Beautiful Bluebonnets, Beautiful Girl

This TEXAS TRADITION never gets old!

Overflowing with Joy

Today marked a special day in my daughter's life. Her baptism. She made the choice to ask Jesus to come into her heart and forgive her of her sins. We believe that we are to follow Jesus' example of baptism by full immersion of water. The water is not special or holy in any way. The water does not "save" her. It is a symbol and a public confession of who she believes in and now follows.

Her daddy was the one to do it and that just makes my heart overflow with gratitude. The pic above is of PG (left) and her best friend at church who was also baptized today by PP. We are great friends with her family and this was a blessing for her to have wanted PP (her Children's Minister) to baptize her. It was not "planned" for them to do this together which makes it even more special that these two friends with a bond like few others (being adopted from China) now share in this memory with each other.

This was one of the sweetest moments of my life. My darling husband baptizing my precious daughter. There are no words. Thank you, God. Your blessings abound.

What a week!!!!!!!!!!

PandaGirl started her first soccer practice on Wednesday and is pretty good so far! Who knew?! ; ) Thursday was her Kindergarten school program. Friday was a late night with family visiting. Saturday was our annual church Easter egg hunt. Sunday was just...well, you saw.

Check out the air between her cleats and the ground!

BTW: these last two soccer pics are with my super-duper zoom lens from about 60 or 70 yards away!!! I love this camera!

The cutest CHICK I've ever seen.

PandaGirl was a chick along with other Kindergarten classmates in their darling Old MacDonald musical program at school. There were pigs, cows and sheep, but come on...who wants to see them, right? ; )

It's been awhile since PP brought PG and I flowers, but this week he surprised us with this beautiful bouquet of crimson red roses (my fav!!) and we LOVED them!!!

PandaPop's family had the chance to meet up with some friends they've known since PP and his sister were just little kids. Their old neighbors don't live too far away from us and decided to all gather at our home on Friday night. I enjoyed being the hostess and just listening to all their funny stories of long ago and hearing them catch up. PP's sis and the blonde girl's brother couldn't make it, but there were plenty of fun memories to keep everyone laughing about them and the rest that it felt like they were with us! (PP's parents are the two on the right).

PG and her aunt...PP's sister. They are too darn cute!

Our church's big Easter Egg Hunt was this Saturday. PandaPop was in charge of the shebang and it was awesome! Great weather and the greenest grass ever!

The next two pics of PG make me think of some rich girl walking down the streets of Rodeo Drive just shopping for kicks. LOL! ; )



Our pastor's wife (one of my FAVORITE people I've ever met!!!)blessed PG with this darling Easter S'mores baking mix. SO CUTE!!!

Overwhelmed with joy and blessing. Thank you, faithful heavenly Father.

My New Favorite

Mercy Me's single "Finally Home"....brings me to tears listening to a beautiful voice and simple, yet profound lyrics.

A Cyber Gift

I do believe I have discovered my favorite blog EVER! I know nothing about this blogger except what she has on her site. BUT---what is on her site is right up my alley!! I don't even have the time right now to spend like I want to on there, but OHHHHH how I want to print off almost her entire blog! LOL! ; )

From what little I have read from her, I can gather that she is a V-E-R-Y generous and giving person. She has GOBS of great ideas, recipes and knowledge about fun computer stuff as well as one of the best scrapbook rooms I've seen (organizationally, that is) and she SHARES IT ALL as if she's getting something for it. Maybe she is. I don't know. It seems as though she has the time and just does it for fun and wants others to enjoy whatever she has enjoyed.

The "feel" I get from her is one that I'd love to have in my own life and how I believe we as Believers should act:
~~GIVING GENEROUSLY FROM THE OVERFLOW OF THE GOOD WE'VE EXPERIENCED~~
Who knew I'd learn a life lesson from a few little clicks of the mouse?

Hope you enjoy her goodies, too!
(Just so that you know I'm not like her, but would like to be {yuck, this really shows my icky side} I even contemplated posting about her site and linking to her because I didn't want to share all her great ideas!!!! Can you BELIEVE how awful I am?!! GAG! THAT, my friends, is why I needed a Savior. My soul is just downright selfish on my own. Praise GOD for His Son Jesus saving my soul from my wicked self!)

GO HERE!!!

You Mean Mom Was Right?

A few weeks ago PandaGirl had gotten a kit of play make-up full of nail polish, lipstick and other goodies. I didn't purchase it. She won it at a silent auction. I had no idea the stuff in the kit would be so BRIGHT.

I noticed PG playing like she was putting the lipstick on "Baby" (nobody puts Baby in the corner....sorry, I had to do that for all my 80's readers...HA!). I told her NOT to actually put the lipstick on Baby because it would ruin her material.

Somebody must have thought I was joking.

I wasn't.

Somebody put lipstick on Baby and giggled away with the fun she was having....until....PG wanted to get the lipstick OFF of Baby.

"Sorry, punkin'. Mommy told you that it wouldn't come off."

"WAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! P-L-E-A-S-E get it off of her!!!" Uh-oh.

Can you say completely heart-broken?

It's only fun till the lipstick stains. Dang---that could be the name of a book about an affair! LOL!

After PG learned her lesson quite well, I lovingly put Baby in the washing machine knowing the hot pink stuff wasn't going to come off. Once she emerged from the dryer with smudged lipstick well set in the fabric, Baby was held and loved by PG who now realized that Mommy tells the truth.....and was right. ; )

Spring Break 2009

Discovered a totally F-U-N photo editing program already existing on my computer!

Instead of spending tons of money on tickets for some kind of entertainment this week, PandaPop and I decided to invest in items and activities that would last. We spent time cleaning around the house and organizing, but when it came time to play we headed out to the park for the most amazing spring weather! We had a picnic and played around with PandaGirl and, of course, had a blast driving around in the Jeep with it's top down. LOVE THAT! I was able to get a lot done that I had hoped to and completely enjoyed wearing a different ball cap everyday from Monday until just a little bit ago! LOL!

We all three got new baseball gloves just for fun. I hadn't thrown a softball since....well, I really don't even know when. Maybe 4th grade? LOL! PandaPop and I had SO MUCH FUN just tossing the ball back and forth. Fun, but my arm was killing me!

PandaGirl will be starting soccer for the first time in a few weeks. I have the athletic talent of a sloth, but so far little miss is showing that she is a great little soccer player! She kicked two out of three goals at her Upward Soccer tryout and had great control of the ball! Who knew?! ; )

This pic cracks me up! PandaPop went to get all kinds of yard stuff so we could plant some flowers and beautify our yard. He drove up with the bag of soil nicely buckled up and I thought it was hilarious! PP has busted his tail getting our yard so pretty! It has been so amazing to be outside in the sunny, breezy, 72 degree spring weather.

PandaPop bought me this darling planter which PandaGirl helped me plant a red Gerber daisy in....I LOVE IT!!!!!! (To have perspective, the planter is about 15 inches tall from top to bottom and about 20 from the handle to the other side. VERY CUTE!)

More playing around with my awesome camera! I could spend HOURS playing with this thing!!!! Dangerous, I tell ya.

PandaGirl and I had fun making crazy rag flip-flops together. Great for her, because she is so cute in them. Great for me, because my tootsies are now cute around the house! ; )

Guess who got a new shirt? He was so pleased.

I haven't posted on The Fur in a very long time. Charlie went to live with another family back in the fall, but Hugo stayed with us. He is the most precious doggie. So sweet and VERY pretty!

Celebrated St. Patrick's Day with some home-made cinnamon/sugar shamrocks.

This was the best Spring Break I think I have ever had!! I appreciated the much needed break more than any other time in my life.

Thank you, Lord, for the FABULOUS weather, time with my family, and the restful, productive respite.

Back Before Lent!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I am on Spring Break and feel like a NEW WOMAN!!!!!!!!

I can't even explain how GLORIOUS it is to have a clean house and a bit of time to do what I want, play with PandaGirl and PandaPop, make real home-made meals, do some shopping, actually get to go outside and enjoy the fabulous spring weather, stay up late and not worry about work for one whole week! Oh sweet Jesus, THANK YOU FOR THE BREAK!!!!!

I am coming back from the Lent hiatus because I don't really celebrate Lent and I haven't "prayed" every time I have thought about the computer. Apparently from the comments on the Lent post I offended a couple of readers. I am truly sorry about that. I never meant to step on your toes. My understanding of the freedom we have in Christ, according to the New Testament, is that He'd rather our hearts be fully devoted to Him ALL year not just for a season. Thanks for your input, though. It made me be aware of how I stated things. We Believers are all in this together and don't need to have division among the flock. Again, sorry.

Now, for blogging. Being off for awhile has made me VERY aware of how much time it takes up. Too much...period. Honestly, I haven't missed that nagging pulling feeling that lures me to clickety, click, click until my eyes hurt from viewing blogs. I have missed seeing pics and reading updates on my friends that live away from me, though. This computer is my only real link to my BFF across the Pond and I need her. I need to see her and her family and I know she misses me, too. There are several blogs I could name of whom I have missed terribly. I just have to keep my computer time in check and not let it overrun my time again. I'll be back later this week with a few pics over the last couple of weeks.

MISSED YOU! ; )

Lent for an Evangelical?

I was not raised in a church denomination that celebrated the act of observing Lent. However, over the past few years I have known others I go to church with who "give up" something for the 40 days of the Season of Lent. It wasn't until the year 2001 that I even knew actual ashes were spread on people's foreheads on Ash Wednesday, because I taught Kindergarten at an Episcopal school. Go figure...I guess that's what the name is for. LOL!

As a non-liturgical, Protestant follower of Jesus Christ, I don't believe there is anything special or holy about rubbing ashes on your forehead in the shape of a cross nor does it do God any good to "give up" something for the sake of giving it up. It's a heart issue, not a works issue. Jesus lived, died and lives now so that we aren't bound by "works" to make God happy. God seeing me clothed in the righteousness of His Son Jesus is what makes me able to stand before Him as His beloved child. I do believe that I can give up something for a 40 day period in order to focus on God and slow down my crazy rushed life.

That being said, I am "giving up" blogging until the Monday after Palm Sunday. I will be back then and will look forward to catching up with friends and filling y'all in on what goes on with the PandaFamily.

Blessings to you!

Daddy-Daughter Dates

These are the sweetest pictures to me. PandaGirl has been going on "dates" with her Daddy since she was 17 months old. They are very close, love each other dearly and that's the way it should be. A couple of weeks ago they went to the Father-Daughter Night at our church right before Valentine's. They had a lovely dinner and were taught how to waltz. So precious!


My brother and his daughter went on a special date as well recently. I LOVE seeing my brother do this!! He even wrote a special letter to her telling her of all the things he loves about her. Wow---powerful to a tender little heart!!!


Both PandaPop and my brother are blessing their daughter more than she can even imagine. The foundation setting right now in her heart about how her earthly father views her is in direct relation to how she will perceive the way her heavenly Father views her. Doesn't matter how right or wrong those views are....it's what is set in her heart about how she will relate to God later on in life.

Thank you, Lord for two Godly men setting examples of your unconditional love.

My Disco Darling!

Friday and Saturday night my sweet and honkin' FUNNY PandaPop co-hosted with our pastor our church's dinner theater which is used to raise money for our youth choir tour/mission trip in the summer. The theme moved along the different styles of music through the decades. In between each decade PP would change clothes to match the fashion of the era for 50's-90's. He is sooooo funny and I adore watching him on stage!

PandaGirl ended up staying with me at the back table instead of going into childcare since she is still recovering from that nasty old flu bug. I popped in Mulan II in a mini-DVD player with headphones and she was happy as a lark.

Our sweet friend snapped our new pic below and I LOVE IT!!

We also had a fabulous day in worship this morning with the addition of our new Worship Minister. He is just the right fit for our church and I couldn't be any more excited about him and his family joining us!!! Lots of awesome God-things to come, I'm sure!