A New Chapter

If you are interested in a new chapter in our life concerning PandaGirl then, please click here. It's not adoption related so don't get your hopes up too much! LOL. This is just something we've prayed for, for a long time.

If it does happen to interest you then there is also a new link on this blog to the right above my picture.

So Blessed

We just CANNOT take all our luxuries for granted. We ARE a blessed country, but so easily forget and ignore God's hand of grace and mercy over us.

Take time to pray for healing in our USA. We are an awesome people when allowing the Lord of all creation to work through us.

Thank you, God for your countless blessings and for the men and women who serve to keep our freedom to worship you openly.

09-09-09

What a fun date!

Apparently lots of people are getting married today or playing the slots or feeling superstitious or feeling lucky or feeling unlucky or doing something with The Beatles or just taking off work for the heck of it or SOMEthing to do with all those nines. I read that this date is the last time for single digit repeats in our calendar for quite some time. Interesting.

Have a great day! ; )

B-day Stuff

So, the first full day of being 39 wasn't so bad. We cleaned and organized a bit, goofed around and laughed until we cried and our muscles hurt from watching
Tim Hawkins.
(By the way, you HAVE to watch his new video "The Government Can" if you are at all perplexed by the new ideas coming forth from up on The Hill.) Relaxed some more, messed around on Face**Book, put all of PG's birthday scrap pages in one book, ate more carbs than I EVER should have and listened as PP was dumbfounded that OU lost to BYU.

All in all, a pretty good day. ; )

This fun b-day banner was a surprise waiting for me on Friday morning that PandaPop had stayed up a bit later than me on Thursday to make for me then later on Friday he showed up with the chocolaty-chocolate cake thingy! Awwwe.


If you know me for real or have ever read this blog, then you KNOW I had to have a caramel frappuccino yesterday. ; )



We enjoyed watching Bolt together. That's a movie to add to our list for purchase!


I am truly blessed to have my precious family and awesome friends!!!

40 Minus 1

Happy Birthday, Me.

Hmph.

I have loved every one of my birthdays.

I always celebrate and tell everyone that is, indeed my birthday.

This year's seems kind of weird.

Not sure why.

Hmph.
*****************UPDATE****************

I posted those words last night and fully expected to see them this morning. However, I forgot to actually PRE-post them so they didn't show up. Good thing. My Bible just had some words in it that spoke some Life into me.

Thank You, Lord, for being 39!!!
Thank You for:
*My parents who had me and love me
*My marriage and my HOT husband who completely adores me & tells and shows me often
*My beautiful daughter who is more than I ever could have dreamed up on my own even when she drives me batty! LOL!
*My wonderful in-laws who treat me like their daughter, not an in-law
*My brother and his family
*My home and all its fun decor and the richness of Your Spirit there
*My amazing friends all over the world who have richly blessed my heart
*My health, though I feel REALLY addicted to sugar and can't seem to get that out of me! GRRRR!
*My dark chocolate Plumsweets
*My church, the staff we serve with and the freedom to worship without the threat of death
*My fluffy, ol' lumpy, grumpy cat.
*My scrapbooks
*My charm bracelet
*My sense of humor
*My rides in the Jeep with the top down with my two favorite people
*My iPod and treadmill
*My fun little job teaching music to preschoolers
*My Fuze and my Fraps
*My Computer
*My undying love for fall and pumpkins
*My deep desire for more children that You are working on as I type
*My day to not have to sit at the funeral of my little girl like a friend at church will today who's long-time sick daughter is no longer sick, but is sitting in Jesus' lap
*My 39th Birthday
Thank You.

Head Explosion & Thumper

Yes, it's true. My head just about exploded today. In the car line at school. For the 8th day I have watched Miss Bleach Blond with super-duper long fingernails and super-duper tanned skin fly in on two wheels of her large black SUV as she parks smack in the middle of everyone in order to pick up her darling child. NOT in a parking space, mind you. No, no, THAT would be too easy to follow the rules or plain good manners. "Let's park in the row and block other people just so I can do what I please." Please forgive the obvious sarcasm in my tone. The selfish--self-centered--oblivious to anyone else but herself--woman has just about caused my early death.

I don't know why that kind of behavior just makes my blood boil, but it does. Speaking of boiling blood, why don't I just confess how terribly hateful PandaPop and I get towards other drivers? Oh yes. The minister and his wife have quite acidic tongues when "those" drivers pull their stupid stunts: pull RIGHT in front of us as if no one were coming their way and then go 10-20 miles under the posted speed limit, those oblivious people who really have no reason at all to have a license to drive, those people who are so incredibly selfish and MUST pull over RIGHT NOW no matter that they were inches from clipping our vehicle, those people who are clueless to any traffic laws, those people who TEXT with. both. hands. while driving, those people who shove their way into wherever they darn-well please, those people who......

You get the picture. I do believe The Enemy has gotten ahold of us two carnal beings and we have allowed PandaDemons to take over the driver's seat.

Possibly you are thinking that since we are the two common denominators in these situations that maybe WE are the problem. NO. It happens all the time and we are dumbfounded by the commonality of "those people" BUT, we can change how we react to said individuals on the road.

I found scripture yesterday that made me rethink how to behave in the car when things happen to my utter shock and dismay on a daily basis:

"When they hurled their insults at him [Jesus], he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to Him who judges justly." 1 Peter 2: 23

I am in NO WAY aligning the Pandas behavior with Jesus' perfect life. However, our reaction in the car should be either positive or silent. I was figuring that PandaGirl is only hearing negative, awful toned voices in the car and will certainly pick up on it and continue that yuck filled behavior. NOT a good example for our daughter. So, this picture came to mind....

Thumper.

"If you can't say somethin' nice, don't say nothin' at all."

I can hardly handle the double negatives in that statement, but that little bunny is so darn cute when telling what his daddy's rule is that I can overlook it. I think my Daddy's rule is about the same. His Word is best and will bring out the best in me. In us. Sooooo, from now on, with lots of prayer, instead of getting all wound up, spewing venom out and being ugly at stupid...I mean less-than-courteous drivers.....PP and I will just resort to saying, "Thumper" and be done with it.

Hopefully.

Random Blips

***Thoroughly enjoyed my early birthday lunch at Johnny Carino's that my parents treated me to on Saturday.

***Sighed over my brown, dead plants in the front flower bed.

***Watched a couple of kiddos for a neighbor Friday night and then had a listening ear for a couple of friends struggling with some issues.

***Worked on gathering music and ideas for teaching the preschoolers at church for MOPS and development center. Start in the morning!

***Giggled as PandaGirl confessed how she "tooted" in front of her whole first grade class and was so embarrassed when they all laughed. First lesson in how to silently relieve oneself. lol!

***Walked to school to pick up PG on Friday. Couple of miles to and from. Gorgeous green tree trail for half of it.

***Wondered if Face**Book is really worth it when hackers can get in so easily.

***Though I was busy with music preps, I totally enjoyed being a SAHM while PG was in school. Completely new world!

***REALLY want to give more details about our next adoption, but am choosing to wait until more official news comes our way.

***Ached for my friend who should have traveled to China Aug. 13th to pick up their son and now have to wait until, at least Sept. 17.

***Basked in the teeny, tiny drop in temperatures and am looking forward to a wee bit more this week.

***Getting that warm, fuzzy feeling in my bones about fall peaking around the corner. LOVE me some pumpkins!!!

***Realized that fat will crawl back on in a New York minute if I don't watch what I eat. Stupid calories. Darn them!

***Listened to a dear friend give details of his families recent work in Germany with missions and how his family is really struggling to adjust, but God is moving in mighty ways in their ministry.

***Wondered if I will EVER get pictures in the very large tri-fold screen I bought back at spring break that sits in my living room with people's pics in it that I don't even know.

***Cooked dinner several times! Woohoo!

***Accidentally smooshed a little gecko in the door.

***Baffled as to how our huge dog escaped our back yard and is still missing.

***Chompin' at the bit for the rest of our little family to come together!

***Drank in the beauty of these colorful roses that PandaPop brought me just because he loves me. The stunning red one below was for PG. He always brings her one just for her along with mine. Love that man.

Box Schmox....What Does It Really Matter?

Maybe I acted too hastily.

Maybe I'm just too blond some days.

Maybe they should make the boxes different colors.

Maybe if I paid attention things like this wouldn't happen.

Maybe my towels would have come out of the dryer all soft and fragrant if I'd used the Gain dryer sheets instead of the Swiffer floor wipes.

Maybe somebody will get a laugh today.....at my expense. ; )

I Am My Beloved's...

Our anniversary getaway to a bed & breakfast couldn't have been more perfect. Our room was exquisite with deep rich dark brown stained hardwood flooring, matching bead-board ceiling, same wood wrapped jacuzzi tub, gorgeous sitting area with loveseat, pillows, red, brown and taupe decor along with a large flat screen TV/DVD player.
(FYI---those two glasses are ones we have used every year since circa 1995 after PP bought them at the grocery store for 98 cents each while we were in Seminary. The bottle in the pic is sparkling grapejuice......even if we DID drink alcohol I wouldn't because I think it tastes sooooo gross! lol!)

BEAUTIFUL.

We have been on our honeymoon to Dis*ney World in 1992, a semi-bed & breakfast (cottage at an encampment for ministers to "retreat") on our 6th anniversary and we went on a cruise in 2002 with our BFFs. That would be the extent of our vacations over the past 17 years. With summers being the busiest time for PandaPop's ministries over the years and living away from all our family, we have only been able to use vacation time for holidays and such. Not complaining, but I have often wondered if we'll ever get to "vacay" much. With all that goes on in the world I don't think I'll lose any sleep over it. ; )

At our mid-morning breakfast in the main house we met a retired couple from Florida and a young couple who actually lived just 30 minutes away from us though the B&B was two hours in the other direction! LOL!

PP and I had a very relaxing time just hanging out, doing "some other stuff"**wink**and not being pressed for a scheduled. We both very much needed some real down time and couldn't have asked for a better way or place to have it.

"I am my beloved's and he is mine."
Song of Solomon 2:16

First Day of First Grade

PandaGirl was so excited, giddy and just a doll this morning getting ready for school, during the quick Jeep ride to school and walking inside the school. However, once we started to walk the halls with all the commotion and the many people wandering around we noticed her confidence waning with each step until Miss Independence was grabbing my hand unknowingly all while saying, "I don't think I want to go to first grade anymore" with wide eyes and an ever-increasing grip on my hand.

She made it into her room, found her locker, labeled seat and a few friends from last year's class and all of a sudden was back to being "so big" and didn't want me taking any pictures. I took pictures. She'll appreciate it when she's grown. ; )

Her new teacher will be delivering a baby in two weeks so a long-term sub will come on board for awhile. Hope this goes OK.

After school, PG had picked up some kind of smart alec attitude that had to be brought back to reality very quickly. Not the best of evenings as I had planned and hoped for, but we are all fine and ready for a new day of first grade.

Yes, she got a darling new hair cut in order to "look" different than a little ol' Kindergarten kid. I also LOVE this neon hot pink shirt against her summer-tanned skin. She was quite a cutie-pie, despite being a little turkey after school. LOL!