Its a piece of foam...

My chiropractor has been on me for weeks... "Have you got a foam roller yet?"

Nope...

I keep hearing of people having them, using them - but I've never bought one.  Mainly because they are expensive... like $40.00... for a PIECE OF FOAM...

seriously!

Plus, it looks harder then just stretching...

have you ever seen these things & how people use them?

Does this look the least bit comfortable?

Does anyone know how uncoordinated I am?  I'm totally going to hurt myself on this thing...

But while we were sitting out waiting for the tow truck, & knowing the estimated time was going to be 3 hours... (thanks AAA)... we walked over to Meijers.

I always check out the fitness videos to see if any are on sale... which they were.  Hello Jilliam Michaels & my new torture video.  I look down & see a foam roller on sale... for $24.99...

Should I get it?  No... but the chiropractor said it will help me... but its a piece of foam. UGH!  I told you before, I hate decision making. 

So an inner battle takes place in the aisle at Meijers...

but it must have been all that waiting by the broken down truck in the heat that got to my brain, because I walk out at the end of the self-conversation with my new friend,  Foamy

Yes - Foamy... I got my name calling skills from Pee Wee Herman.  Remember Globey (the big globe) & Chairy (the big chair - obviously - duh) ?

I was excited when I was at the chiropractor yesterday & he said, "Do you have that foam roller yet".... I was like a kid who got a good grade... "YES SIR!! I sure do have it...."  (Head held high)

but then I had to add the rest... "but its still in the box" (head hang down)

Hey - progress is progress...

So has anyone else ever used one of these things? 

I'm going to be searching YouTube & getting the down-low...
Or is it "down-lo"
how do the cool kids say it?

Anyways... it won't be long - I'll be walking around with this on my shirt...

No joke... I really do want this on a shirt!

Weekend Wrapup

Friday

* I can hardly even remember what I did after work... I must have been exhausted... I think I got caught up on the Real Housewives of Orange County & that bachelorette party.  Big kudos for Lydia for walking out before the strippers came.  Heather's face the whole time, while she was wearing sterile gloves & holding Lysol, was the funniest part of the whole show

* I'm old... I was in bed by 10pm... on a Friday... the very definition of old

Saturday

* Another definition of old?  I was up at 5:30 ... on a Saturday... I hate when I don't sleep in when I'm able

* Ricky had to work... which means I get to clean something good while he's not there.  The room of the day?  Our library.  It still was covered in Christmas stuff - wrapping paper, bows, gifts for next year. Yes, gifts for next year.  I love shopping the weeks after Christmas when things are marked down & start stocking up on deals for the next Christmas..... by the end of the day, the room is back to the original beautifulness.

* Wanted to get my run in before it got too hot... I didn't make it... I was a ball of dripping sweat...

* I swear, I thought something had bit me... it hurt driving home yesterday from work too.  It was like a hot match was on my back... BURNED like a booger!  I went to take my shower & the water hitting my back made me scream - that's how bad it hurt!  I kept making Ricky look to see if there was a bite somewhere or what was going on...


.... it hit me later what it was...

I've been putting a Capsaicin rub on my back to help my back pain... that's like a hot rub full of pepper spices.  It says on the back, "Do not use with a heating pad" ... so I guess running & getting it REALLY hot & sweaty after applying it - sorta the same thing.

At least I figured it out... that was miserable!
(I have a picture ... I can't get it up...

*  Ricky & I went out to pick up a few things & stopped to have dinner... Ricky's truck wouldn't start when we went to leave the restaurant.  It had no problems at all - so this came out of no where... UGH!!!! 

The frustrating thing... this parking lot is connected to the biggest church around the area... we sat there & watched 2 different services let out (yes, its that big that they have 2 services on a Saturday)... we were right on the curb - I could have touched the cars coming out... & not one person stopped & asked if we needed help.  You could tell we were having issues - our hood up - bags all around us, doors open, us red faced & sweating from it being so warm... not one "do you need a cell phone?" - anything... I was sort of disappointed.  Even people going into the restaurant... they saw us there going in, saw us there when they came out... everyone ignored us...

What is the world coming to?

My dad was our hero... he came down & sat with us until the tow truck came & he drove us home...

* Note to self - always have cash on hand if your car breaks down so you can go into stores & buy a drink so you have a place to pee.

Sunday

* Church... I love these kids... we saw how many people can fit in a hoola hoop... there are actually 8 of us in there... One of us would move, all of us would get pulled along.  It got kinda scary & TIGHT!

* Our friends Ryan & Chasity just got back from a mission trip on Friday evening, so we were excited to hear about it & see all the pictures they took.  They were both just SHINING talking about it...

* CELEBRATE FATHER'S DAY!!!.... & I didn't even get a picture of my dad... I'm just a failure at life... but we went out to dinner at a new place in the little town over.  They had the most amazing Portabella Mushroom sandwich... with candied sweet potato patties... I'm still dreaming about them.

(Maybe I'm not THAT much of a failure... I did make this collage of my dad for Facebook)

* Everyone headed back to my mom's house to have some fresh watermelon... oh my goodness.  Did these things come from a sugar field?  They were the sweetest watermelons I've ever tasted! YUM!

* Watched a storm roll through... & a lightning bolt hit right across the street from my parent's house... YAHHHZAAAA!!! That was close!

* My twin nieces were filling me in all the "Turtleman" & his dog, Lolly... I want that dog... but they were pulling up videos on YouTube (which in itself freaks me out that they maneuver so well around YouTube).. but I laughed so hard watching this guy.  Love that he saves all the animals too... so guess what me & Ricky were watching at the end of the night on Animal Planet?  Oh yeah... I'm a Turtleman fan now! :)  The things you learn in life from 8 yr olds...

* ... & this is how we watched it... with my Sydney ready to take in the action.  She didn't stay like this for long.  Once she saw Lolly running across the screen, she was up & barking at her TV friend.  But I love those sweet moments where all she wants to do it cuddle... usually she's too busy with Ricky to give me any attention, so I take what I can get from her.

Hope everyone had a great weekend & ready for an ever better week!

Friday Fragments... I must be chatty today

Friday... YES!

 

******

 

I'm sitting here with my head killing me from, guess?

Yes - more bug spray!

 

Goodness gracious - will the insanity ever end in my office?

 

I still feel like I have bugs crawling up my leg & rummaging through my hair

Anyone else have to work in those conditions?

 

******

 

So my back is on full force pain again

...sigh...

 

Could be because I've ran 3 days this week?

Am I gluten for punishment?

 

I just think its gotta be worse on your body to NOT work out

 

Not to mention, if I don't work out, I'll turn into a blob

literally & figuratively

& by figuratively, I mean literally

(wow... that's some thinking right there)

 

******

 

With my back pain, I have to sleep with my pillow in between my legs

(no more sleeping on my belly, which makes me very sad)

 

I woke up this morning & saw this...

 

 

I'm convinced Bruno has back pain now & is trying to put his stuffed animal in between his legs...

 

*******

 

Father's Day is this weekend!

YAHOO!!!!

 

Get to celebrate dad's!

My poor daddy is having back pains right now too....

 

what the heck is going on in my family?

 

My mom has recently gone 3 weeks in a row for shots in her back for pain as well!

Is it contagious?

 

We're going to celebrate Father's Day by seeing who can moan & groan the loudest getting out of a chair!

Good times!

 

*******

 

 

I can't live without my NutriBullet now

 

Every morning, it's making me some yummy breakfast

& this morning, I think I found my favorite combo

 

1 cup of spinach, half a banana, 1/2 cup strawberries & 1 cup of pineapple - add in my vanilla protein powder...

 

OH WOW... it was like a tropical drink

& such a pretty light green color too :)

 

*******

 

Anyone else excited about Man of Steel?

 

I just love Superman things... because if you listen closely to words said, there is so much to catch on that references so well to Jesus.

 

There's a book out about that - how the people who originally came up with the idea did it for purposes of tying in Christianity with a 'modern day' twist.  I wish I could think of the name... its on my book shelf at home.

 

But I just saw this article called "Man of Steel - filled with Jesus, Christianity references" ... see?  I want to see it even more now!

 

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/06/14/man-steel-filled-with-jesus-christianity-references/

 

*******

 

(I swear, I feel like bugs are crawling up my arms now)

 

 

*******

 

I have to laugh at those new Zesty Italian salad dressing commercials

 

... but look...

the advertising is working because I remember the salad dressing!

 

When I was home 2 weeks ago, Kelly Ripa is obsessed with the "Zesty" guy & they surprised her by having him on the show...

 

It was quite funny

 

(Its actually hard to find a picture of this guy with his shirt ON... my dad reads this blog, I can't be posting pictures of him naked on a picnic blanket)

 

 

******

 

I've got this new habit

Putting on Icy Hot - or some sort of arthritis medicine -

& then rubbing my eye

 

I've done it a few days in a row now

 

You'd think I'd learn...

but NOOOO... everytime I put that stuff on my back,

my eyes always feel like something is in them

... every.stinking.time!

 

& of course, you forget you just doused your hands in what is similar to hot sauce

 

******

 

So the Color Run put up their pictures...

 

This one is probably one of my favorite race pictures ever!

 

 

Ricky was like "stay away... don't touch me"

 

I still say he deserves an award for running 3.1 miles & getting a 'speckle' of color on him

 

that's an accomplishment!

 

******

 

TV Time

 

The Bachlorette:  Anyone else think that the girlfriend coming in to confront the one dude seemed to be totally set up?  Worst acting ever!  Her voice raising 3 octaves & squealing?  I just wanted to throw my show at the TV to shut her up.

.... & if I hear "For the right reasons" one more time, I think I may punch myself in the stomach for fun

 

Real Housewives of New Jersey:  I can't tell you how excited I am to have this back.  I love these people... even when I hate them! (Teresa, I'm talking to you)

That was the sweetest moment when Jacqueline's son said, "I love you" to his mommy... I'm glad to see them focusing on something other then Teresa & her insane beliefs of her own world in her mind.

 

But what is Caroline doing trying to get in the middle of Teresa & brother?

 

 

(I did think it was funny Caroline & Teresa had on the exact same color)

 I love Caroline - I do think she's the voice of reason on the show... but c'mon... if someone ever said the "blubber blubber blubber" comment to me, I would never meet them again for lunch or conversation

 

*****

 

Hope everyone has a FANTASTIC FRIDAY & a FABULOUS FATHER'S DAY!

( I love sticking as many F-words in as possible on a FUN FRIDAY!)

Yes... I just compared us to electric cord

Have you ever gotten a new electronic gadget & you pull it out of the box & it looks so clean & put together....

When its a kitchen gadget, I sometimes hate to get it dirty... but then realized I paid way too much money to fill up my counter with things I'm not going to use.

You can't wait to plug those things in...

One thing that gets me though is how tightly those cords are wrapped.  They have them so tight & put together, & have a twist tie on them that seems to be made of steel or something.

When you take that tie off, you see its just like a colored bread twist tie... how did they get it on there so tightly to hold that cord in the perfect shape?

But you go & plug in the gadget & then you have all sorts of cord that is too long & bulky - so what do you do?  You wrap the left over back up & use that same tie & you try to get it just the right length to hide behind the gadget...

I don't know about you... but I can't EVER get the cord to wrap up the same.

I even try to make the loops at the same place that the cords already have the creases built into them by sitting in that position for a long time... but I STILL can't get it that tight

... & putting that same twist tie back on it?  That's when I'm convinced I'm a weakling & may be a little dense in the head, because I can't ever get it to tie right either.

I'll loop it on & let go & POOF... the cord becomes all slack & its just a mess...


So when I saw the verse we were focusing on this week, this whole scenario I am talking about is what came to mind... why?  That one word... BIND

I can't ever bind things up the same...

A skein of yarn is another things that comes to mind....once unraveled - I can't get in that tight ball it was once in.

When we're hurt in life - brokenhearted... doesn't it feel like we're just like that cord - or that ball of yarn?

Like we'll never be put back the same?

The Bible tells us in so many places how God is close to the brokenhearted ... but I love that this verse says, he HEALS the brokenhearted... Binding up their wounds...

He's that twist tie... that is made of steel... that knows how to wrap us up just right to hold us together securely without coming unloose...

& sometimes, maybe we are a little looser then before... but that's OK... that's where we've learned from life & we're not the same...

Our broken hearts sometimes don't ever leave us the same...

The very last sentence in the book, in Chapter 10 said it all to me

 

"I have come to understand that God cannot use people greatly until he has broken them deeply.  And when we embrace our brokenness, we are ready for breakthrough"

Yep... broken isn't always a bad thing...

Maybe because God knows He can bind us back up... & we're better for it.

We're stronger
We know more
We trust Him more
We can teach & share with others

& we can be a witness to others how God does heal
... & how He DOES bind us back together

Feeling broken right now in life? 
Get ready... because God is doing something in your life
... & He's not going to leave you all unraveled
... He's going to binding those hurts right back up...

Count on that!

Hodgepodge

Hodgepodge Time

1.  What do you think makes a good dad?

Love... love... love love love... sorry, singing that commercial in my head from the 70's... Have you hugged your kid today? ...

Come to find out, I think it was a local commercial, but I just googled it & it kinda spread...

I found this video of women singing it... you even hear them say, "isn't that about child abuse?"... haha!




How did I get so off topic?

But yeah - LOVE - love - love love love ... dads, just love your kids


2.  What's something you learned from your own father?

How to use wood working equipment... Yeah baby - when Shop Class came around in middle school - I was a pro.  Step back people, let me show you how to work all these saws.

My dad also taught me my whole life - & still to this day tells me, "You're gonna die in debt, so enjoy life" ... yeah!!!! :)


3.  It's your birthday-what kind of cake will we be having?

I love a simple cake... yellow cake mix with chocolate icing... oh yeah!  Throw a few icing roses on there too for extra doses of sugar happiness!



4.  When you're faced with a big decision are you more of a go with your gut type of person, or are you someone who reasons it all out, weighing the pros and cons?

I have always known since I was a child - & even today - I am the WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD when it comes to decision making. 

I do it all - go with my head... & then my heart steps in... & then my emotions get involved... & then reality checks step in with the pros & cons... & then my heart swells up again...

& then I just ask Ricky to make the call for me



5. June is National Dairy Month. what's your favorite dairy item? Most often purchased dairy item?

My favorite - Swiss cheese... I could eat a whole package of it in a blink of an eye

Most purchased - Greek yogurt



6.  Explorer Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910...what's something you've recently discovered or something you'd like to explore?

I've discovered I'm not much of an explorer




7. Are you typical of your generation?

What's typical for my generation?  I'm not even sure...

If being awesome is typical, then YES! ;)

(I'm also hoping that my generation also deals with back pains & daily aches - or else, I've skipped my generation & have moved up into the one before me)



8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Anyone else doing the Summer Bible study with Beth Moore?   Gideon by Priscilla Shirer?

I also saw where Women's Bible Café is doing it as well - both started yesterday

I'm so excited about it....

I love Priscilla anyways - saw her at Beth Moore conference.
Girlfriend is BE-U-TI-FUL ... & knows style... & even more, knows the word of the Lord!

I love that at the end of every day, she wants you to tweet, using the hashtag #lessonsfromgideon .... I already put up 3 from the first day of the study...

Loving the Lord your God is an ACTIVE condition.... Get moving! #lessonsfromgideon
— Rebecca Jo (@RebeccaJoKnits) June 12, 2013

I love it that you can look up that hashtag & also see what everyone else came up with...

technology!

(Is that being typical of my generation?  Tweeting?... I'm still so confused)

____________________

(If you missed my post from yesterday, check it out - its giveaway time for a free canvas!)

Want a canvas... for free? GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

OK... so this is gonna be fun

I keep seeing everyone purchasing canvases...& they are gorgeous

So when Easy Canvas got in touch with me & asked if I wanted to host a giveaway, well, HECK YEAH, was my first reaction....

I was looking at their site (which you can get to by clicking the picture below) & they now have canvases that you can get from your Instagram pictures... I'm all about that.  It seems like Instagram holds the story of my life lately...

PHOTO CANVAS

I am being offered one myself - which the problem is, I have no idea which picture to choose.  Any thoughts?  Grandbabies? My Doggies?  One of my cool 'artsy' pictures?  Give it as a gift?  My dad's horses?  ... I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO...

Life can be difficult sometimes - right? :)

But now you can have that same problem, because Easy Canvas is giving away a canvas to YOU...

Just use the Rafflecopter & enter & you can win a free 8x10 yourself!

Simple enough...

& tell me what picture you would get yourself....

a Rafflecopter giveaway


This contest will end next Monday at midnight, 6/17 - & Easy Canvas will get in touch with the winner...

Good luck!!!

Weekend Wrapup

Friday

* Backyard night... the kids looked amazing dancing!  We had 2 new songs & they have been embedded in my brain all week... but they're good songs, so I didn't mind

* I wish everyone that had children  - any age - would come to the Backyard... its always so much fun! ... & such good messages... & HILARIOUS!!!... Yes, this is a picture of our Children's Minister with her husband.. & yes, he's in a hospital gown with a Mountain Dew IV drip.. & he kept turning around & bending over showing his Spiderman Boxers.. the kids love everything this man does.

Saturday

* COLOR RUN!!!!  Felt good to get up early & prepare for a race...

* Start line... such a weird thing to see everyone in white... its like some sort of cult... a RUNNING cult! :)

* Thank goodness for cell phones to find friends in a crowd... its not easy to say, I'm in the white shirt & white headband...  Everyone looked alike... you had to really keep your eye out for friends :) ... except Ricky was the only person with a BLUE hat on :)

It was all of these lovely faces first 5K ... that's always exciting

* My back was aching through the race... but it wasn't intolerable... so we pressed on.  Ricky did it with me & that's always fun... 

* Went to do the color burst... there's just something about being in a crowd of people that are pumped up... & ready to throw color everywhere...

* So I couldn't get my packet open, turned & saw my neighbor.  I asked him to open it... little did I know he would dump the whole thing over me... ahhh - paybacks are rough my friend :)

* Ricky ran the race... & stayed out of the color burst... he didn't want to breath that powder.  When I came out all green from the color burst, he didn't even recognize me... that made me nervous since I couldn't see myself

* Yes - this is Ricky AFTER the race... He ran around all the color areas (They yelled at him about that too) but he almost made it out perfectly clean except at the turn around area, they had color in water pistols & they got him across the bottom of his shirt... you can barely see specks close up.  & some guy at the end threw his powder on himself at the finish line & got Ricky's socks a bit covered in blue... you would have thought Ricky was COVERED the way he acted.  I was cracking up.  He said, "I think I need to cover the seats for me too... I don't want to ruin your car"... & then when he took his bath he said, "The water was so blue, I had to run it 3 times"...(y'all think I'm dramatic?)

* I guess diamonds are resilient to colored powder... my necklace was clean too :)

* They had blow off stations... thank goodness... when she hit me with the blower, it was like Pig Pen from Peanuts... a cloud of green dust flew off of me...

* Thank goodness I bought these Color Run sunglasses... I would hate to have to get this stuff off my eye lashes!

* I was a little nervous... I went home & washed my face... & it wasn't coming off!!! The green was leaving a dark hue on my skin... OH MY GOSH!!!  But after about a shower that would leave my skin in pain... & a half bottle of alcohol, I got most of it... my skin is still stained UNDER my shirt though (I guess the sweat mixed with the color = paint that stains)... So yes, if I'm in an accident & they have to take my shirt off & they see my chest, stomach & underarms & see the green color - please let them know I'm not an alien.

* Took the afternoon & relaxed catching up on my Merlin shows... I've been putting it off because its the last season... I don't want it to end

* No rest for the weary... off for a family photo session... the little boy in this family is just angelic.  Blond curls, bright blue eyes... a smile that is PRECIOUS... I wanted to just take him home with me.

* In the mail - YES... my "Team T-Rex" shirt!  If you are a runner & love a funny gal, you have to visit her blog... http://trexrunner.com/

* I was so sweaty from my camera bag on my back - time for another shower... nope, color still sticking

Sunday

* Church... we are loving the new game "Moose Moose".. it will make you call out random animal names all day long

* Headed to a little Art Festival ... cute stuff... & a beautiful day to walk around

* Went for lunch at Penn Station... mercy... some people just know how to mess up everything.  The girl taking our order, you could tell was new.  I told her what I wanted - NO onions anywhere on my veggie sandwich... when Ricky got done, I noticed she was taking forever to give us a price.  She ended up re-entering everything... & not asking us... & getting everything wrong.  In the end, I pretty much had an onion sandwich... nothing else... it was disgusting.  I was so bummed out.

* Our weekly Target trip :)  Can't live without it

* Home Depot.. I was on a mission to get some flowers for our front porch.  Got a cute little table for a potted plant as well.  I am determined to make my house have SOME sort of color... besides brown with dead leaves & grass

* Off to visit my momma & daddy... it was like a house full of bad backs

* Finished up the weekend with Neil Patrick Harris... TONY AWARDS!!!!  I love the Tony's... little glimpses of the latest shows!  They need to do every award show like this... just clips of the award winners in categories no one really cares about.  I stayed up till the end...

... & now, I'm exhausted... on a Monday... whew!  Here's to a new week!  & clean skin!

Friday Fragments

Friday!  Yes... I've survived the Buggy Week!

 

******

 

 I'm going to be COLORFUL tomorrow morning

Its time for the COLOR RUN again

Now that I've done it before - I'm kinda dreading the 'yuck' of it... the having to scrub the skin - the having to bring blankets & towels to keep the car clean
(Do I sound like a fuddy-duddy or what?)

BUT... I'm glad to be doing a run since my back kept me out of the big show a few months ago.

I think it'll be good for my running psyche
Being in that environment
Not having to really worry about time
just enjoying a run
....full of colored powder...
 

 

******

 

Did you see this video going around?

I love it...

This video shows the details from a news station...

 

What you don't see in this - but you can see in the original video, most of the teachers have their heads hanging down... almost ashamed.... almost not sure what to do

... but there is one lady, who looks at him the whole time & is smiling

... I LOVE that teacher!  :)

I'm doing a Bible Study right now & just this week, a big part of it was about prayer & how NO ONE can take away your power to pray... not even the enemy himself...

 

Nope.. NO ONE can stop you!

 

*******

 

 CURRENTLY READING:  Silver Linings Playbook

I'm totally watching the movie as soon as I get done reading this

But so far, I'm loving the book

& now, when I think of the characters in my head, I only see Bradley Cooper & Jennifer Lawrence in my head

... that's alright with me...

*******

I thought about a fun reading summer challenge

Get all of Judy Blume's books & re-read them as an adult

I printed a list of all her books...
there are 28 books!




Now, my question... should I just get them on my Kindle
or actually buy the books so I can have a collection of them?

If I have the books, I'm thinking I can pass them down to my nieces

Every girl needs Judy Blume in her life

*******

I just watched "Must Love Dogs" this week
...yes, I know that movie is so 5 years ago...

But it was just so darn cute

I forgot how much I love John Cusack



He needs more credit for the Rom-Com King
I think Tom Hanks has the crown
(in my own ceremony anyways)

But I just really love John ... we're on first name basis...

Say Anything
One Crazy Summer
Better Off Dead

All Classics

Did you also know he was the voice of Dimitri in "Anastasia"

He does it all

(NOTE:  He's still no Hugh Jackman... c'mon... get real)

******

TV Time:  Its summer & on the slow side...for now...

The Bachlorette:  Desiree is adorable... & some of these guys?  I'm not too sure about.  I know she really likes that Ben



I'm not sure of my thoughts on him yet... he seems sketchy to me

I'm still mad she got rid of the magician on the first night
That right there was many episodes of entertainment!

Real Housewives of Orange County:  When Tamra was bored at her Bachlorette party on the first night & said, "What's next?  A yeast infection?" ... I literally spit my water across the room from laughing

The things that lady says is ridiculous... & hilarious... all in one

America's Got Talent:  I'll be the first to say, I thought it was a horrible idea to have Heidi Klum as a judge... but I didn't mind her.  Love Mel B anyways... & Howie & Howard break my ribs from laughing every show anyways... so I think its going to be a good year.

But did you see the guy levitating?



I seriously laughed & screamed all at once that I woke Ricky up...
he jumped up thinking something horrible was wrong
.... that's always good for his heart...

Can't wait for Big Brother to start... & Drop Dead Diva...


******

OK everyone - hope you all have a Fantastic Friday Full of Fun! :)
 

 



Summoned by Name

Are you good with names?

I am either good... or I'm really bad... (that about covers everything, right?)

But sometimes a name will really stick with me... & other times, I will NEVER get your name right.

There was a girl in our youth group one time - I have no idea what her name was.  I love this kid.  She loved me.  But for the life of me, I could never get her name right.  But I'm big on nick names.  Call me Nicki Minaj on American Idol. 

 

But I've always done that, & I ended up calling this girl "Gabby" ... mainly because she was a chatty little thing - always gabbing up with others.  Gabby just felt appropriate for her.  She loved it.

Someone asked me about her one time using her real name & I was like, "I have no idea who you're talking about"... & they kept telling me that of course I knew her, she talked about me & the relationship we had... then it hit me - OHHHH - Gabby!

See?  Good with names - but bad. 

I once heard if you say someone's name 60 times within 5 minutes, you'll never forget it...

Its not true...I've tried it

Maybe it will work for you...

Maybe my brain just doesn't work that well... (that's very much a possibility)

But there's something special when someone knows your name, isn't it?

I've had people at church that come up to me & say, "Good morning Rebecca" - & I'm not even sure I've seen their face before... but the fact that they know ME?  I already appreciate that person - I want to get to get to know them better.  Probably because they've taken the time to get to know something about me... even if its as simple as my name.

So when I saw this was our focus verse of the week, there was something special about it that tugged at my heart...

“Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you.
    I’ve called your name. You’re mine.
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you.
    When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
    it won’t be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
    The Holy of Israel, your Savior.

~Isaiah 43:1-3

God knows my name... God knows your name...

I just love that... He's taken the time to know something about us...

everything about us really...

& I love that the first part of that is a reminder of fear... a reminder of what he's done for us.  Redeemed us... what is to fear after that?

& then the reminders of what He's going to do for us... BE THERE WITH US
through it all... when life is drowning us... when we're feeling in over our head... when we're feeling trapped... He'll give us a way out...

So much in this verse that just makes me want to smile... & tear up with a joyful heart

But it all starts with God knowing us... our name...

& claiming WE ARE HIS!

If you feel alone today - if you feel overwhelmed - if you feel like life is throwing so much at you today...
write down this verse... find peace & comfort in it...
knowing God knows your name... claims you for Himself... & is with you every step of the day

Hodgepodge

 

Hodgepodge Day

1. Have you learned more from success or failure?  Explain.

Failure ...

Its the things you learn NOT to do again that I get the best lessons out of...

& apparently others do as well - hello?  Has anyone not heard of the show "What NOT to wear" ... see?  Proof of why learning from failure works


2.  What did you call your grandparents when you were growing up? If you have children, what do they call your parents?  If you have grandchildren, what do they call you?

I had a Mamaw & Papaw on my mom's side
& I had a Teenie & Papaw that later become Paps on my dad's side

My grandmother, her name was Christeen ... when my brother & I were born, she always felt like she was too young to be a grandmother - so we had to call her "Teenie" ...what got weird was when my 2 cousins were born down the road.  THEN she was ready to be a grandmother, so they called her Mamaw :)  Talk about a lot of name calling.

& I got tired of having two Papaw's - so I just changed it one day & called Papaw, Paps one day.  Everyone else still called him Papaw though.  ... Families... always got their weird quirks.

To my grandsons - I'm Nanny & Ricky is Pappy ... I figure that's still 'cool' sounding - not too old, not the image of an old lady in a rocking chair knitting
... though that IS what I love to do... hmmm....

But now, I also have the image of Nanny McPhee with the moles & horrible teeth...

yeah - seems about right

3.  You're invited to a luau.  In keeping with that theme, what dish do you bring to share?

I'd bring a pineapple...

ta-daahhhh....simple... no cooking involved.... healthy

Now the real question... can I wear a coconut bra & a grass skirt?



4.  Besides Jesus, what one person's life story do you think everyone should know?

Actually, I'm one who thinks every person's life story should be known...

I think that's why I love documentaries so much.  To hear people's stories & struggles & joys... its always interesting to me...

Every life counts...

I know the question says, "what ONE person"... so I'll just keep it easy & say, "YOU!"  (ahhh - isn't that clever)



5.  "Don't sweat the small stuff." Agree or disagree?

Agree...

Now tell me how to do that


6.  June is National Rivers Month...when were you last on a river?  What's the prettiest river you've ever seen?  What's a river you'd like to see?

I don't even remember the last time I was on a river...

I cross over the nastiest, smelliest, ugliest river ever...the Ohio River... it is honestly puke green most days... & has the smell of dead fish... & usually has most things dead in it... its disgusting.

I grew up on Rough River & I'll never forget swimming in it one time with a black & white bathing suit... I got out of the river to see it had become black & brown.... white?  ha... officially gone... I was disgusted & never have been back in a river ever since.




7.  Speaking of rivers-paddling, swimming, fishing, or bird watching safely from the shore?  Which activity would you choose?  Yes-you have to choose.

What's paddling? ... am I a dork or something?
You just heard my take on swimming - no thank you - not in a river.  If there's a pool near by, then sure
Fishing - no way... I'm the one who always sneaks & throws the fish back in the water
Bird watching - never interested in it

So Joyce, while you say I have to choose one, I'm saying -
Get me out of the water & put me back in the mountains... please :)



8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm still on "Bug Watch 2013" here in my office...

I came in this morning to find bugs again... they were dead in the window, but crawling all over the floor again.

So I go to spray the bug killer & ever since, I've (no joke) sneezed at least 20 times & my eyes are swelling again.

I swear, my body is so hyper sensitive to EVERYTHING...

I need to become the girl in the plastic bubble ....

Just roll me through the mountains every now & then - ok?

Hey... could I even RUN in that bubble?  Like a hamster in a ball?  .... That'd be awesome!

LOOK!!! I CAN get in the water with this thing!!! It's all come together in the end.....

(I've taken a turn somewhere here.... I blame the bug spray fumes)