Where was I....??

Kinda been crazy lately!
My computer crashed trying to update to Windows 7! woohoo!!!
So yall know I have been havin' crazy amounts of fun!

I have missed bloggin'!

And HERE COME the holidays!


Whew!

Today I.....
...have been downloading drivers for my computer.... I don't know what they are either, but I can tell when I need one! *smile*
...was blessed by our Nancy sharing at church how thankful she is to God for her life and her amazing recovery! Remember me asking you to pray for a sick friend whose life was hanging in the balance? You can read about it HERE. And HERE. Well, she made a miraculous recovery, so much so that today God chose to remind us of the miracle she is! I only used one tissue the entire time she shared her testimony! *smile* She told us that her grandson said, "God wanted our family to have a miracle and he chose Nana to do just that."
...pray that I keep a lot of thanks in my Thanksgiving this year.
...praised God for music.
...got the best hug from an 11 year old that said, "Mimi, you're so awesome."
...couldn't help but laugh at Jedd during supper.... he started laughing while eating mashed potatoes and a long strand of snot globbed down into his potatoes. Yes, he wiped it out and finished his potatoes. He is 10. That is what 10 year olds do when they get snot in their potatoes.
...got to hold/play with a baby in nursery ALL through the Sunday school hour. Thank you, Megan, for sharing. I on the other hand did not share him with the other nursery worker. I am selfish like that. *smile*
...did not run, and ate four cookies today. The other day I dropped the carton of eggs on the way to the fridge so I had to make these amazing cookies so as to not waste the eggs!
...I had way too much fun at work photoshoping a co-workers face into some historic photos as a surprise graduation gift from all of us at work. Don't worry, he is a college guy doing his student teaching right now, and guaranteed not to have time to read my blog!
...decided I have gall bladder issues. My right side hurt all afternoon. Any advice from anyone?
...made more backgrounds for church power points. Christmas is coming!!!!


While it is weird not going to Arkansas this year for Thanksgiving AND the World Championship Duck Calling Contests.... I am looking forward to being with Daniel's amazing family here. I am soooo very blessed to have a second family here.

God is so good to me!

"Our" Weekend!

Daniel and I had such a nice weekend! We dropped our boys at grandma and grandpa's house and headed north. Not really a sunny destination but when shopping is involved I am pretty content!

*smile*

First we stopped at Cabela's

and the huge Fleet Farm store!

Exciting! I know!

But actually then have neat stuff!
Then we drove on up to Minneapolis!
Look at the view out our hotel window!
Isn't it beautiful!?

Okay so it was a gray day!
And the parking lots are ugly.
And would you believe
we didn't even go into the Mall of America?!?!

I was just pumped to go HERE!

It was Daniel's first visit!
It was special!!
Look at the lines just going in as they opened on Saturday!

Daniel did find fun stuff!

how cute is that!?

as we were leaving I made him go in the men's restroom to see these crazy hand dryers:

Bizarre! But they work!
Just stick your hands in and the BLAST
your hands with air!

This is Daniel enjoying his anniversary present...
it is the same every year.
Christmas and birthday too.
Twizzlers.

How about this fun Chips Ahoy truck:

Daniel dropped me off at the OUTLET MALL
that was already awesome
and having huge sales to boot!!!
While he went back to Cabela's!
We ate out. At Famous Dave's next to Cabela's.
Here are the beans I told Daniel he COULDN'T EAT!
Lucky for me
he was too full
after his "TExas Manhandler" sandwich!

I had the "everything bad for you sampler"!
It's not really called that, but it might as well be!
I only ate the three ribs,
the three chicken strips
and the three skinny pieces of catfish.
Wow, was it good!

Here is why
you shouldn't take pictures
of people while they are eating.

On the way home I was wishing I had taken more pictures.
So I started playing with night pics!

These look like squirrels, no?

When we got home Jedd showered us with confetti!

Each piece had a heart drawn on it!
Over 100 of them!

I {heart} that boy!
And missed them both.


Good to be home.

Good to be so happily married!

15 years ago!!!!

I married a boy that became God's gift to me!

Yesterday marked 15 years together!
YIKES!
Can that be?!?!?

I HAVE to share the boys cards they made for me while I was at work last night:

From Russ-

The is a cross between a cat and a lizards.
"Mimi" is what the boys call me lately....long story.
And it has a "talky bubble" that says "Roar!"

How funny is that! It has legs and a pointy tail!

This is my

anniversary HAT from Jedd.
And then this hilarious card:

Dear Mimi, I love you and I know you will be kissing daddy a lot.
You know I love you very, very, very much!!!!!!!!!! I love you.
Sinserly,
Your son Jedd

Look at the top it says "love birds" and shows us kissing and the boys standing there covering their eyes!
tooo tooo funny!
You can click on these to see them closer.
Enjoy!
I got a card from Daniel too.
Yall don't get to see that.

Weight tracker Wednesday!

Well, the people pleasin'/ gotta live up to people's expectations side of me would like to avoid this post.
The rather happy content side of me says that it is no big deal.
The fact is. I didn't lose anything this week.
I did great this week with my eating and exercise. I am content with that.
I am not as passionate about losing this time around, still determined, though.
I will continue to lose.
I will.
I was amazed on BL last night how much they lost when they REALLY felt the fear of going home! I am convinced that a huge part of losing is in your head. It still comes down to calories but how you control your eating really comes down to where you are mentally.
I am cool with that.
I am in a good place.
I believe we will see a change on the scale next WED!
Let's just see!

*sigh*

I was going to share a recipe tonight.
I'm not.
Can't find it.
Got something more to share.
Tonight's message at church.
Title "The Characteristics of a Worthy Walk"
Colossians 1:9-14.
God gives our pastor so many neat ways of bringing out His truths in the Bible.
Tonight's message was simple.
Straightforward.
Point 1 was "A worthy walk is characterized by fruitfulness." Our good works are God's fruit in us.
But, I realized something about myself.
I sometimes avoid being fruitful.
Fruitful, as in God doing good things through me for others.
I shy away sometimes from what He wants,but not for the reason you think. I LOVE being used, I LOVE being loving to others in His name. I love it when I fell His leading.
EXCEPT .......when it draws too much attention.
I don't like a lot of attention on my "works" or "good deeds".
For one, it is NOT works that will get me into heaven!
It is through my faith in Jesus Christ.... not even MY faith, but my CHOICE; one choice on one day when I was 5 or 6 years old. THAT day I chose Him and nothing I do will ever change my status before God. Not my good works not my bad works. Grace. Not merit.
I want people to know that being a Christian does not mean I HAVE to do lots of "good stuff", love lots of "unlovely people" or live in guilt over all the things I do wrong on a daily basis.
But back to my point.
I avoid standing out.
I just don't like the attention.
If you know my daddy...... you know where I get this.
Ugh.
But He has called me to stand out.
To do.
To love.
To smile.
To shine.
To beam.
To live His peace.

And He wants me to get noticed. Not for my glory but for His.
THAT is a problem too, I want Him to get the glory. HE makes me want to do, to love, to smile, to shine. He makes it EASY at time, He gives me strength to beam when it is hard.

I am more shy than yall think. Open, but shy. Does that make sense?

Pastor explained that while we are not saved by works, HE HAS STILL CALLED US TO GOOD WORKS.

He brought up the famous passage on works, Ephesians 2:8-9
⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast.

And then pointed out the very next verse:

¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

What a joy to be His workmanship, created to shine for Him! I love it, I do! Really. I just don't want people to think it is me. I want them to know it is Him. All Him.

Good stuff, huh?

Conversation with Jedd

ME: Jedd could you please stop! I am tired and I can't handle you "yipping" in my ear!
Jedd: Oh, I know how THAT feels, I have lived it for the past five years.
Jedd: And it's his (Russ's) fault. Pointing toward Russ.


Jedd is the " grouchy pants" king when he is tired.

He kills me.

For another good laugh, and a choice you won't regret....meet my friend Heth, and her family of 10: click HERE.

sunny day!!!! almost warm!!!! Let's play!!!

I bought a rope swing seat to hang off the fort in the back yard.
It never made it there!

It's out front!

Hey we finally finished out house too!
The shutters are up and they are now black!

They love for their daddy to grab the rope.

fling them in circles really hard...
and then let go.

Sometimes they fall off.

But they don't care!

Cause it's fun!

Daniel lets them go first....
but once they are dizzy...
it's his turn!

Show off! I could do that!!!

Jedd likes to pose.

a lot.

Spiderman pose.

Have a great weekend yall!!!!!

Weight tracker Wednesday!

here we are again!
WEDNESDAY!
yikes
I can't believe we are in NOVEMBER!

I am in a good mood!

It has been a fun week.
a good week.
a special week!

I lost those three pound I gained and one more shockingly went with it!

4 pounds!

And I gotta say I had more sweets this week than I probably should have!
Which kinda makes me excited to work harder this week.

I ALSO am MORE excited about something else!

It's a girl!

I have a new niece!!!!

I haven't seen her yet but I am SOOOO
soooo
SOOOO sure
she is
B-E-Autiful!

Speaking of newborns..... yesterday I read the most amazing post from a mother of a newborn....

CLICK HERE to read it.

Have a great day yall!!!

Time for me to go R_U_N!

What a nerd!

He created this costume all on his own.
He almost couldn't stop adding stuff!

It was cold but we carved outside today!

Rusty!

Later roasted these!

Little entertainer!

You wanted to see it again, I know!

Funny

While I am typing up a recipe to take to work (and share with yall) I hear my boys discussion in the kitchen:

Russ: Jedd you have to eat all your breakfast. Moma made me eat it all once and I almost threw up and it was cold.
Jedd: Awe, I know how to handle that.
Jedd: you say to moma, do you want me to grow up? No? well then don't make me eat this or I will.

He HAS a point!

But it's not gonna work.

Now for the recipe! I am taking these to work and these little guys are luck to be going! Daniel and I could have eating the entire batch in a matter of minutes last night, but refrained.

I will be making him his own batch later today!


Pecan Pie Mini Muffins

1 c brown sugar packed

1/2 c all purpose flour

1 c pecans chopped

2/3 c butter melted

2 eggs beaten

In a bowl, combine first three ingredients; set aside. Combine butter and eggs, mix well. Stir into flour mixture until moistened. Fill mini muffin cups 2/3 full (don't fill to top or they are hard to get out later) Bake at 350 for 20 -25 minutes or until tested done. Remove immediately to cool on wire racks. Makes about 3 dozen muffins.

These are in no way a low fat OR low calorie. I ate ONE for breakfast with milk. At least they are tiny!!!