The New Blog!

The new blog with BIGGER PICTURES has arrived! I've really enjoyed working with Nikki at Expressive Style Graphics! She has been so helpful and I recommend her to anyone! Thank you Nikki!

This post is a practice one to make sure I get everything right. :) So I thought I'd post a couple pictures of the Christ Statue in Rio de Janeiro since Jerod and I were there a year ago this month.

Enjoy!

Bob

For those of you that know me well, you'd know that I LOVE my cat Bob!  And if you know me REALLY well, you'd also know that Bob is actually my brother's cat, but I claim him as my own! :) Every time I go to the farm, Bob is the first one that I want to see.  We've had Bob for about 8 years now.  We've had a lot of different cats over the years, but he wins first place for the cat with the most personality!  My dad used to say, "He's a cat that thinks he's a dog that wants to be a human."  Yep, that's Bob.

Bob would follow you where ever you went.  He would walk the pastures checking fence with my dad (the dog part of him), get between your feet when you're trying to do something, run up to you when he heard you pull in the driveway (again = dog), try to sneak in the house as often as he could, and he loved to be petted and held.  Most of the time wanting all the attention on him, like a jealous child.  :)

He has annoyed so many other cats over the years, they finally just learn to tolerate him.  He loves to think that he's in control.  For example, he will not let the Golden Retriever Emma, up on the deck when he is there.  There are two sets of steps and both Emma and Bob would run from one to the other, with Bob hissing and displaying his claws, showing Emma who's boss! Bob can be such a nuisance at times, picking fights for no reason. But I love him anyway.  We all do.  

Hannah called me Friday last week and told me that Bob had been hit on the highway.  We have lost a few cats to the blacktop and this time, unfortunately, Bob was no exception.  :(  It's just not going to be the same now going to the farm without Bob there.  

Blessed To Be A Blessing

I've been reminded lately to take time out for others.  To put my desires aside and focus on someone else.  Either by sending a card or taking the time to listen.  Because really, our lives aren't about us are they?

So I've been thinking lately... what would people do if money wasn't an issue in their lives?  Would you think that you had been blessed to be a blessing?  Or would you hoard it all and full fill your desires and wants?  Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong having desires... I think it's good to have vision!  But would you be so focused on yourself that you forget about others?  It's something to think about...

And because posts really ARE better with pictures... here is Nathan, posing AGAIN for my camera! :)  

April 14

Today, I am happy to say that it's my husbands birthday!!  A year ago today, we were in Brasil and drinking shots of coffee after a huge buffet that was so good.  (I can't remember what kind of coffee it was, but it's seriously like an espresso shot!) :)  

This year, we spent the day like any other Tuesday, but made sure to enjoy time with each other and with our family.  Balloons and cake will eventually disappear, but just know that my love for you won't.  :)  I love you so much Jerod!  Happy Birthday! 

Easter means...

Easter is such a wonderful holiday in my book!  Remembering that Jesus Christ went to the cross and died for YOU and for ME!  The great thing is that He rose again... which is Easter day!  

Jerod, myself and Nathan spent the morning at church and the afternoon with family.  It was a great day!  This evening I got on my wonderful friend Maureen's blog and saw that she spent Easter at THE EMPTY TOMB in Israel!  Now, that would be a great way to celebrate Easter! :)  Thanks for sharing Mo! 

The Mail

Have you ever gone to get the mail, glanced at it and then felt like putting it back in the mailbox? :)

Seafood, Suntans and a Banana Split

There are always those moments that redefine our lives.  For me, traveling to Brasil, my dad's death, and the pregnancy and birth of my son Nathan have had a large impact on how I view life and how I live.  And now I would have to add going to the Branson Victory Campaign to that list.  

I first heard about Kenneth and Gloria Copeland when I was younger but really started to listen to them when Jerod and I started dating and even more so right after my dad died.  I know many people (Christians included) who don't like to listen to t.v. ministers or view them as the "name it and claim it" bunch.  But I don't see them like that, I see them as taking the Bible for what it is and living life as it should be.  If we're supposed to "Be Like Christ", then why are we sick in bed, worried about how we're supposed to get the bills paid and spend too much time wondering what to make for supper?  And I know I am guilty of all.

During the 3 days of listening to Kenneth and Gloria last month, I prayed that the Lord would show me areas that I needed to change that might be putting a hold on His blessings for me.  Very clearly, He showed me 2 things that I needed to do with our finances.  One of those things was pay money to someone that I owed.  Now, this individual had not been asking me for the money, nor do I think they even had expected its coming.  But the Holy Spirit had been reminding me of it for some time (like for 2 1/2 years) but I hadn't followed through with it.  So when Jerod and I arrived home, I sent the money off to that person.  I also acted on the other thing that needed changing and when the time is right, I will share that story also.  

Since I have obeyed, blessings have been coming in...  

Jerod and I went out for lunch a couple weeks ago and we just happened to run into my Uncle and my cousins wife.  I hadn't seen them for about a year now.  It was a nice surprise to the day and Jerod and I joined them at their table.  It was good to visit with them and they were glad to see Nathan.  They finished before us and went on their way.  When Jerod and I were ready to go, the waitress informed us that our bill had been taken care of.  :)  (Thank you Uncle Steve!)

A couple weekends ago, I found out there was free tanning for the weekend at the place I've gone to.  So I went, wanting to get a little color added to this pasty skin that had only seen light from the computer screen this past summer!  While I was waiting I signed up for their prizes, not know what they were.  A week and a half after that, I got a phone call saying that I had won free tanning for a year!

One of my favorite foods is ice cream and I am so glad to know that Frosties opened yesterday!! :)  For some reason I had been thinking about a banana split 2 weeks ago and how good it would taste.  (Yes, I'm one of those that dreams about food!)  Last Saturday, Jerod and I had a late supper after watching Mariah's dance competition.  We ended up stopping at Culver's on the way home.  They have some of the BEST ice cream and we decided to get some after our meal.  Well while we're eating, one of the workers walks up to us and asked it we'd like a free banana split since they had made an extra one!  Of course, I put my not-even-close-to-being-done hamburger down and dove into the split!  

I'm thankful that I decided to obey the Lord this time instead of put it off.  And I know that this is just the beginning of more blessings to come!  And so I'm asking you, are there things that you know you should be doing but are not?