tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63644974097676397922024-03-12T22:56:25.753-04:00Writing for the LordLesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.comBlogger281125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-32962019169003191792014-01-17T17:18:00.000-05:002014-01-17T21:34:28.461-05:00"OMG" and Me<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Before 2014 is over with, I will turn 50. Truthfully, on some days my body does feel as if I'm old enough to join AARP, but in my mind, I'm still 21. Yes, that's it; a wiser & more mature 21. Except when it comes to all the techno gadgets and their effect on society.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>When I first graduated from college and began working, I remember how annoying I found fax machines to be. Someone from the corporate office could fax you information, and <em>BOOM</em>, you instantly had more work to do. I can't imagine being in an office today and being bombarded with email, texts, tweets, Facebook updates AND faxes!</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>I resisted Facebook for a very long time (and my husband still does). I finally caved 3 1/2 years ago when my great-niece was born. I knew I would see photos of her much faster if I was on Facebook, and I was correct. The reason behind my resistance was that I wasn't very sure I wanted each and every person from my past to be able to reconnect with me. I think it took me almost 3 years before I got to 100 "friends". However, I must admit that I find Facebook to be a fun way to communicate with people whom I can't see on a daily basis and with those whom I never thought I'd hear from again. I never dreamed I'd see or hear from an elementary school friend who moved out of state when we were in 5th grade! Or that I'd be "friends" with people whom I've met through blogging!</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Twitter...I've never tweeted. I don't really understand the point of it for someone like me; although, I can see how it is a useful tool if you own a business or have a product to sell.</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Then there's texting. I didn't begin this form of communication until about 2 years ago. Why? Because I can't stand what it has done to the written English language. LOL, LMAO (ugh), IDK, JK, WTF (bigger ugh) and my personal favorite (NOT!), OMG. In my old fashioned school of thought, this text talk is just bad spelling!</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>So let's talk about my personal favorite (again, NOT!); OMG. Now some people may say it can mean "oh my goodness" or "oh my gosh", but I think we all know it really means "oh my God". I am a Christian and do not use that phrase. In the Bible, the third commandment is, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (KJV) I give my husband and teenagers a hard time if I hear them use the phrase. And it's definitely not something I want to hear coming out of my 2-year-old's mouth!</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>About a month ago, the almost 50-year-old in me was compelled to send an email to PBS regarding one of their new children's shows. I was watching the program with my little guy and enjoying it because it is both cute and educational. This particular episode featured some teenage characters. I was stunned when I heard them say, "O...M...G!" I immediately went online to find out how I could contact the people responsible for the show. It seemed the best way to do this was to email them, so that's what I did. My message was brief and respectful; I just expressed my concern over the use of OMG in a PBS children's program. I pointed out that preschoolers mimic everything they see and hear. It took a few weeks, but I did get the following response back from them:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>A goal of this series is to get children engaged in the content, and build the math skills taught in each episode, by making the program feel relevant and relatable to today’s children. To that end, the producers have the three older girls, known as “The Teens,” display exaggerated behavior often associated with adolescents, such as loving pizza, texting and using contemporary slang including “O.M.G.,” which the producers felt could also mean “Oh, my gosh.” </strong></span></em></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span></em></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #38761d;"><em>We are sorry to learn that you are disappointed with this material and have shared your comments with the PBS KIDS staff and the creative team responsible for </em>(name of show here). <em>The response of viewers – both positive and negative – is an important guide for determining future programming decisions. </em></span></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><em><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span></em></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #351c75;"><em><span style="color: #38761d;">Your interest in our content is greatly appreciated. We hope you continue to watch and enjoy your local PBS station.</span></em> </span></strong></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span></span> </div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>I appreciate the fact that someone did get back to me, and that they were respectful and professional in their response. I have to say though that I don't agree with the producers over what OMG <em>could</em> stand for. I think we all know what it <em>really</em> stands for. And I think our Lord knows what it stands for as well.</strong></span></span></div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong></strong></span></span> </div>
<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #351c75; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>So, do I abbreviate, use acronyms, or simply shorten words when I text? I didn't at first out of principle. However, my almost 50-year-old fingers and thumbs began to protest, so I do use such things as "u" for "you" or "ur" for "your" or "btwn" for "between". I still don't LOL and definitely won't WTF. And OMG? Well...hmmm...maybe...since it could mean "oh my gosh"; HAHAHA...JK!</strong></span></span></div>
Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-56400424894859135592012-03-13T06:45:00.001-04:002012-03-13T06:45:00.975-04:00"I Get To" Tuesdays<div><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">The thought behind this is to list a few things that could come under the category of "Ugh...I have to (you fill in the blank)." However, I want you to look at these "have to's" as blessings of "I get to". We all take for granted such things as our health, jobs, family, friends, etc. and sometimes don't appreciate them or see them as blessings as we should. So here are a few things for me this week.<br /><br /></span></em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-size:100%;" >Like most of you, I got to "spring" forward this weekend. I also got to get up extra early Sunday morning because I needed to be at church an hour and a half earlier than usual! I ended up taking a nap after dinner Sunday night!<br /><br /></span></strong></span></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" >I got to go to the chiropractor unexpectedly yesterday. I had had a headache for three days, so my husband got me an appointment. I hadn't been to the chiropractor since before I was pregnant. It usually feels good, but this time it hurt!! My headache has subsided though. I get to go for a re-check on Friday.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I get to walk five miles today...HA!! I mentioned a few weeks ago that I'm participating in a walking program through my church. I'm supposed to walk five miles a week. Our weeks go Wednesday through Tuesday. Due to my three day headache, I haven't walked even a mile this week, so it's all come down to today!<br /><br />I've also mentioned before that my oldest son got his permit. I've ended up riding with him a few times, and I know I'll continue to get to do this. Every time I have to ride with him I feel as if my heart is in my throat!! It's not that I feel he's a bad driver; I just don't like not having any control over the car!<br /><br />Well, that is my "I Get To" list for this week. Remember, try to find the blessings in your "I Have To's" and turn them into "I Get To's"! Please feel free to post your own "I Get To" list and link up here. I would love to hear how you're being "blessed" this week!</span></span></strong></div><strong><br /></strong><br /><a href="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/links.php?owner=Leslie64&postid=16Nov2009&meme=" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/graphic.php?owner=Leslie64&postid=16Nov2009&meme=" /></a>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-78533198840163884322012-03-06T13:59:00.005-05:002012-03-06T14:38:16.383-05:00"I Get To" Tuesdays<div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><em>The thought behind this is to list a few things that could come under the category of "Ugh...I have to (you fill in the blank)." However, I want you to look at these "have to's" as blessings of "I get to". We all take for granted such things as our health, jobs, family, friends, etc. and sometimes don't appreciate them or see them as blessings as we should. So here are a few things for me this week.</em></span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />I'm posting this later than usual just because I'm a mom! If you're a mom, you know that your schedule has to revolve around everyone else's day! This week my "I Get To" list includes the following:</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ><br />I got to take my oldest son to the dentist for a check-up today and pay out of pocket for the appointment...no dental insurance. But at least we're able to pay for this, even if it does hurt the checking account a bit. Plus, he didn't have any cavities!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ><br />I get to be a single parent for the next two nights, and Daniel usually is not a happy camper in the evenings. On the flip side, I get to go do something fun with friends on Thursday night! I'm blessed that my hubby is willing to share the child-rearing duties.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ><br />We will be "springing" the clocks forward this Saturday night! YAY! On Sunday morning I need to be at church 1 1/2 hours earlier than usual. BOO!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ><br />Last night, I got to spend the evening doing our grocery shopping. Ugh...food prices are killing me!! However, I did get some deals like free milk and free oranges! Since CVS is right next door to our grocery store, I went in there first. I actually made $2 buying a bottle of Olay Body Wash! I had a coupon to get the body wash free if I bought an Olay cleanser. Well, I needed cleanser & it was on sale. If you're familiar with CVS's extra bucks, you may have noticed that this week you can earn $2 extra bucks if you buy Olay Body Wash. Even though I had the coupon to get it free, I still technically bought it, so I got the $2 extra bucks too! WOO HOO!! After I went to the grocery store, I went back to CVS and used my $2 extra bucks to buy a 24 pack of water bottles. I only had to pay 44 cents for them! I also made a penny a box on three boxes of tissues due to coupons...go me!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ><br />Remember, try to find the blessings in your "I Have To's" and turn them into "I Get To's"! Please feel free to post your own "I Get To" list and link up here. I would love to hear how you're being "blessed" this week!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong> </div><div> </div><br /><a href="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/links.php?owner=Leslie64&postid=16Nov2009&meme=" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/graphic.php?owner=Leslie64&postid=16Nov2009&meme=" /></a>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-50769853610376239622012-03-05T06:45:00.001-05:002012-03-05T06:45:00.734-05:00My New Blog<div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">Well, I'm probably crazy, but I've begun writing a third blog!! <a href="http://mysonshinesthreeandme.blogspot.com/"><em>My Sonshines Three & Me</em></a> is where I'll write about being an older "new" mom while mothering two teenagers...the humorous side and the struggles. Please come over and visit!</span></strong></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-13700527386212786272012-03-01T10:07:00.014-05:002012-03-01T11:15:52.444-05:00My Three Sons and the Furry One<div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaOMivMjNtYROdyggaJEv9nfYfuM3ANVja3QuhbMqt4lrVAX3SiMlAavB_6ATWAI46lVCnY7Pj5uNsnENfSJyc3A_ltlbUjDws4yx_qJUrIa4FhHca2ftr4FOwiZgInFzYXieePGhazB4/s1600/Sam%2527s+17th+B%2527day+011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 173px; height: 200px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714945757801883266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaOMivMjNtYROdyggaJEv9nfYfuM3ANVja3QuhbMqt4lrVAX3SiMlAavB_6ATWAI46lVCnY7Pj5uNsnENfSJyc3A_ltlbUjDws4yx_qJUrIa4FhHca2ftr4FOwiZgInFzYXieePGhazB4/s200/Sam%2527s+17th+B%2527day+011.JPG" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">This son of mine turned 17 in January and finally decided it was time to get his driver's permit! He has found that driving isn't as easy as it looks, but he's persevering! (And Mom is having a nervous breakdown as his passenger but is keeping it to herself!)</span><br /><br /><br /></span></span></strong><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_IoOLv7aGb-X-PsEz-h9i4EaSgORaOIVJ31mDLQhaLfDTSXYI1ZKXxNzPhS3ZNoQEGgh22-YDrp3s-AUfvDBMfU_Zh5n3V15errYzah3kbYYS9IuESnEulE9gguQGNIrp2cYsf5Yt1ip/s1600/Beach+%2526+Coop%2527s+B%2527day+2011+030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 134px; height: 200px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714950398391048658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_IoOLv7aGb-X-PsEz-h9i4EaSgORaOIVJ31mDLQhaLfDTSXYI1ZKXxNzPhS3ZNoQEGgh22-YDrp3s-AUfvDBMfU_Zh5n3V15errYzah3kbYYS9IuESnEulE9gguQGNIrp2cYsf5Yt1ip/s200/Beach+%2526+Coop%2527s+B%2527day+2011+030.JPG" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_IoOLv7aGb-X-PsEz-h9i4EaSgORaOIVJ31mDLQhaLfDTSXYI1ZKXxNzPhS3ZNoQEGgh22-YDrp3s-AUfvDBMfU_Zh5n3V15errYzah3kbYYS9IuESnEulE9gguQGNIrp2cYsf5Yt1ip/s1600/Beach+%2526+Coop%2527s+B%2527day+2011+030.JPG"></a></div><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><strong>This kiddo has suddenly gotten into basketball, although, he didn't make the school team (big frowny face). He hasn't hit his growth spurt yet, so maybe next year he'll have better luck. Baseball will be starting soon anyway. He's also getting used to life as the middle child! After 14 years of being our youngest and the youngest grandchild on my side of the family, he has lost his position to his little brother.<br /><br /></strong></span></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" ></span></strong><div> </div><div> </div> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><div> </div><div><div> </div></div><div> </div><div><div><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 200px; height: 150px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714952614326342210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpWZ4UtcxIO12tHZ_G612yoFIMTLdqfvGXKT0KQV7hOtoMsbaYTEqzLWjoh3gDVeNofZNl57dAlsXPXVwt_9mPg45Wb4SlCa08xXaUzUyNGG8hScejh7plvXn6fW365brt11xtatHyaFCO/s200/More+Daniel+Feb+2012+005.JPG" /></div></div></span></strong></div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"></span></strong></div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><div>As for this little guy, he has been busy working out a sleep schedule, doing some teething (his big brothers got teeth early), and discovering the joys of Sesame Street! He just coos and babbles as he watches his favorite show! (Okay, I know this is kind of bad since he's only 3 months old, but he just loves Elmo!)</div></span></strong><strong><div><div></div></div></strong><div><div></div></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"></span></strong> </div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"></span></strong><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMvqeVvz5TZm88inZlBveLb598VrRaUT5GSye4XyRuoumnleoQlio8PFmGLIDuVEWmsNyOGZCI_gdbU31_KbrKp7akztbxf7zqdJ3EDFxROxXd0P8M-hp4E9uqW3ZZMuNso2pjCa_aLe5/s1600/Daniel+Birth+and+Christmas+2011+036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 200px; height: 186px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714955024153539650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMvqeVvz5TZm88inZlBveLb598VrRaUT5GSye4XyRuoumnleoQlio8PFmGLIDuVEWmsNyOGZCI_gdbU31_KbrKp7akztbxf7zqdJ3EDFxROxXd0P8M-hp4E9uqW3ZZMuNso2pjCa_aLe5/s200/Daniel+Birth+and+Christmas+2011+036.JPG" /></a><strong>Then there is this crazy mutt! He doesn't know what to think of his littlest brother. He licks him as soon as he gets a bath and is very interested in the new baby toys, especially the stuffed animals (which he must also lick)! However, he does make an attempt to share his dog toys with his new sibling!</strong></span><strong></strong></div><strong><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"></span> </div><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><br />That's my family update! Praise God that everyone is adjusting nicely to all of our recent changes!</span></div></strong></div><strong></strong></div><strong></strong></div><strong><br /><br /></strong></div><strong></strong>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-56023828884792704842012-02-29T06:45:00.000-05:002012-02-29T06:45:01.310-05:00Church Sign - So True<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">On our way home from church on Sunday, I spotted a sign at another church which said: <em>A worn out Bible probably belongs to someone who isn't</em>. This is so true, and I've always admired the look of a well-worn or well-loved Bible! It's an indication that its owner spends a lot of time in God's Word, and I find that so wonderful!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 200px; height: 149px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714247238681427410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnohhNQevNZD8CQtFfi5O-XDfzJNguzJddiDdqmU7fWV_5itOQnoOUZDAkOBhmhQizCmNb_AzRSjvQKe9jbUgo5H7hHABz1uj2oF35Gop5VM3LlbeuMY0fFdxFjYg4wUl-x5XEmL_BtBM/s200/Bible+Picture.jpg" /></span></strong>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-21451312430081754082012-02-28T06:45:00.003-05:002012-02-28T06:45:00.015-05:00"I Get To" Tuesdays<strong><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><em>The thought behind this is to list a few things that could come under the category of "Ugh...I have to (you fill in the blank)." However, I want you to look at these "have to's" as blessings of "I get to". We all take for granted such things as our health, jobs, family, friends, etc. and sometimes don't appreciate them or see them as blessings as we should. So here are a few things for me this week.<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span><br /></em></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I probably should have prefaced last week's "'I Get To' Tuesdays" post by explaining why my "I get tos" have more meaning for me now than when I first began listing them. Originally, I started this because when I saw the trials of others, I knew I should consider the mundane or the irritations in my life as blessings rather than taking them for granted or wishing they'd disappear altogether. Now, after having gone through the past year, I appreciate these ordinary things even more.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Being pregnant at 46 was much harder than being pregnant at 30 and 32! The "morning" sickness was about the same, but once the baby and my belly began getting bigger, the harder it became for me to get around or to do everyday things. The bigger I got, the slower I walked and the more I huffed and puffed. Going up and down stairs was the worst. We only have one bathroom in our house and it's upstairs!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >I was told early on in my pregnancy not to lift anything heavy. I couldn't lift laundry baskets, so my husband and boys had to take all the dirty clothing to the laundry room for me. If they brought the baskets of clean clothes to me, I could fold everything while sitting on the couch or on my bed. I couldn't empty the kitchen trash can let alone lug the trash outside to the cans by our garage. We have a portable dishwasher that has to be pushed over to the sink and hooked up to the faucet. By October, I could no longer do this. I also couldn't vacuum because that motion really bothered me. I couldn't walk our dog, take him to the vet for his check-up, or even play tug-of-war with him. (The poor guy kept bringing his tire to me and bumping me in the belly with it!)</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >My husband works from home and one of our three bedrooms served as his office. With the baby coming, we had to play musical bedrooms. My husband moved his office to the attic (which had to be cleaned out); he & I moved our bedroom into his old office; the boys moved into our old bedroom; and then we made the boys' old bedroom the new room for the baby. As you can imagine, I was of no help, so my three men had their work cut out for them.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >In November, the day before my 47th birthday to be precise, I began getting sick. My doctor said I had an ear infection and put me on an antibiotic, but it didn't help. I ended up with congestion, clogged ears, and a cough for the remainder of the month. I was pretty much in bed for the entire month. Then I went into labor on November 28th...3 weeks early!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Between being sick and then having a c-section, I was out of commission for almost 10 weeks! Recovery from a c-section at 47 is a lot harder than at 30! During those weeks, the only time I left my house was to go to the doctor or to the hospital. I didn't drive at all during this time, so my husband had to take me to all of my appointments.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >As you can see, I have every reason to be thankful for being able to take part in the ordinary, even boring, details of everyday life! So, in light of this past year, I'm thankful that I GET TO:</span></strong><br /><ul><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Do the dishes</span></strong></li><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Do the laundry</span></strong></li><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Drive to the grocery store by myself and push the cart around the entire store without having to rest</span></strong></li><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Run up and down the stairs every time I need something (or have to use the bathroom!)</span></strong></li><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Take out the trash</span></strong></li><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Cook & bake</span></strong></li><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Walk the dog</span></strong></li><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Scrub the tub</span></strong></li><li><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >And MANY, MANY MORE DULL, PAIN IN THE NECK TASKS...PRAISE GOD!!!</span></strong></li></ul><p><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Remember, try to find the blessings in your "I Have To's" and turn them into "I Get To's"! Please feel free to post your own "I Get To" list and link up here. I would love to hear how you're being "blessed" this week!</span></strong></p><p> </p><br /><a href="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/links.php?owner=Leslie64&postid=16Nov2009&meme=" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/graphic.php?owner=Leslie64&postid=16Nov2009&meme=" /></a>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-89529471683274963042012-02-21T06:45:00.003-05:002012-02-27T19:51:30.525-05:00"I Get To" Tuesdays<div><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><strong><em>The thought behind this is to list a few things that could come under the category of "Ugh...I have to (you fill in the blank)." However, I want you to look at these "have to's" as blessings of "I get to". We all take for granted such things as our health, jobs, family, friends, etc. and sometimes don't appreciate them or see them as blessings as we should. So here are a few things for me this week.</em></strong></span></div><div> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" ><br />I get to wake up each night with an almost 3 month old baby! (But what a blessing he is!)</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" ></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></strong><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" >I get to change diapers and wash baby bottles <em>again</em> today. This routine gets tiring, but it's worth it!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" ></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" ><br />Our oldest son finally got his driver's permit last week, so I get to worry each time my husband takes him out driving. (I'm not ready to do it myself yet!) It's another step toward independence for him!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" ></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" ><br />I get to begin a walking program tomorrow that will officially last 12 weeks. Our church is participating in a Lenten/Easter activity called Walking to Jerusalem, hence the walking. (We're taking it through Mother's Day though.) I'm hoping to lose a pound or two.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;" ></span></strong> </div><div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><strong><br />Well, that is my "I Get To" list for this week. Remember, try to find the blessings in your "I Have To's" and turn them into "I Get To's"! Please feel free to post your own "I Get To" list and link up here. I would love to hear how you're being "blessed" this week!</strong></span></div><br /><a href="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/links.php?owner=Leslie64&postid=16Nov2009&meme=" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.blenza.com/linkies/graphic.php?owner=Leslie64&postid=16Nov2009&meme=" /></a>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-91089085190685708412012-02-18T08:00:00.002-05:002012-02-18T08:00:05.578-05:00I Want to Hear Some Happy News<strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >This has been a week full of sad news. Everywhere I turn I'm bombarded with the news of someone's death. And no, I'm not referring to Whitney Houston. (Her story is sad but has received more publicity than necessary.)</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >My friend's friend was killed in a car accident on Valentine's Day. Her dog died also in the wreck. From what I understand, she leaves behind 2 young daughters. Her husband was driving their vehicle and for some reason ran off the highway. Since the accident, her husband has been diagnosed with a brain tumor, and it was probably what caused him to lose control of the truck.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Yesterday, I heard about a school bus accident while watching our local news. An 11-year-old girl was killed and three other children are in critical condition. Two of those kids are her sisters....they were triplets.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >I went for little over a year without blogging. This week I've been trying to catch up with people whom I follow. Tonight I checked in with <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><a href="http://gitzengirl.blogspot.com/">Gitz</a> </span>only to find that she passed away in September.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Even though I never knew any of these people, I'm heartbroken for them and their families. It has made me count my blessings...both big and small.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >Please, someone just give me some happy news!</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://gitzengirl.blogspot.com/"></a>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-48533057921063156832012-02-15T07:41:00.004-05:002012-02-15T08:57:14.925-05:00An Emerald Covenant<strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >I mentioned in my last post that I discovered I was pregnant on Palm Sunday last year. I took the home pregnancy test early in the morning and didn't wake my husband up to give him the news. He didn't even know I was taking the test, and I figured it wasn't news that he would want to wake up to. Plus, I needed to digest this info myself.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >For reasons I can't remember now, I went to church alone that morning. I sat in the pew with my right arm resting across the back of the pew. As I listened to the sermon, out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of the ring I wear on my right hand. The ring has a heart shaped emerald on it.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >At that moment, my heart sank a bit as I wondered if I'd be adding another heart shaped gem to my ring. My emerald ring represents the baby I miscarried in 2008. The baby was due in May and emerald is the birthstone for that month. I had calculated that this new baby would be due in December. I sat wondering what December's birthstone is.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >In the book of Revelation, the apostle John describes a throne set in Heaven: </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ><em>"At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne." (Revelation 4:2-3 NIV </em>)<em> </em>From what I understand, the rainbow which God sent after the flood is a covenant, or a promise, that He will never destroy the world by flood again. (Read Genesis 9:9-17)</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >I find it interesting (and comforting) that John saw a rainbow around God's throne and described its appearance <em>"like an emerald"</em>. My emerald ring...a covenant from God that he wouldn't take this baby too? That I actually would have another child here on this earth? After all, when my oldest son was about 5 years old, he had said that I would have another baby because <em>"Jesus told me so!"</em> (My own brother had told my mom the same thing, and I was born a year after he died.)</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" ></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:Trebuchet MS;" >If you have read my last post, obviously I have since given birth to another beautiful son. I thank God everyday for this newest little gift...for the fulfillment of his covenant with me.</span></strong>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-71013432811129155622012-02-13T06:45:00.000-05:002012-02-13T06:45:00.551-05:00A New Normal<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">A new normal...that has been the story of my life for almost a year now. Our family has had to make several adjustments since last April. On Palm Sunday, I discovered I was pregnant again. This news was met with mixed emotions by my husband and I and our two teenage sons. We feared another miscarriage, and there was much trepidation about what a new baby would mean for our household.</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;color:#000099;"><strong>Don't worry, this story has a happy ending, but getting there was a challenge and resulted in our future (the one we had planned anyway) being rewritten. (I know it's what God had planned for us all along.)</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;color:#000099;">I've been wanting to continue with this blog, but for several reasons, I was unable to write any posts while pregnant. Since giving birth, I've just been too busy and tired, but now I'm finally ready to give it a try. I'm also toying with the idea of starting a third blog but thought I should first ease my way back into writing on this blog.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:100%;color:#000099;">I know I need to update some things on here in addition to posting and am hoping to start doing that over the next few weeks. I'll also fill you in on my pregnancy and the changes we've had to make around here. I've missed writing and blogging and hope you'll join me as I muddle through my new normal!</span></strong><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 294px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708434988850588130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzeTriKI149RJcMORIfOM-dTv-0D1-Wq2alf4e18by4m2YSIAXj2RnjwP6Sy1Fez6ABKAzXDbDJkPoodGCuNcNF2IjXPJy665kX0E1ULbZt52S-OXihUQVzrBqO9EN58dDTDE5TA9t1FaS/s320/Daniel+Feb+2012+016.JPG" /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Daniel Finn</span></strong></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-88370101785447938932011-01-01T00:01:00.000-05:002011-01-01T00:01:02.240-05:00Welcome 2011!<a href="http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/newyear/images/ny2-hny8.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 504px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 73px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/newyear/images/ny2-hny8.gif" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/newyear/images/ny2-hny8.gif"></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-78636896833705869982010-12-30T10:03:00.013-05:002010-12-31T09:42:20.124-05:00The Wailing Wall<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong><em>For three and a half days men from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. . . . But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. <span style="color:#990000;">Revelation 11:9, 11</span></em></strong></span><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#990000;"></span></em></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">I knew that TV would make the above possible, but I never thought about live streams online or even iPhone apps.</span></strong> <div><div><div><br /> </div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 350px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/images/jerusalem/western-wall/resized/view-c-zyzy.jpg" /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">I just happened to see an article online this week that talks about a new iPhone app that streams live from the Wailing Wall and allows users to email prayers to be placed in the crevices of the wall. Amazing! (You can read the article <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/12/29/ipray-jerusalems-western-wall-gets-iphone-app/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">here</span></a>.)</span></strong><br /><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>Go to <a href="http://english.thekotel.org/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">The Western Wall Heritage Foundation</span></a> and you can find out more info about the iPhone app and also watch live streams from the Wall. I find this technology both fascinating and disconcerting at the same time. It just makes me wonder if it's a sign of the (end) times?</strong></span></p></div></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-4559500116884401102010-12-27T11:23:00.015-05:002010-12-27T13:46:08.741-05:00Who'd a Thunk It?<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>Me? A romantic? Nah! I do like the occasional love story, but we're talking <em>The Notebook </em>or <em>Marley & Me </em>(yes, I know it's about a dog), not like Harlequin romances. And I always ask my husband of 20 years when he's ever going to get around to proposing. Although, I think if he had ever gotten down on one knee, I would have laughed.</strong></span><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">I happened to see an article online yesterday about the top 10 most romantic gifts. I decided to read it to see what I was missing. The article was aimed at men and what they should be getting for their significant other. Upon reading, I discovered that I actually got a romantic gift for Eric this year! Among the top 10 gifts, buying tickets for an event that your spouse would enjoy is considered romantic. Hey, I did that!</span></strong></div><div> </div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Let me explain. Eric has always liked Neil Diamond even though he won't claim to have lived through the 1970s because it was such a "tacky" decade as he puts it. He has suffered much teasing from family & friends for enjoying Mr. Diamond's music. In the past, we have given him Neil Diamond Cd's for Christmas. I think last year I gave Eric one of his Christmas Cd's (and have had to suffer through listening to it!). Not that I don't like good old Neil's music; I just don't go out of my way to listen to it. (Wait a minute. I think I may have the 45s of <em>You Don't Bring Me Flowers</em> and <em>Forever in Blue Jeans</em> up in our attic. Don't tell anyone!)</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">B</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">ack in November, I happen to find out that Real Diamond was playing at a local theater the day after Christmas. Real Diamond is a Neil Diamond tribute band. Since the real Neil is off touring in Australia and Africa for the next 8 months, I decided to get tickets for this local show. We've seen a Beatles tribute band, so I figured it couldn't be all that bad. Besides, it would be something different to do together and we could have a nice date. (Plus, the theater serves beer & wine!)</span></strong><br /></div><div></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Thankfully, I got tickets for the late afternoon show because I was thinking we could go out to eat afterwards. The snow storm that hit us yesterday cancelled the evening show, but not ours'. So we went and had a really good time! They were actually very good! Our seats were in the second row, and "Neil's" mom was sitting two seats away from me. She went around talking to people in the audience during the intermission, and you could tell she's his biggest fan! After the show, "Neil" and the band came out to the lobby to thank everyone for coming. I was standing about 3 feet away from him while Eric missed it since he had to visit the little boy's room.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">We decided against going to dinner since the roads were a mess and because Eric has been doing an elimination diet (for medical reasons under the guidance of a doctor). But, all in all, it was a fun time! AND I discovered that I am romantic after all (at least according to that article)! Perhaps I'll start humming <em>You Don't Bring Me Flowers</em> to give the hubs a hint!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong> </div><div> </div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong> </div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 256px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555432039487479442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_o-X8PNKKG482Buu5NW3Ndrqe09iInER0ArBRM6XJCxzbQN1KZu71UUWSkmctF0D7BfAOVQjTrgxvFzsJOJlL7jKg0c_DIQLZhjFVveiZbzyizwq4dRlBmUpIEaGqwwxF4-txvrIQi3k/s320/Neil%252520Diamond-3.jpg" />Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-29712917719819530992010-12-25T00:01:00.000-05:002010-12-25T00:01:01.837-05:00Merry Christmas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEB8QCtGHI8UiXfBePyvgtZMrFUEklTgY9IwhKLVZgNm9V0J6anoiImHoFHoBoiwMJ_WURFv585yIPcYNMGritq1lRswm5gzlyLuBzg-TasHndyr0JOcDPuJzTJkfH7A-uHwriQa02EfXE/s1600/Dec+25.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 231px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552607237477265138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEB8QCtGHI8UiXfBePyvgtZMrFUEklTgY9IwhKLVZgNm9V0J6anoiImHoFHoBoiwMJ_WURFv585yIPcYNMGritq1lRswm5gzlyLuBzg-TasHndyr0JOcDPuJzTJkfH7A-uHwriQa02EfXE/s320/Dec+25.gif" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMoqMjGbxVjGcMAwtHP4-q4TC7lb4cAnbsSRUf7NdwtTM40xykGnpbO8tcxxC_pr4_ZpXpOIpl-xeDBKSUhQTSCaQVV3aLMon1WnAUEqjk4aS2a9HwqEY5oYUz2az5WaNBdEVx-o2jK4FV/s1600/Dec+25.gif"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM61oZDW1_bldny3SgVf0hIf4bk4fKTCnUElU3Kx9AHRyXQdAwr90JVQ99NZUdxeg-Ei2Q4VydwzO1VeUmMtS3nb8ewYVKFObdqJK6qHsNSDbKya4r-6OCD5eVI5G8NkNj5tj0fx4l-KUE/s1600/Dec+25.gif"></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-83987647958145426652010-12-24T06:45:00.000-05:002010-12-24T06:45:00.671-05:00"O Come Let Us Adore Him"<a href="http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/christ-htm/images/misc/nativity62.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 144px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 212px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/christ-htm/images/misc/nativity62.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/christ-htm/images/misc/babyjesus.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 212px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 259px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/christ-htm/images/misc/babyjesus.gif" /></a><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 223px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 180px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/christ-htm/images/misc/nativity7.gif" /></div></div><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:#006600;"><em><strong>Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.</strong></em></span></p><p align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;color:#006600;">Luke 2:11-12</span></em></strong></p>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-66166091016130419142010-12-23T06:45:00.001-05:002010-12-23T06:45:00.762-05:00Seeing the Blessings Despite the Heartache<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>On Tuesday night I began making my rounds taking some goodies to my neighbors. Sadly, none of us chat very often with one another because we're always running to our jobs or other commitments. Only one of these neighbors lived here when we first moved in. We've seen families come and go in the other homes.</strong></span><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">I went over to drop off the Christmas treats with this long time neighbor first. The youngest daughter answered the door, and I handed her the plate and then saw her dad come up behind her. I wished them a Merry Christmas, we made some short small talk and then I left. I thought it was odd that we didn't speak longer because we usually do at this time of the year.</span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Yesterday, I visited three other neighbors and as I was walking home, I ran into the dad from the night before. He was walking his son's new puppy. His son is 22 and has been married for a little over a year. His bride was diagnosed with brain cancer about a year before they were married. I stopped to meet the puppy and to ask my neighbor how his daughter-in-law is doing. The cancer is back and she may need surgery again. Then he told me that his wife also has cancer. Breast cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes. I couldn't believe it. The news just really saddens me. The whole family is very private and tends to keep things like this to themselves, so I'm not surprised that I didn't know before now. (Hence, I'm not mentioning even first names.)</span></strong><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">We continued with our conversation, and he told me how it has been so amazing because they have been able to share Jesus with so many people on this new journey they're on. I told him about another friend of mine who experienced the same thing with her husband as he battled colon cancer for 4 years. Only with God's help could these couples witness to others during such personal, difficult trials.</span></strong><br /></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">My heart is very heavy for this family, but I'm trying to concentrate on the miracles that are playing out as a result of their circumstances. God can do anything! Please say a prayer today for this family, but also thank God for the blessings that are coming out of this!</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong> </div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong> </div><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 469px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 307px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.freefoto.com/images/05/31/05_31_10---Romans-12-12_web.jpg?&k=Romans+12%3A12" /></p>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-80659173080655909592010-12-22T06:45:00.001-05:002010-12-22T06:45:01.073-05:00The Nativity Has Gone to the Dogs!<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>A friend of mine sent this picture out in an email to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I thought it was very cute and forwarded it to several friends. Then I decided to post it here too. I don't know who is responsible for this photo, so I can't give the proper credit. Hope it gives you a chuckle!</strong></span><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553296589815050562" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmtGUgXX-LLzLHF4QhYh0JbTJR945wEdWHUIfdtYVIKhyphenhyphenQSpvGMO6lOwdk7vQ8WA3KmGznCKeclxJ7zKkabc6Uj51wVt84TYaqfPqwwMlhj3xvZlT2ieJgqZH_SfQsvFBBJLHhkNClcub/s320/Dog+Nativity.jpg" /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm-wBl7MQuv5MAwdBndYtUK-7Su-ArZfnrhaiaUage_AQS4MkIpyGED81fysiNkwvUEOWy9P45951Y3czQa7PN5W64AnoancNNwZ_AFLFhz9rDnOa48AKyBwnBkfqtl8M0D6uvwZq07Yf/s1600/Dog+Nativity.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-36950435161238457862010-12-20T06:15:00.001-05:002010-12-20T06:15:00.272-05:00Are You Ready?<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Is you<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX5k2l7RTShS_Higl_n7k5eGqebz23Qz6IzlqeWDS16uk_qL1Ek3Tx5rDuXCwoLET4MCC-11CRLaELXFASx1R_KJuiRHCU1LaBNeNcloQrP7eyschQNE0mCU42S7hil2tgPQVGEPQNWap/s1600/Christmas+Tree+freefoto.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 134px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552584110413344066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX5k2l7RTShS_Higl_n7k5eGqebz23Qz6IzlqeWDS16uk_qL1Ek3Tx5rDuXCwoLET4MCC-11CRLaELXFASx1R_KJuiRHCU1LaBNeNcloQrP7eyschQNE0mCU42S7hil2tgPQVGEPQNWap/s200/Christmas+Tree+freefoto.jpg" /></a>r tree up? Is your house decorated yet? Have you finished your Christmas shopping? If so, are all of the gifts wrapped (and mailed if need be)? Don't forget those stocking stuffers! Have you sent your Christmas cards? How about those Christmas cookies...are they baked and decorated? Have you planned and shopped for your Christmas dinner?</span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">Yes, my tree is up and the house is as decorated as it's going to get. (I chose not to put everything out this year so that packing it all up won't be such an ordeal.) I'm done shopping for the hubby & kids but still have to get some things for the dog. (He gets very excited about gifts!) I haven't wrapped anything other than what needed to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyQ6t15-vudK3VbBUFrMUngVHnUH9KMRvJtrmjdcQPjmYkBwc3yi58gmOUD0eXnMkd6bAM3BBVGGWo6uy5d7hpGM4z_XD5BMl-u18i1wZXV7hPKHdpI6Omo9IMgoY6jtgenX3fWJMKFWx/s1600/Christmas-Tree-Baubles.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552584234632251298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyQ6t15-vudK3VbBUFrMUngVHnUH9KMRvJtrmjdcQPjmYkBwc3yi58gmOUD0eXnMkd6bAM3BBVGGWo6uy5d7hpGM4z_XD5BMl-u18i1wZXV7hPKHdpI6Omo9IMgoY6jtgenX3fWJMKFWx/s200/Christmas-Tree-Baubles.jpg" /></a>be mailed. (And that stuff has been sent.) I do have the stocking stuffers! I actually decided to send Christmas cards this year and have mailed <em>some </em>of them thus far. I've made fudge but haven't gotten to the cookies yet, mainly because I've had a cold recently & didn't want to spread my germs. Christmas dinner? Well, I still have 5 whole days to plan and shop for that! I</span></strong><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">t seems as if I'm in pretty good shape, especially considering that I don't have anywhere that I have to be this week and the kids will be in school through Thursday. I still have plenty of time to get ready!</span></strong></span><br /><br /><div><div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I wonder if Jesus sees how ready I am to celebrate His birthday? In addition to the above mentioned, I've been in church on</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">most</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Sundays. I attended the Christmas concert</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">since Cooper had to sing with the Youth Choir and Sam was asked to help with the lighting. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">And hey, I went to the Youth Group Christmas party with my boys</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">where we ate yummy food and played games.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Today, my family did one of the readings and lit the Advent candles during the service!</span> <span style="font-size:85%;">Well, okay, Eric actually did the reading and Cooper lit the candles, but I stood up there with them.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Yes, I've been in His Word</span> i<span style="font-size:85%;">f my Moms In Touch prayer meetings and watching Joyce Meyer count. </span><span style="font-size:130%;">I've certainly been charitable<span style="font-size:85%;"> <span style="font-size:78%;">with <em>some</em> of my money but not my time</span> </span>by participating in Operation Christmas Child and giving to some less fortunate families and troubled teens in our area.</span></span></strong></div><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Oh dear. Maybe I need to rethink how ready I am to celebrate our Lord and Savior's birth. What do you think? Are <em>you</em> ready?</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong></div></div></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552584505363360898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacX8Yg8FBpbROjkK9KKwqCGvIs__8qZkMQlVaSH9C9S9jeiZDxdqG-Yx1cUFWNYN1gC_btzRQyb9LcZUJi9GfA-WP7XXHKvOqFPokXrHhkTtkYci7X14v9EsShdxqBIWnq-BZWIN9qf5R/s200/Christmas-nativity-scene.jpg" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#cc0000;"><strong>All photos from <a href="http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp">FreeFoto.com</a></strong></span></p>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-42800438778398356022010-12-12T13:44:00.009-05:002010-12-12T16:12:16.619-05:00Musings from Mayhem<div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">Mayhem is what life has felt like for the past six months. Not that things here are awful or I'm unhappy. I just feel like I'm looking at things while upside down. I quit my job to return to school, and I haven't been able to get into a rhythm yet in my new "normal". My kids love to tell me now that I'm lazy because I don't have a job anymore. In fact, this morning after I told my family once again that I'm not the maid around here, my oldest asked, "Well, if you're not the maid and you don't work, then what do you do?" (He was kidding around, so no, he didn't get into trouble for that comment!)</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">I feel as if all I do is read text books and write papers. Therefore, reading your blogs and updating my own blogs haven't been a priority or even enticing to be honest. My down time seems to consist of doing mindless things like watching TV or playing solitaire (with actual cards, not on the computer). Sadly, I've even considered doing the dishes as down time because I really don't have to think!!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">I'm enjoying my classes, but I really do miss teaching preschool. Preschoolers are just the right anecdote when you're raising teenagers! I still sub occasionally at my old school. I love doing that because I get to play without all the responsibilities of being a head teacher! Still, I do think to myself, "What have I done? Why did I quit a job that I loved and was quite comfortable with? And one that was so family friendly?"</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">I've been watching <a href="http://www.joycemeyer.org/default.htm"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Joyce Meyer </span></a>on TV recently. She's been talking about how she was in a ministry for 5 years and had a difficult time obeying God when He told her it was time to leave and do something else. She liked what she was doing, was comfortable, and was "somebody". I can relate! Joyce says, "If you can't conceive in your mind that God can do something with you then you will never take even the first step toward a better life than what you have right now." Just like a woman cannot become pregnant unless she is able to conceive, we can't move forward in our lives if we can't conceive that God will show us where he wants us to be and what He wants us to do.</span></strong><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 134px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549904567396150450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_-FLyeXoOpzpDlTR8zRKgSj3VFuL8wCOJzPFoz5n9mLXSECKWXWmwjybhFtWb4Nn_xFa5FSoXHSGWOV9i6HbNfGiwMktJ9TpxRhhs4HdWYhN_0RBE7djAZEtj_AEMsbiosKKmWlyVgXz/s200/Road+Ahead+Closed.jpg" /></span> <p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:78%;color:#990000;"><a href="http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp">FreeFoto.com</a></span></strong><br /></p><p align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I've been mulling this over for the past few days. I know God was calling me to move on, and I'm sure I'm moving in the right direction. It's just hard to leave the old things behind. If you go to Joyce's website, you can watch this series at your convenience. It is entitled <em>What do You Want Out of Life?</em></span></span></strong></p>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-49027660051732705432010-07-10T15:38:00.004-04:002010-07-10T16:04:06.737-04:00Signs of the Times<a href="http://www.freefoto.com/images/05/03/05_03_51_prev.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 197px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 286px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://www.freefoto.com/images/05/03/05_03_51_prev.jpg" /></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Recently, around town, I've spotted some funny (or maybe not so funny) church signs. I always love it when churches have a bit of a sense of humor. As I was driving to the movies with the boys, Sam saw one sign that said <em><span style="color:#ff6600;">Honk if you love Jesus. Text if you want to meet Him real soon!</span></em> I thought that was pretty clever and was glad that my 15 1/2 year old was the one who read it to me as we drove by!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Today I saw one that said <span style="color:#ff6600;"><em>Exposure to the Son will prevent burning</em>.</span> Hhmmm, how true!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo from </span><a href="http://www.freefoto.com/index.jsp"><span style="font-size:85%;">FreeFoto.com</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">.</span></span></strong>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-44069328554567423872010-07-08T09:41:00.004-04:002010-07-08T10:08:38.354-04:00Thankful Thursday<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">I don't have a lot of time to blog today, so I'm just going to get right to my list!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">I am thankful that we've been able to pay out of pocket for my first two graduate classes. That means going into less debt!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">I am oh so grateful that I got an A- overall in my first class!!! (Makes the tuition worth it!)</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">I am thankful that my hubby is fine with me quitting my job to return to school. He just left to go interview a bookkeeper for his business. I didn't even know he was looking for one. I asked him if he wanted me to do it, and he said he'd rather me not be stressed out and wants me to just concentrate on school!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">My kids are finally learning to clean up the kitchen after they have cooked for themselves!!! (And with not a lot of complaining -- BONUS!)</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Otto seems to be past his illness. I'm so very glad that it wasn't anything too serious. I was afraid he had eaten something he shouldn't have and had a blockage. Now if we could just decide on some new carpeting! Too many choices out there!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">I should be getting my jeep back soon. Our mechanic has finally figured out what is wrong with it. Not a terribly cheap fix, but at least we'll be a two car family once again! Our jeep is 11 years old and has a few idiosyncrasies but I still love it. I will drive it until it is dead! (But Lord it can't die for at least another 2 years, okay?)</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">That's it for me this week. Please stop by <a href="http://gregsgeneralstore.blogspot.com/"><span style="color:#ff0000;">Greg's General Store</span> </a>to join in on Thankful Thursday!</span></strong>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-1687173092859892192010-07-07T15:42:00.003-04:002010-07-07T17:22:32.187-04:00Am I Now the "Older Woman"?<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">A few things have happened recently that are making me question whether I am entering the role of the "older woman" which the Bible talks about in Titus 2.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">First, I'm taking graduate courses with girls who were 1 year old when I graduated from college. Listening to their conversations and concerns just make me smile. I remember participating in those same conversations "way back when" I thought the world revolved around me. They have no idea how their views will change as they mature. And they'll be shocked when they hear something and realize it came out of their own mouths and not their mothers'!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">The second item is rather silly. Lately I have been receiving emails saying that I can meet "singles who are 50 and over". (I don't open these emails.) Last time I checked I'm not 50 yet and I'm not single! It makes me chuckle on the outside, but on the inside I have this lingering thought that the world of junk mail has moved me from the young and hip demographic to an older one. They didn't even ask me if I wanted to make this transition!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Then yesterday I went to get my hair cut. Last week I had noticed a section of my hair that didn't feel or look right. I asked my hair dresser (a youngster in her 20's) if it looked damaged. After a consultation with her manager, they decided I needed this special treatment done. If it worked, it meant that a product I've used on my hair caused the problem. If not, something else was going on. Thankfully, it worked. As my stylist was cutting my hair, she began telling me about a product that she's learning to use on the hair of older women who are having hair issues due to menopause. She has a client coming in soon whom she's going to use it on and said she'd let me know how it works. The entire time I kept thinking, "Why are you telling me this? I'm only 45!"</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">This morning the thought crossed my mind that perhaps I am moving on to that new era in life where I'm supposed to mentor other women. Then the battle began in my head. How can this be? My youngest child is only 12! My oldest will only be a sophomore in high school. I have younger friends who have kids older than mine. Both of my boys are impressed about how high I can kick my legs! I just played wiffle ball the other day in our backyard! We even enjoy some of the same music. The dog and I still have big tug of war battles! Heck, I got pregnant just two years ago. I CAN'T BE GETTING "OLD"!!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#000099;">We all know, however, that God has His own plan for us. So maybe in different, funny ways He's telling me that it's time to begin moving into a new realm of my life. I can still be fun and active but perhaps it's time to begin sharing some of the wisdom that comes (dare I say it) with age. I'm not sure what area my wisdom lies in, but I'm positive that God knows. <em>God please give me the willingness to open my mind and heart to your desires for me and to accept that I am on the cusp of becoming the "older woman"!</em></span></strong>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-32703366690126983202010-07-05T05:45:00.001-04:002010-07-05T05:45:00.558-04:00Around Here<strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#000099;">Yes, I dropped out of the blogosphere for a while again. I can't believe I didn't lose any followers! Thank you my dear friends for sticking around! As always, just pure busyness has kept me away.</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">I finished up my school year on June 3rd. It was a bittersweet ending as it was the toughest school year I've ever had as a teacher and because it was the last one at the preschool I've taught at for the past 7 years. I gave my notice back in March so that my boss would know in plenty of time that I won't be returning in the fall. I've decided to try to get my master's in special education. I just completed my first 12 week course and will begin a 6 week course next week. Between these two classes I have to earn 3.0 GPA to officially be accepted into the program. (Because I didn't have a 3.0 when I graduated from college 22 years ago! Boys were more interesting than school was back then. Just being honest! Actually, I earned two degrees simultaneously back then....a BBA and an MRS!) Hence, homework has kept me very busy, especially when being a teacher and a student overlapped for two months!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">I know it may seem odd that I quit my teaching job in order to earn a master's in teaching, but I knew I couldn't juggle work, school and my family. Since my kids aren't going anywhere in the near future, work had to go! And I think my whole family is happy about my decision! Even though I have homework, I'm much more relaxed.</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">Of course, I'm getting little jabs from my boys. My oldest likes to tell me that I'm lazy since I quit my job, and my youngest's comment was, "Good, now you can clean the house!" Nice, huh?! Even one of my classmates said, "So, you're going to do nothing?" Oh to be 23 and naive! Okay, so for the last two weeks I haven't gotten out of bed before 9 AM, but I have been cleaning!! I even took the curtains down in our living room and hand washed them in the bathtub! Come on, give me some credit!</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">Living on one income again is an adventure. I've definitely been cooking and baking a lot more. However, I have found that it is cheaper to buy a brownie mix than it is to make them from scratch. We didn't join the pool this summer because we didn't feel we got our money's worth the last two summers. Naturally, one of our vehicles has had issues since I stopped working. It sounds like a rocket and will go even if your foot isn't on the gas pedal! And our mechanic can't figure out what's wrong with it. The kids have been good about waiting for movies to hit our local cheap theater. You can't beat $3 matinees and $5 evening shows! Even the snacks are cheap.</span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">Then there's the dog. I've been dreading having to take him to his yearly vet appointment this summer because it's always so expensive. Rather than doing that yet, we've had other vet bills because poor Otto has actually been sick! He's six years old and this is the first time he's been ill like this. Apparently he picked up a parasite from somewhere, and we are now shopping for new carpeting! As they say, when it rains, it pours.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">This post kind of sounds like a downer, but I'm actually pretty happy. Like I said, I'm more relaxed now and I'm getting to spend a lot of time with my family. My kids are excited because I'm baking for THEM rather than my students. I even made my very first cheesecake for Father's Day. It was delicious! Thanks to our friends who own a beach house, we will get to take our yearly trip to the Outer Banks this month. We just won't be able to stay as long since I can't miss class.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#000099;">I hope life is slowing down for all of you this summer so that you can enjoy just being with your families! I'll check back again soon!</span></strong>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364497409767639792.post-28307736240652472352010-07-04T22:39:00.005-04:002010-07-04T22:56:59.292-04:00The War<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabVANf_Cc1ducp8Ppgb5qnyoQcLPnF5yjtei5vzCZX1CPBW-FCpZqpVeQDE4QF3zXYGeJ4SGd3JKunRD4FcjeNu3Ai0nH99609WphankuFV1WQA0oKMnzGXq4Ju6TnJjG91VskpdItmW2/s1600/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+007.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490248047166228690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiabVANf_Cc1ducp8Ppgb5qnyoQcLPnF5yjtei5vzCZX1CPBW-FCpZqpVeQDE4QF3zXYGeJ4SGd3JKunRD4FcjeNu3Ai0nH99609WphankuFV1WQA0oKMnzGXq4Ju6TnJjG91VskpdItmW2/s320/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+007.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>I wouldn't go out there if I was you!</strong></span> </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RuluH40PyLUZ5R4Mnz4qmqjwcwmUruKxh0nIU-1kV7qVd8aXERhdC0_h8Nq9qz6iaGeqLoVpINCC9tYPGJI_WveDti8A_Q8uD7heUlW6nC-8awNJB9iAIanxCrF6Oiz-NN-INlVhWX8Q/s1600/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+008.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 253px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490248039147892514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7RuluH40PyLUZ5R4Mnz4qmqjwcwmUruKxh0nIU-1kV7qVd8aXERhdC0_h8Nq9qz6iaGeqLoVpINCC9tYPGJI_WveDti8A_Q8uD7heUlW6nC-8awNJB9iAIanxCrF6Oiz-NN-INlVhWX8Q/s320/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+008.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong> War -- the beginning.</strong></span><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumJGXApLnH6YQmzRyhZY7QpUbjZl2bSwjDbX7fNIKgueUvNREfqmPsVmdt35iaCaxwfD7wJPc2Kjj0e4pcGaJq6SqIpzu92ThcEXNTeYWVNHzaAVIDkBwY0lh1CRadwxLvcPwuv1_ImBY/s1600/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+009.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490248033839597074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiumJGXApLnH6YQmzRyhZY7QpUbjZl2bSwjDbX7fNIKgueUvNREfqmPsVmdt35iaCaxwfD7wJPc2Kjj0e4pcGaJq6SqIpzu92ThcEXNTeYWVNHzaAVIDkBwY0lh1CRadwxLvcPwuv1_ImBY/s320/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+009.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"> <strong><span style="color:#000099;">Watch out men!</span></strong><br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3FRUpL5CCYv_ttxNnYQlMcR88BSOIsVv4q7rDHt2t14CdAD4XXqXwVolfGj_ZhMmMPDddtfp9jdHDo7iD82uSq2VY3NLIWH1r5r5juGfHovIb62A_zD9fVyLElJkeIS39JI1NC7K-WvA/s1600/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+010.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490247726540845570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3FRUpL5CCYv_ttxNnYQlMcR88BSOIsVv4q7rDHt2t14CdAD4XXqXwVolfGj_ZhMmMPDddtfp9jdHDo7iD82uSq2VY3NLIWH1r5r5juGfHovIb62A_zD9fVyLElJkeIS39JI1NC7K-WvA/s320/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+010.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong> It was all a blur!<br /></strong></span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKFNF_23N76GCuSSgD-0_rz75IpJ66JTk1hSLAyyrDd2VFO9617WS56rKome7IAnZ1XYfT2SJkqriBe3gCkEI0FrF6Px38ePFDjLCkWJ9xJrFJSt4jhmLqAwaq3DnkKIFQXgnf85tZeIm/s1600/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490247720263794082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKFNF_23N76GCuSSgD-0_rz75IpJ66JTk1hSLAyyrDd2VFO9617WS56rKome7IAnZ1XYfT2SJkqriBe3gCkEI0FrF6Px38ePFDjLCkWJ9xJrFJSt4jhmLqAwaq3DnkKIFQXgnf85tZeIm/s320/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+012.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong> OH THE CARNAGE!</strong></span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqGXHaDM82kujbEpiwJDjUzBPDr6_MGxpt_Wq5MUvVvVQriZsa8OTh2vDOldxq-33egjWpqQpKK5bL7APs22DhCqo4zjFimop45yuwrEBsbSbCJnhyGSjfdODzbTnNvXN0mBglFuUcLfC/s1600/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+014.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490246675926466898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirqGXHaDM82kujbEpiwJDjUzBPDr6_MGxpt_Wq5MUvVvVQriZsa8OTh2vDOldxq-33egjWpqQpKK5bL7APs22DhCqo4zjFimop45yuwrEBsbSbCJnhyGSjfdODzbTnNvXN0mBglFuUcLfC/s320/Baseball+Closing+and+July+4th+2010+014.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#000099;"><strong>What have my human brothers done?</strong></span></div></div><br /></div></div>Lesliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10064097529819037135noreply@blogger.com0