RANDOM DOZEN...kissin' chickens?

JOINING THE 60 OR SO OTHER PEOPLE...ANSWERING THE RANDOM QUESTIONS LIDDIE POSTS OVER AT 2ND CUP OF COFFEE...HER CREATIVITY ALWAYS CATCHES OUR ATTENTION IN THE NEATEST WAYS.  COME SHARE YOUR ANSWERS, SHOW US YOUR 'KISSING CHICKENS PICTURES', WHATEVER, HOWEVER...IT WILL BE FUN!

1. How do you feel about Easter marshmallow Easter Peeps?  The wonderfully sweet little things have never caused me to feel any particular way...I'm impressed with their vibrant colors...purples and greens especially.  Even though they are NOW in different shapes and varieties of colors, I'd never know which I'm eating if my eyes were shut...all seem to taste the same... (or am I missing something?)

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?  Nervousness lurks around here now more than ever, so I usually make a concentrated effort to exercise...also, stretching does me WONDERS.  You'll find me, quite often, in the floor slowly stretching my calves, quads and hip flexors...aaaahhhh, sweet relief!

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?  What song do you sing when you walk in the rain with your umbrella?....Gene Kelly come to mind??  ...the smell of the heaven-sent droplets, the coolness awakening my skin, and the pitter patter tapping on the leaves and quickly disappearing in the garden; a sweet symphony no other musicians can make. 

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?  sorry, not gonna even entertain the idea

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?  Neither

6.  Do you have any special plans for Easter? One of my Easter celebrations will be to make baklava from scratch...with fresh honey and nuts...mmmmmmmmm!

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?  Reese's Eggs

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?  My last picture was of self and one of my high school girlfriends...we met for BBQ sandwiches then looked through old picture albums, commenting on who, where, what, while sipping the remainder of our sweet tea.

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?  SHE'S LEAVING HOME (LETTING GO AS MY DAUGHTER GOES TO COLLEGE) by Connie Jones

...I found it for $1 at the thrift store yesterday--thought it might give me some new ideas of coping and preparing for this big event.  DD's received three acceptance letters...now, we're going over the financials and a decision should SOON be coming...

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?  Spring cleaning is definitely something BEGGING to be done in this house, especially since there will be a graduation party soon.  However, before that...there will be a MAJOR RENO of our master bathroom...starting Monday.  (I'll be sure to get b4/after pics).  Cleaning all the window blinds would have to be the most laborious thing followed by removing, washing and rehanging the window treatments (ugh!)

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?  I'll have to go count them...even just out of my head, I quickly got to 12...and I know there are more

12. Which color makes you happiest?  beauty is in the eye of the beholder...any 'royal' color makes me "beholden'"...teal, magenta, indigo sapphire blue, green...those RICH hues ... pastels are just SO DRAB to me

P.S.  2THINKS2Share is having a GIVEAWAY for the book 

Sisterchicks in Wooden 

Shoes...so go over and leave her a comment for your chance :) 

FLASHBACK#3

It's Flashback Friday with Linda at Mocha with Linda & http://www.dipityroad.com/fridays-finding-beauty/fridayfinding-beauty

While answering Linda's questions...I found beauty in the Easter memories the Lord has given me through family, friends and worship in our church home...see below.

What was Easter like when you were little?

MOTHER WOULD REMIND US OF THE REAL EASTER STORY AND JESUS RISING FROM THE TOMB.

SISTER AND I ALWAYS ENJOYED BASKETS FILLED WITH JELLY BEANS, MALT BALLS, HOLLOW CHOCOLATE EASTER BUNNIES AND SOMETIMES A SMALL STUFFED ANIMAL. (ONE EASTER I DID GET A LITTLE PURPLE BABY CHICK...YEP, PURPLE! STILL DON'T KNOW WHATEVER HAPPENED TO IT. GUESS MOTHER GREW TIRED OF KEEPING UP WIIH IT AND GAVE IT TO ONE OF OUR LOCAL FARMERS...I'LL HAVE TO ASK HER.)

Was the Easter Bunny part of your family's celebration? Did your family integrate both secular and spiritual aspects of the day?
WE WOULD EXPECTANTLY WAIT, NOT KNOWING IF OUR BASKET WOULD BE WRAPPED IN CELLOPHANE OR HIDDEN SOMEWHERE IN THE HOUSE, SOMETIMES IT WAS EVEN IN THE BACK YARD WAITING FOR US TO FIND IT.

Did you dye Easter eggs. . . .and did your family eat them afterwards? WE' D WRITE ON THE BARE EGGS WITH CRAYONS THEN DIP THEM...WE DIDN'T HAVE FANCY DECORATING SETS BACK THEN...THEY WOULD GO IN THE FRIDGE AND WE WOULD EAT THEM IN OUR SALADS THE REST OF THE WEEK. mOTHER LET US HID AND SEEK THE PLASTIC EGGS ONLY...SHE DIDN'T WANT TO FIND THEM MONTHS LATER IN THEIR STINKINESS!

Did you usually get a new outfit? (Post a picture if you have one!) DRESSES WITH CRINOLINES UNDERNEATH, WHITE, LACEY SOCKS , WHITE PATENT SHOES, GLOVES/HAT ALSO

Does any Easter stand out particularly? WHEN DD WAS FOUR...GRAMMY SENT AN 'EASTER BUNNY' CUPCAKE SET IN THE MAIL. BELOW ARE THE PICS I FOUND FROM 1996

SHE HAD MADE HER LITTLE APRON...SEE HER LITTLE HANDPRINTS AND STAMPS OF A HAMMER /SAW ON IT?

SHE'S A DADDY'S GIRL AND KNEW SHE'D BE USING IT FOR MULTI TASKS...KITCHEN AND GARAGE!

DO YOU THINK SHE ENJOYED MIXING, BAKING, AND DECORATING THE CUPCAKES?

KNOWING THEY WERE IN THE OVEN, EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD BE. PUTTING THE LITTLE LICORICE STRINGS ON AS WHISKERS WAS THE BEST!

A 'FORMAL' SHOT IN OUR NICE, NEW PICK JACKET WITH FLOWERS THAT GRAMMY HAD ALSO SENT... NOTICE THE RED FINGERNAIL POLISH.

ahhh, the days of new art projects filling my refrigerator..notice the sweet ladybug she made earlier.

TODAY EASTER IS MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY b/c JESUS DEFEATING DEATH...
WHO HAS A BETTER LEGACY THAN THAT??!! STAND UP, I DARE 'YA!!!
HE DID IT FOR ME
HE DID IT FOR YOU...AND ALL HIS CREATION!

Romans 14:11
For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

RANDOM DOZEN WKtwelve

PLEASE PRAY FOR KAT...SHE'LL BE HAVING SURGERY TOMORROW/THURSDAY...

7:15am--should only take about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours; brief overnight stay and should be home by Friday afternoon...THANKS!

GUEST HOST: Southlakesmom

QUESTIONS /THOUGHTS

1. What is your favorite sign of Spring? While opening the windows and feeling the cool breezes drifting across my legs (before the pollen arrives) hearing baseballs hit wooden bats…brings back so many memories with my Daddy!

2. Did you remember to spring forward on March 14? If not, how did it impact your day? Mine was a double-whammy JUMP into Spring…we drove back from the Central timezone & had to set our clocks AHEAD…so our beach-retreated bodies got SLAPPED by BOTH that day!!

3. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what vegetable would you plant in a garden this year?

4. If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what fruit would you plant? same answer

5. What is your least favorite insect?

“PULL OUT, BETTY, YOU’VE HIT AN ARTERY!”

6. March 22: World Water Day. Do you drink bottled water? Crystal Springs, when I have it to choose…but, rarely, we have REALLY GOOD water coming out of our pipes

7. Have you ever been somewhere that it was not safe to drink the local water? If so, how did you handle that? While in Mexico City for a week in 1981, I drank room-temperature Cokes all week, definitely didn’t use ANY local ice…so,brushed my teeth wetting the brush with my Listerine . Very thankful a friend had warned me. (You see: after popping the top of the bottle of water provided by the hotel then letting it stand overnight, the water was green the next morning…no kidding)

8. How many glasses of water do you drink per day? Recently have been hurting in this area..probably 3 glasses of water and 2 cups of coffee....12 when I'm being a good girl on program.

9. March 24 Harry Houdini’s birthday: Have you ever watched a professional magic show? Share. Yep, went to the Fox Theatre on our anniversary one year and see David Copperfield…he did not disappoint…we were sitting about two rows from the location of his “making a motorcycle move from the stage to behind our seats”…yes, he did!!

10. Have you ever been a participant in a professional magic show (up on stage!)? NOPE, eager to read the other stories about on-stage adventures

11. March 24 Steve McQueen and Clyde Barrow’s birthdays. Do you like Westerns or gangster movies? If so, what is your favorite?
LOVED watching

12. What U.S. STATE, you’ve never visited, do you wantto visit?ALASKA, hoping to go this summer

BERTIE & ME, WHAT A DREAM!...AND A WINNER!

On March 6 I had a Saturday Giveaway opportunity...and the drawing was supposed to have been on Sunday night 3/14/10. Just wanted to say "I'm sorry" and ask you forgiveness in NOT getting the giveaway handled(due to many reasons, let me just say).

Finally, today the names of those who posted from 3/6/2010-3/14/2010 were added into random.org so WE HAVE A WINNER. The top name after hitting the random order number button,

There were 48 items in your list. Here they are in random order:

Chari@HappyToDesign Timestamp: 2010-03-23 18:23:23 UTC...

so, Chari, send your 'snail mail' name and address to me at Skoots1Mom@gmail.com and it will be on its way to you!

SECONDLY, THESE ADORABLE CUPCAKES CERTAINLY CAUGHT MY EYE...

AND THERE ARE MULTIPLE GIVEAWAYS TO GO ALONG WITH THE.

One such giveaway is for BERTIE...the below blender.

Kacey and Francesca are eager to hear our stories about birthdays, parties and the like giving reasons we would like to have BERTIE come live at our house.

Well, I would so love for Bertie to come live at my house...so I can give my current mixer to someone who doesn't mind a noisy kitchen.


Hubby 'kinda' listened and bought me a stand mixer one Christmas...hhmmm.


I've STRUGGLED to MAKE IT into a Kitchenaide...but, a Kitchenaide it ain't. It is certainly an IT.


IT's bowl truly holds onto the base but when I need to remove it for cleaning, IT hangs onto the base as if I'm going to torture it with my dish detergent and scrubby...."No, you can't make me go!", IT screams.


IT also roars like a lion when on LOW (I've not been brave enough to put it on HIGH, IT might might fly off the base and out through the roof off like a jet engine...or IT might report me to the Department of Family and Mixer Services for unfair labor in my kitchen.).


Finally, it's WHITE...I like white, really...but, everything in my kitchen is either stainless or black ("but it was a GOOD deal"...so he said)


Oh, Bertie, I long for your saying "adios" to Francesca and Kacey, long for our times together bidding "so long" to IT and llong to form a lasting relationship while we mix, whip, knead, and cream our combined talents creating tasty treats for my family and all those who will want to meet you!

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,

PRAYERS OF PRESENCE

REMEMBER:

GOD IS IN CONTROL

For the FULL VERSION, GO HERE

It's worth a REPEAT, I think...

Her following prayer especially stirred...

Father, stir within Your people to pray...not just be upset by the ways of this worldbut to intercede for Your ways, Your will.

God so much we don't understand...so much is distorted by the media by the retelling of stories between people.

Stir up within us a righteous anger toward the evil in this world. Help us to remember we do not battle against the flesh and blood we see..."Put on the full armor of God so you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness,against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." Eph. 6

Satan is at work, trying to steal, kill and destroy(John 10:10-11)

Father show each of us what he has stolen from us...peace, joy, love, hope.....so much that is promised us...even in the midst of any trying circumstances, Father, You know us more intimately than we know ourselves..."Search me [thoroughly],O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."Ps. 139

J

esus we need a revival poured out in this country. Your people need awakened. I remember the simple hunger for more of You in the 70's....we couldn't wait for the next time we could gather to hear Your Words...to worship You.

God, please pour Your Spirit out on Your people today. Renew us, revive us, awaken us. Sometimes I think we've become like that frog placed in cold water and the heat was turned up but it didn't realize until it was burned. God don't allow us to wallow in complacency...believing in You, yet without the passionate relationship. Sound the battle cry for this country....Your ways are not ours and the ways of this world are corrupting us and destroying the soul of humanity. God tell us how to pray.

Put a stop to useless new laws,take down politicians not of Your will....raise up a new standard.

true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, good repute, excellence, worthy of praise

Cause these things to be our focus....

to lay aside grumblings and complaining...to hit our knees before You

to worship You

to hear Your thoughts

to intercede

May Your standard arise within us!

In Jesus name, AMEN

ONCE we understand His thoughts, his standards, may WE then SPEAK with AUTHORITY and CONVICTION :)...see below:

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
Ps. 42:5

THE TWELFTH WEEK, project 365 & a GIVEAWAY

Carol is hosting a cute little giveaway in celebration of SPRING!!!! Go check it out after you review the pics below.

****************

Project 365 - Week 12

THE TWELFTH WEEK ALREADY...

3.20.10, Saturday

DD's last high school prom was tonight...She had her makeup and "hair done" as we USED to say, lol!!! Ringlets are BACK...I'll have more pics later with her date...my camera died as I was readying to take my first shot of the two of them :/

had to show you the BACK of the dress too...so pretty.

3.17.10, Wednesday, St. Patty's Day

Hosted our Summit/senior high prayer-share...these kids pass along so much hope for the future of this country. Their singing is heavenly...and as you can see, they "don't get into the holiday"...lol!

The chairs, the floor, standing by the tables...they took up every square inch...

my house is on the smaller side.

I ALWAYS have fun preparing the table with decorations...

I even found some GREEN chicks.

3.14.10, Sunday

We arrived home around 7pm EST but our bodies were saying it was 6pm, PLUS it was "time change" weekend, so we had to roll the clocks ahead another hour...so the kids had hurriedly get home and go to bed for school the next day.

3.13.10, Saturday

Our beach retreat had to be earlier than usual due to where Easter falls

this year...which meant it was colder in Panama City. Oh, joy! Their energy was addictive and we were able to get our games, lessons, and devotionals done with NO PROBLEM. It was hard saying "goodbye" to our seniors...the wind almost blew us away though! (consistent 35mi/hour)

Missed a few days in between...(too tired from the retreat, hahaha...no kidding. They wear me out more than before my surgery). That was generally my week...what was yours like?

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,

FLASHBACK FRIDAY, #2

It's time for our second Flashback Friday!

When was your first date?

IN 6TH GRADE, I WENT TO A BAPTIST CHURCH VALENTINE'S BANQUET WITH 'TIM' FROM MY CLASS AT SCHOOL.

How old were you?

I WAS TWELVE..AND HIS PARENTS WERE AT THE TABLE WITH US.

What did you do/where did you go?

HE AND HIS PARENTS PICKED ME UP AT OUR HOUSE AND WE DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE CHURCH FOR A SPECIAL DINNER AND SOME 'SINGING' ENTERTAINMENT...I GOT A FLOWER AND SOME CANDY FROM HIM....SO, SWEET!

Did anything memorable happen - either good or embarrassing?

BEING AN INCH TALLER THAN HIM, MY BIG THING WAS TO MAKE SURE MY SHOES DIDN'T MAKE ME ANY TALLER. HE WAS BRUNETTE, HAD DARK BROWN EYES AND A HUGE SMILE, DONNY-OSMOND LIKE.

If it was your first date ever, did you continue to date that person?

If so, how long?

DATING WASN'T IN MY 12-YO VOCABULARY...WE WERE REALLY GOOD FRIENDS THAT MADE EACH OTHER LAUGH WHILE ENJOYING BEING TOGETHER.

If it was the person you married, did you know he/she was "the one" or did it take a longer for love to bloom?

NOT APPLICABLE

Any other memories you wish to share about those wonderfully awkward first dates?!

AT MY FIRST REAL DANCE, MY DATE AND I WERE IN 8TH GRADE, WE WERE TRUMPET BUDDIES IN THE MARCHING BAND. HE ASKED ME TO THE "8TH GRADE DANCE" IN THE SCHOOL'S GYM...(HEY, THERE WAS A DISCO BALL SPINNING, SO THAT MADE IT 'LEGIT')...AS THE KIDS WOULD SAY TODAY. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN 'AWKWARD' WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN HIM, BUT WE GOT ALONG GREAT AND ALWAYS HAD FUN TOGETHER.

IT WAS CASUAL WITH BLUE JEANS AND TENNIS SHOES...BUT GREAT MUSIC.

MY FAVORITE DANCE: TO A DJ'S RECORDING OF 'COLOUR MY WORLD'.

HE WALKED ME HOME FROM SCHOOL MANY DAYS FOLLOWING...THEN OUR LIVES STARTED CHANGING WITH NEW DECISIONS AND DIFFERENT PATHS...BUT, OUR FRIENDSHIP STILL REMAINS AND WE TALK ON FB.

COME JOIN IN WITH US...JUST CLICK ON THE FLASHBACK PIC :)

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Blessings,