A Big "NO WAY!"

Ever had those moments when you wanna yell, "NO STINKIN WAY!" We did it today...

I had put an ad on Craigslist seeking used cabinets. We are needing to refinish the kitchen to prepare it for sale. We were not looking for anything special, just something clean, sturdy, and possibly paintable. So, a man emails me and says that he has 16 ft of upper and 16 ft of lower cabinets. I thought cool, but proceeded to ask for pictures and price. He just emailed me today with pictures. They are not just the most gorgeous things, but they will paint up nicely.

It just so happened that I recognized the email address as one that was on Brian's contact list. Then I realized that the man went to our church! And further more...Brian had interviewed with him at one point in time...Long story short, I emailed him to tell him that I new him and I was very interested in purchasing the cabinets from. He CALLED our house and offered them ALL to Brian for FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes---that is right-----FREE!!!!!!!!!!! Saving us THOUSANDS...since they are nicer than what we would have bought (thicker, sturdier)

We did the happy dance. One of those really awesome God things huh??? Now---praying that we can come up with the money to rent a truck to get them. We do not know anyone with a truck here, so we have to rent a Budget moving truck. I am sure that God will supply that too!

Isn't that something to smile about????

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Done for now...

Getting tired. Had a busy day and sick of the blog. :P Going to go make a somewhat healthy dinner for the family and awake prince charming, as he is sleeping so peacefully! That is not allowed. Disturbance is a must.

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blog update---

Sorry---forgot to put in my disclaimer of the updating. Blog will look funky all day, as I will be moving things around.

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Remember that cool guy Rex???

Oh Isaac, you crack me up boy! I awoke this morning to Isaac making his bed and talking to himself about the coolest guy Rex. For those that do not know, Rex is my very cool cousin. Isaac fell in love with Rex when we went on vacation. We stopped by my Grandma's for a visit, and it just so happened that Rex was there too! Isaac talks more about that night than he does Disneyworld! Seriously.

He was really upset that we do not have a picture of Rex and him. Rex, I think you need to be making a trip up to Indy. wink wink.

So, he wanted to send Rex a message. I video tapped him, beware---it is first thing in the morning, and we are not making much sense! But...here you go:





Oh---and I forgot to mention that when he says sweetest, he is not meaning sweet like "oh, nice and lovely." He is saying sweet like sssswwwwwwwweeeeeettt narly dude. LOL!

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Please Pray---

Please keep the Chapman family in your prayers. Yesterday, Stephen Curtis Chapman lost his youngest daughter to a car accident. Her older brother accidentally hit her with an SUV. Anyone who knows the Chapman's, know their love of children. He recently wrote the song, "I dance with Cinderella." for his daughters. He and his wife Mary Beth had adopted several children from China. Maria was one of them. You can read more of this accident on the Chapman's website or at http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/NEWS01/805220370&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

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I Love Me Some Good Shoes....

Oh how shoes can make this girl giggle with glee. They do, really! I love them. I have decided that it would be my new thrill to find as many gleeful shoes (at thrift stores and garage sales of course;) ) as I possibly could. I love them...

Here are my new darlings. I think I will call them Shirley. They remind me of Shirley Temple when she was on some sailor movie. They just look happy, don't they??? So, without further ado- Meet Shirley---
By the way--I do not wear 7's...I wear 6.5 but could not leave these sweet girls. So, I will just put little shoe inserts in the back to make them fit.

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GOOD-

I have that absolute content feeling.

Thanks to money made from Revolutionary Money Exchange---we had some spending money!

Last night, we went to a cookout for our ABF, which has proven over and over to be a great time.
This morning, Abs had a T-Ball game, and I got to do some garage sale-ing. Then, afterwards, we went and saw the long awaited Prince Caspian. My oh My---GREAT movie! And I think that I have decided to have Brian start talking with either an English accent, or a Spanish accent. Huba huba. Then, we can home and had our first grill out with steaks, potatoes, corn on the cob, and watermelon.

I feel like Grande. Sitting here all fat, sleepy, and content.

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Shoulda Coulda Woulda

Ever think those thoughts???? I should have this...I could have done that....I would have done this and that.

Having a shoulda day today. I should be 33 almost 34 weeks pg with a big round belly. Missing that. I should be planning for the hospital stay and getting the crib ready. I should be feeling sparkler moving around, hi-cupping, and talking with friends about the joys of pg. I should be wearing cute maternity clothes. lol. (Which if I was pg, I would probably be wishing that I could wear regular clothes---viscous female thoughts!)

But, instead I am missing those things. I can honestly say, sparkler drew me closer to a Lord that has infinite Light and Fireworks though. I have come to understand that to ask for your child to return to you, after it has experienced utter PERFECTION, is not love, but selfishness. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept that He had to call him back from the presence of the Almighty. I could have only given Sparkler a splinter of a fraction of the love that she/he is receiving from the Ultimate Lover. The unselfish thing would totally be to say---HEAVEN is what is best for my child. But, unfortunately, our self plays too big of a role in our thoughts. And today---self is telling me to thing about the shoulda couldas. Self is telling me---I am what is best for my child.

I am going to try to push through these feelings in a biblical way today. I am going to try to focus on scripture, clean my house, and remember God's unending love and mercies for me. And I am going to try to put out the shoulda, coulda, wouldas from my mind---because obviously, God has higher and more beautiful plans for my life.

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PRAISE!!!!!!!!!!

Yes---there are lots of praises in this house.

Brian got a promotion in the company he works for! Pretty much an office job, and on days! No more yucky machine work!!! He will get some more hours, and he will receive a pay raise. Moving on up the ladder. He will actually MORE than double what he has made for the last 7 years! Way to go Brian! He is pretty happy, since he was up against men that had worked there for years, for this position. It is also a position that he can take elsewhere...which is a good thing.

Also---we have been receiving more direction on how to finish out the next few years. The plan right now is to continue to work here and try to sell our house, while looking for a job in the area that we would like to be in. Brian will start back to school in the evenings next fall. Then will start work on his Masters a year from this fall, and hopefully take on a ministry intern position at that time. He would like to have his Doctorate by the time that he is 40, but we will have to wait on that one, as that is pretty far down the road.

I know that God may have a million turns in that path. But, we are very open, and ready for each bend. Still praying for His will to be done, and for Him to receive the glory out of whatever does happen. BUT, today---just praising Him for His wonderful provisions!!!

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Picture Overload...

We had ONE busy weekend. I mean really really busy. Started Thursday night...ended Sunday afternoon. Ranged from shopping, surprise visit from Jeremy and Leah, A prank gone bad, some sleep, a trip to the Zoo, dinner with family, church, more shopping, and some nice relaxing time in jammies on Sunday afternoon!

So...I am just going to vomit about a million and a half pictures here, if you do not mind! Hope you had a great weekend too!!!


Some of the Haymans...and me, at Logan's
Yes, we all touched sharks, except for Abbie...she chickened out

Gotta love a photo that shows how clean the inside of your nose is.




Brian was becoming un-amused at the amount of pictures I was taking.
Do they look a little older...or is it just me???
This is how Brian and I felt after eating Logan's.


Isaac was so excited over seeing this lizard...he wanted to touch it, but alas, there was glass.

This is what we looked like WHILE we are eating Logan's.
Super-Stahr--must say like Molly Shannon
The above pictures are of our Mother's Day dinner...first one is Nicky's boyfriend Nick with Katie. Next is my Grandma with my Dad. And then we have Josiah, my youngest nephew, who
conked out after eating a handful of stuffing---oh and he is with his dad, Abel.

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In the Valley

When You lead me to the valley of vision
I can see You in the heights.
And though my humbling wouldn’t be my decision
It’s here Your glory shines so bright!
So let me learn that the cross precedes the crown,
To be low is to be high,
That the valley’s where You make me more like Christ.

In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night.
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light!
So let me learn that my losses are my gain,
To be broken is to heal,
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed.

Let me find Your grace in the valley,
Let me find Your life in my death,
Let me find Your joy in my sorrow,
Your wealth in my need,
That You’re near with every breath
In the valley.

Based on a puritan prayer entitled "The Valley of Vision". Reworked into song by Bob Kauflin.


This song was sang during our studies on Suffering. I don't know why, but it spoke volumes to me. I love the thought of how the stars are there all the time, but only in the darkness can they be seen.

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Thoughtful Tuesday...

I have really been thinking on Flowers lately. Here is one of my thoughts...What kind of flower am I??? What kind of flower are you, or do you aspire to be? I have decided so far, that the Dandelion is the best flower to be. Here is why---

There are many flowers that are so finicky, and only grow certain times of the year. They need so much, that they become un-usable. They will die if they are plucked up. They die if it gets cold. They die if they get too much sun. They die if they get too wet. They just can not live with adversity...AT ALL! One little thing, takes them down. Most flowers are so delicate, that they are this way. No perseverance. No strength. And vary rarely do they multiply---or at least they do it very slowly. They are just too delicate for service. Sure, they are pretty for a given amount of time. But when you get down to the "root" of them, they are weak.

The Dandelion---good grief. This flower, which is a weed, can grow ANYWHERE! It can take a frost, it can take rain, it grows in rocks, soil, sandy soil...you name it. Thrives in sun...thrives in being torn apart. After all, tear it apart, and it multiplies! How about that? Yes, it has it's winters, just like most flowers, but it always grows back! Another thing---everyone wants to get rid of them. Is this sounding to you like what a Christian should be??? The world sees it as an ugly thing...but it perseveres! Continuing to do it's job. hmmmmmm....

I wonder if there is another type of flower out there that is prettier than a Dandelion, but still has the same strength??? Then, that would be a beautiful flower. Strength AND beauty! Who knows of one...What type of flower are you? Me---Not sure. But I can tell you that I don't want to be a Pansy!

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The Lord is Good...A refuge in times of Trouble

He cares for those who trust in Him. Anyone singing the tune now?

I am. This week, just after I posted the cotton candy post, a big whamo hit in the life (and home) of Annie Shaw. A big one. One of those, gotta handle it right or the whole world as you know it will end. Things were handled right, and the world as I know it, did not end. It is still a little tender for sure, but God is good...and He was my refuge. I started praying that God would soften my heart to the situation...and it happened. It was one of those, my Creator most be doing this, because there is no earthly way that I could.

So, after I was discouraged...I was pulled out of it quickly. Not saying that life was lollipops and gumdrops, but my heart was encouraged. God further led me to minister in a BIG way this week. I honestly have been terrified to minister again. Terrified. But once again...My big God provided in a way that was more than wonderful, more than spectacular...and brought tears of amazement to the eyes of a woman that felt abandoned quite often in the past few years. No longer abandoned...I share this world with an Almighty, and He works. He is.

Went out with a new girlfriend on Friday night. New feelings, and scared again. Tried not to show it. Tried to be brave and enjoy the time that my Provider, provided again. It too, was good. He worked...

Then today. No way to explain it. It was an amazing day that I wish all in the world had experienced. I have had many of those lately. Just unexplainable really...but I will try. It was an amazing Sunday school, an even better worship service, and a great afternoon. Then, we went back tonight for Family service. I sat there with my little family. In God's house. Do you know something that I have never realized? Something that you all take so much for granted? Before tonight, I had NEVER taken communion with my husband. Seriously. It was a sweet thing to experience this close communion with my Lord, my husband, and my daughter. I was also amazed as we sat and listened to the testimonies of those being baptized. God does still work in the heart of men. Do you know that it has been 1.5 years since Brian and I have seen a believer baptized. That is a hard thing for someone whose job is to lead others in salvation and baptism. We sat there, both with tears streaming down our faces. Both of us renewed with the awareness that God had moved...and was still moving. It was a feeling that had been unknown to the hearts of these two weary travelers. We had forgotten what it felt like to have the Spirit moving so mightily in so many.

God spent a week, putting Miracle Grow on the hearts of these two dried soiled plants. He spent time loving touching the tender starts, pleading with them to break through the ground. Gently telling my heart/seed that He wanted it to come out. To break through. To grow once again. He sweetly and softly touched the seed and told it, you can do it...I will be here. I already know. And I am bigger than anything in this world. I will protect you little seed...blossom. The Lord is Good. He will be this little seed's refuge. He will be providing Miracle Grow. Just because, He is.

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Garage Sales...

Garage sales---
They occupy my dream life
Opening my mind to thoughts of sweet buys
And unique treasures.

Cold morning air makes it
All the more rush.
The first sale of the season
Most memorable.

That feeling of coming home
To take off all the tags and wash up
The unique treasures.

No matter how rich I ever become
Garage sales will always be
The thrill that ties my heart to
Down to earthness.

My first sale of the year was this weekend. ahhhh...Add that to a list of my favorites for sure!

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