my friend who is my Mother

it's Mother's day weekend. It has been a great one so far. My mother and I went to a delicious lunch together yesterday. It was at one of our favorite places. We always have such a great time together.

My mother has always been a rock in our family. She has displayed true Christianity to our family. She is a true example of the Proverbs 31 woman. She always puts her needs above others. She is a TRUE dedicated wife. My daddy is so spoiled, it's funny. She is always ready to lend a helping hand. She always knows how to handle ANY situation and always knows what to do that is right. She is a praying lady, and still has faith that God is going to answer prayer in HIS time.

She is the best cook I know.. My sisters and I are so fortunate to have stood by her in the kitchen. She has taught us many tricks, and many great tips in the kitchen. She gave up her early 40's to take care of her daddy, my grandfather, who had suffered a stroke, and spent many long days with him, as he learned to ''live '' again. She made many trips back and forth from sc to nc taking me and my sis back and forth to work. She took care of all my nephews and niece while they were babies.. She has a heart of gold. She stood by my grandmother as she spent her last, days here on earth... She made the last few years of her life so special. She took her places she never got to go, and treated her like a queen.

My mother has done a lot of wonderful things, as you can see... yes, I am bragging.. why?? because i can, and she deserves this and so much more.... one thing that I really love to call her is ''MY FRIEND''.... I can not say that I was the ''perfect'' child growing up. I talked back way more times than I should. I got by with a lot too, just ask my sister.... I  did stuff that made me get whoopings, and I missed my curfew several times too.. but she never stopped being my mother.. She disciplined me in every way that she should have, and she always let me know why she was doing it... I am grateful for that.
I am older now, and though I am not a parent yet, I am so thankful for the way I was raised. I know the Lord thinks I am special because of who he chose to be my mama... We have made many precious memories. My mother is my friend, because she was my mother, FIRST........ she NEVER tried to be my friend first... We have such good times together, and I know I can always count on her to cheer me on in whatever comes my way.... I am so thankful that God chose her to be my mother, and I know my sisters do too.... Thank you mama for always being there, and for being my friend.... and my # 1 shopping buddy too......lol   

Happy Mother's day!!!! I love you so very much!! you are MY true blessing from God!!

celebrations and teen campmeeting

 APRIL has been jam packed and busy!!! It has been a wonderful start to spring. A dear lady in our Church has been in a rehab facility for a while. Her birthday was at the beginning of April. We surprised her with a birthday party. It was a fun time with dear people.

 Here is the birthday girl, Mrs. Doris opening her gifts!! She was so surprised!!

 the whole gang!!

 me and my buddy!!

 April is always a busy month. We always attend a Youth Campmeeting with the teens from our Church. It is a HUGE blessing every time, and was just that again this year!!

the choir singing

 

me and my sweetie at the hotel before Church

 Last Thursday, we had a nice day on the boat, fishing the day away.. it was a cool start to the morning, but warmed up rather quickly.

 buddy fishing

 

 we caught some small white perch that we saved and put away to use as bait fish for our next trip fishing!!!

 Easter Sunday was a wonderful time celebrating the Risen Savior!! He is ALIVE!!! NOT DEAD!! We had a wonderful Church service followed by a delish lunch at my mother's. My middle sis and her family were out of town for a little spring break getaway.. sure did miss them!!!

 Little D's first EASTER!!!!

 YUMMY BANANA SPLIT CAKE MADE BY MY WONDERFUL MOMMY

DELICIOUS MAC AND CHEESE AND YUMMY CASSEROLES

ME AND MY MAMA AND OLDEST SIS, ANGIE.. SURE DID MISS LORIEANN!!
so, you can see it has been a busy month!!! spring is in full swing!! love the budding of the flowers and trees!! It shows God's way of making everything beautiful and new in His precious time!!!!!

Q & A

Recently, I was sitting talking with a group of friends, and we were talking about current events that had been going on in our lives.  It was interesting to hear about certain things. Several questions were asked... Here are some of the things we talked about:

What do you think happened to ''the plane''???
I said,'' I think it is a huge mystery... It is so wierd that not one piece of it has been found, as if it had crashed or something. I kind of feel it was hijacked by the pilots.. who knows??? I just feel so bad for all those people that may have lost their lives..'' The missing people, along with the passports that were stolen, that all just does not add up. And the families not knowing where their loved one is.''

What did you  do last weekend??
Saturday was spent on ''home improvements'', working on  things that needed attention around the house and getting our home away from home ready for spring trips coming up soon.
We has a really good meal at one of our favorite places, and went to a few places to get some things we needed. Sunday was a wonderful day in the Lord's house. It was great to see it filled and people saved, and to go back on Sunday night and  to hear the Pastor talk of expansion... How wonderful. Sunday after Church , we celebrated MARCH birthdays in our family. We had a yummy lunch. my mother made her baked spaghetti, along with a wonderful salad, and garlic bread. We had some yummy desserts too...

What did you cook last???
hehe, this is always funny, cause my friends at work always are wanting to know if'' i made that'' or if i bought it.... hehe   I last made a delicious boston butt.  I put a boston butt in the crockpot and seasoned it with sticky fingers rub ,along with some other spices...and cooked it on low overnight...mmmm and then put it the oven to crisp up the top a little, took it out and put our yummy bbq sauce on it, and we had sandwiches and tater wedges... lol

Are you ready for Spring??
my response is WHO IS NOT???? we have had a winter full of lots of wierd weather.. snow, tons of rain, some really cold days, and even earthquakes... so, yes, ready for everything to bloom, and definately warmer weather..

I know some people will wonder the reason for this post... I just felt like writing about it, and maybe someone will find it interesting....lol

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Help is on the WAY

I like to think I can do little things to help around the house, especially when it comes to helping the hubby out with a project, and when he says'' hold this up here, just like this''.... and I help him, and we as a team work at something until it comes out just right... Spending time together is one thing, but spending time doing something that you love to do and you work hard at doing, it is better, and better rewarding too...

We had a beautiful Saturday. It was a great day to work on stuff we needed to get done. We set aside a day when we are both off, and have no other plans, but to work on '' little projects'' here at our home.
We had a painting job that needed to our attention. We sanded down the surfaces and then repainted them They looked so dull, and drab.. Now, they are a sparkling, white, and a super tough looking black and shiny too ,I might add..... I helped hubby put new stripping around the doors of our home away from home.. It looks really nice. It is a great feeling to know you can work on something together and you feel accoplished when you are done..

I feel sometimes as if I can handle it all by myself.. everyday life in general... I can fix and solve my own problems, but the truth is, I CAN NOT... That is when I am reminded that help is on the way. HE can build and make any circumstance better, far more better than I could ever make it... God's timing is EVERYTHING, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT..

THOUGH HE FALL, HE SHALL NOT BE UTTERLY CAST DOWN, FOR THE LORD UPHOLDETH HIM WITH HIS HAND. PSALM 37:24

God's ''Gracebook''

Wednesday night, Bro. Johnny preached a great message on God's grace book. He used it in comparison to facebook. It was a wonderful message, and blessed my heart. I have been thinking about it since wednesday night, and have recalled several points in it, because of some things that has happened this week. Here is some of the main points of the message.

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis 6:1-22

Grace is God's favor among man. We can see it everyday. It is all around us. It is with us in times of grief. Verses 1-7
In Verses 8-10, we see His presence of Grace. Noah walked with the Lord.
In Verses 11-22, we see His guidence.

Compared to what Facebook does, friend request-- You come just as you are. Ask Him INTO your heart. He is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. HE does not delete you.

His postings of GRACE are everywhere.  I would like to add His postings of GRACE are on mine/your wall all the time for EVERYONE to see, and for Him to get all the glory. ''All of GRACE is MY story, all of GRACE from earth to glory.''  He has a plan of Grace for your life everyday.

Pictures of Grace- you can look back on your life, like a movie, and see all of His grace displayed. He does not paint a pretty pic of sin in His Gracebook. oh, and it can not be HACKED.. thank God for this!! His pictures of Grace are not perverted. They are clean, Godly pictures of Grace. THIS SPOKE TO MY HEART!!
In Ephesians 2 :1-10 we see the doings of Grace. Grace plucked me from the tomb.It is a blessing to see what God does or has done for us, God did it while we were still in sin.
verse 2- God's grace put me on the right track. Thank God for this. And I am so blessed to know this, where would I be without grace?
Facebook can be used greatly as a tool for the Minisrty, and for God's glory. ex. prayer requests, getting word out quick to pray, announcements, blessings shared, but can be used as a tool for the devil too.. bad language, dangerous things, exp. things..  It can also be used in bad ways.Families are destroyed  on facebook because of things posted and by rumors/pictures posted. People destroy each other on facebook. They kill each other with words to each other, about each other, and talk/downgrade other people's beliefs, and ''lots of judging'' is done on facebook. Sometimes, I get very weary, reading certain things people post on facebook.. and that's when I feel the need to delete/ or hide certain things I see, and delete friends if need be. Some people NEVER have anything good to say, and are always looking for something to complain about!!!!! HAHA..some are probably thinking, we might have some of the same friends on our facebook???????? lol
God's Grace book puts us on the right track. 

Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

God's grace has placed us on a throne. 

I am so thankful for His Gracebook. I am glad to have it, as a guide for my life I want to spend time in His Gracebook... It has all the answers we need. His Gracebook is on display throughout the ages.. OH.. and it will STILL be around when facebook is a MEMORY....

PSALM 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Filet and Fondue

We had planned on having a fun steak date here at home last week for my birthday/ Valentines.. The weather , kind of changed our plans a little.. So, we had it tonight.. It was a beautiful night to grill.. and got my ''Camping Itch'' going a little..

We love steak.. We love to grill and chill...

We made it a little ''fancy''... lol as you can see ,we are not too ''fancy''..lol but I did get out the pretty dishes, prepared the table with the linens,  candlelight, and ''fake candles'' too... 

we had filet mignon,  baked potatoes, rolls, and salad..

and for the dessert.... I got a new fondue pot.... We have been wanting to try it out.... It was so yummy!!!!!! we had a yummy Chocolate sauce fondue, and a lot of yummy things for dipping... Strawberries, Grapes, sugar wafers. marshmellows, graham crackers... YUMMAZING.. and it was a fun'' Steak date'' with fun fondue !!! How sweet and romantic.... Next time, we gonna try a cheese fondue.. I can't wait!!!.  Love doing things like this with my hubby!! This a great date night idea and not very expensive...

How do you spell  LOVE ???

TIME

''For better or for worse.... but NOT for granted.''

Snow Pretty

When we get snow here where we live, you would think it was for an artic blast.. the bread and milk grow wings literally and ''FLY'' off the shelves.... We recently on February 11-12th  had 7 inches fall.. AND most of it was on MY birthday.. how cool is that?????  we had a rough commute to work when my hubby took me on Thursday.. But I was glad to get there safe to and from..

The snow was very pretty... I did not get out in it to play much, but I did enjoy the picture taking of it... When it snows, and you know you probably will be ''snowed in'' for a few days, you tend to think of what you can eat, or what you can prepare to eat.. On the snow days we had, I made cornbread, Homemade Vegetable Beef Soup, baked Muffins, Made hotdogs, Homemade Chili..lol....yep!!! it was a boring day....NOT.. and failed to say I did about 5 loads of laundry!!! My birthday turned out good, just had to spend it all day alone.. but I did enjoy it, and God blessed me with a ''SNOW PRETTY'' day!!! We will be celebrating this weekend with the family/