus LTC practice and Track meets and all of the endless little things having to do with Will graduating and leaving. (FAFSA, scholarship applic., NCAA paperwork, etc.) I am also taking care of the church website and we had ladies day last Sat. I know that life is busy at this stage that we are in, but really now, we need a breather. We are all planning on sitting down and watching the Final basketball game tonight together. That will be fun. Go Michigan State! Sid and I did find 30 minutes ...

Hey! Anybody ready for this wind to die down? My sinuses need a break!! This sneezing has got to stop! ha. I need to just be resolved about it being spring and the wind blowing but honestly I would change my zip code right now without much hesitation. ha. Not really...I love this part of the country but the wind does test my toughness this time of year. We were at a track meet yesterday and it blew and blew and blew. Those poor kids had a time of it throwing and running into it. They were troopers. Wes threw the shot and did pretty good. I love the picture below. What a look of effort and determination on his face. Will placed second I think in the high jump. It was just not a nice day to jump and they all seemed a little bit bothered by the stiff wind. Even though we are going to have a good old fashioned dust storm today, I promise to be happy and not gripe about it. The day after a good dust storm is always incredibly beautiful. Have you noticed that? I can't wait for Sunday. B...

The tulips actually survived the cold from last week. They are not quite as healthy looking as they would have been minus the 20 something degree temps, but they are trying hard to be beautiful! Just a little touch of spring. It is so nice. Now, if the wind would just quit a little... I have a list as long as my arm to get through today and all I want to do is sit and read a good book. Oh well... there is much to be done. As my Mom used to say, "My get up and go, got up and went." Ha. I will pretend I still have get up and go and GO! Pay bills, laundry, grocery shopping, track meet this afternoon, ladies day at church tomorrow and my in-laws coming tomorrow afternoon to spend the night and visit. Sid is taking his Qualifying exam this afternoon and Will the ACT in the morning. Whew...that is just a little bit of goings on. Sunday, and a little shorter list for that day sounds good. Whatever your day holds, I pray we will all tackle it with joyful and happy ...

I just talked to my sister in law and she commented on the last entry that I made about bible study. She said she feels overwhelmed at times about not having a scripture or study time everyday for her kids to think about and for herself. Excuse me and I apologize if that last post sounded like we have it all together even a little bit. For it is not true. We do the best we can and some weeks are just a real challenge. For instance , this week has been so nutty and crazy that I have not cracked my Bible in my usual quiet time NOT ONE TIME this week. Wes has been tired and sleeping in had has not had his quiet time NOT ONE TIME this week. Anyway, as I said we do the best we can and if we only get a snippet of a scripture or thought or encouragement some days, then I am happy for it. I think I should be more disciplined and make sure it happens, but the truth is that sometimes I am not. I am glad that God is patient and loving. Have a blessed day! Amy