I survived and now for a laugh!

I survived the pool in a bathing suit. I actually had fun and got a bit of a tan. So, for those who are holding back, I say..."Go For It! Live a Little!"
Now for some fun. Here is a great video to make you laugh...Take a look....

Tan Fat Looks Better Than Pale Fat

Well, I guess that is true. But one hopes to get that tan in not so public of places. However, we has Momma's do crazy things for our Baby Boys. So I push through the embarassment and fear and don the two piece for a day at the pool with my 8 year old. He has been begging for a pool day since school got out. I hate going to the pool. Now mind you, I will put on the itzy bitzy teenie weenie bikini on vacation - No Problem! I know no one. Will never see those people ever again in my life. Could careless what they think of me. I am free to be me on vacation. Everyone lives crazy-like while on vacation. That's the fun of vacation. However, with the recession, a trip to Maui like last year, is not possible. And as much as I have been dreaming of a beach break this summer, I'm not counting on it. So....to be a good Momma and give my little guy some pool time, which every kid deserves on their summer break, I will trudge ahead. Now some of you might say, "Why can't you just go in shorts and stay covered up if you have such an issue?" Heck no man! I don't like to be hot or a martyr. I believe, when in Rome. Talk about a sign around your neck that says, I have severe body issues. Just show up with no bathing suit and that is what you are screaming.

Wish me luck. Oh, did I mention I'm going with a friend who is super tall, thin and model beautiful? Yep, I'm a glutten for punishment. If I survive, I'll post again tomorrow. For now, I'm heading off to do 500 sit ups before bed....I hope I can walk.

Faithful!

In a Funk? Drive It Out!

Do you ever get like that? I certainly do. I have found that most of the time my funks are brought on by people. Well, they are actually brought on by my allowing people to affect me. When we allow things said or done to rob our joy, we are giving up the steering wheel to our joy ride. We somehow slide over to the passenger seat and give up that coveted driver's seat. Oh don't get me wrong, I sometimes like to ride shotgun, but not to the point that it defines who I am. I want to be defined by my actions, what I say and do, not what I feel as a result of others. We will never control others and their actions or words. We only have control over ourselves. We must stay in control of our joy and not allow detours down the road to ickyland. We must own our actions, our words, our beliefs. We must spread love and joy all around. Hoping that others will pick up on it and jump on the happy bus. When everyone gets on the bus, what a joy ride that will be. A day of rejoicing....la la la la...Oh I hope we don't have to wait for heaven for that. If so, I'll keep practicing here on earth. There is so much scenery to enjoy along the way.
Lord, please keep me focused on what is truth in me because of You. Help me not to get bogged down in other peoples opinions. Your's is the only opinion that is fully informed and right. Help me to spread joy and laughter all around. Help me to follow your map as I drive this Joy Ride of life you have blessed me with. I Love you Lord. May I say and do what pleases You! In Jesus Name...Amen!

Happy Driving!
Love,
Faithful

I Am Thankful for Sushi!

My virgin sushi experience was in San Francisco. I was on a business trip with several colleagues and we were hungry. San Francisco, I might mention, is one of the best places to have your "first time" experience with sushi. This was a cute little place that had the mote around the sushi chefs and they floated all the delectables on little boats and they sailed past you as you shopped for what looked satisfying. When you are a newbie sushi eater, it's best to start with the infamous California Roll. There is nothing raw involved and it's amazingly tastey. The rice roll is filled with crab meat, avocado, cucumber strips. The best part of any sushi to me is the wasabi paste. I love the sting on the back of my neck when I get a little too much wasabi heat on a sushi bite. After you conquer the Cali Roll, move on to the real stuff, like Spicy Lobster Rolls, Tuna or Eel. There is so much to choose from. Most sushi is very healthy and easy on the diet. The crazy thing about sushi is that the first time you might be hesitant, but after about one week of your first taste, you will begin craving it like crazy. Then you are hooked.

Macaroni Salad

Okay! So I learned this recipe years ago from my MIL. We were on Signal Mountain Lake in Jackson Hole Wyoming when I first tasted this delicious salad. It is very simple and very much a Summertime dish. So try it this weekend.

1 package of Shell Macaroni - cook according to package directions
Once shells are drained and cooled - which you can cool by running cool water over and drain well
Add 1 cup of mayo - more if desired
Sliced green pimento stuff olives
Sliced thinly celery 2 stalks
Sliced Cherry tomatoes add just before serving
salt and pepper to taste

Tastes best when made fresh, but can also be good left over, just set out for a bit so it's not so chilled.

Remembering Our Service Men and Women!

Such an important Holiday and it doesn't get near the respect it deserves. Without their sacrifice, we would not enjoy the liberties we do in America. Thank you Soldiers for all you do and have done. Thank you for risking your life and giving up your time to serve our country. Thank you for your sacrifice. We owe so much to you. I am so proud to be an American and I love our country. Hug the neck of a Veteran today!

How Can I Grow In My Relationship With God?

I'm sure everyone has pondered this question at some point in time. We all want to know the answer to this age old question. There really is no mystery. No magic trick. No potion to drink. Just like any relationship, to grow, one must spend time with the One in which they want to grow closer to. Usually our time is dictated by our interests and therefore our activities. From the time we are little children, we make friends within our social activities. School, sports, clubs like Girl Scouts, (or Brownies, which I was), or 4H. As we age, our circle of friends changes to reflect where we spend our time. College campuses, the dorm, a job, church, the gym. Each friendship grows from the time spent with one another. If you look back on your great friends, you can reflect on the memories you made with each other. Most of those fond memories where not centered around anything huge or monumental. But by the little mundane, simple times in between. Life is lived in between the big events. Good friends are made in the everyday living. Those good friends are considered good friends because they are friends of the heart. They really know you and you know them. They know you like Ranch dressing on your salad and that you hate Catalina. They know you crave a Dr. Pepper from Sonic every afternoon at 2pm. They might even bring you one. They know that your Dad left you and your family at age 16 and never looked back. You know some of there deepest hurts and secrets. And you accept them for who they are and they you. Faults and all. That's a true friend. We can not gain those friendships unless we invest time in them. Time talking and time listening. Crying, laughing. Sharing your heart. Sharing your love. There really is no difference in our relationship with God. It requires the time of a good friendship. How can we become BFF's with someone we don't really know, talk too or spend time with? Does God want to be our BFF? You bet, and so much more. He wants to be the one we share our joys, our sorrows, our life. He wants to be our Friend, our Counselor, our Protector, our Deliverer, our Joy, our Healer, our Savior. He wants to be our Everything. He is our Creator. Who better to plan out our days for us? Who better to guide us on this path He has created on our behalf? Why would we not seek His advice, as a true Friend and Counselor? Why would we not go to Him as we live life in the in between? He already knows the way it turns out. He knows what will make our life great. We must seek to spend time with God everyday. We must get alone with Him. We must be still before Him. There is peace and great joy from a relationship with God. If you don't believe me, give it a try. Put it on your ical to spend a set aside amount of time with Him. A little Holy BFF time. If you commit to doing so and you hold strong in your commitment you will not be disappointed. The bible says, if we earnestly seek Him with all of our heart and soul, we will find Him. Ask Him to give you the discipline to spend time with Him each day, alone and still. If you really mean it, He will show you the way to make it happen. So give it 30 days. Journal it along the way. Pay close attention to what God is saying to you. You will be amazed at how He speaks to you. He loves you so much. Give Him your time and attention. I promise you, He will show up.

My Apologies! AND a QUESTIONNAIRE???

Okay...so it's been a long time. I've been crazy busy, as I'm sure you have. I'll for sure, get back to posting soon, but right now I'm in the throws of creating a memorable birthday party for my "Bestest Gift" God has ever given me. He's turning 8 this week and I'm gonna throw him a bash. So...until this is over, I will be unfocused on posting. However, over the past week, I have had several ideas and I'll get on those soon. Things I think you will find thought provoking and funny. I hope. I also need to finish my chicken story for you. It's a hoot. I must admit that I have noticed on my tracker, I have had visitors from all over the globe. However, nobody is commenting. So, her comes the QUESTIONNAIRE -

(please take the time to help a fellow Blogger out and answer these quick questions. I want to make this blog fun and something you enjoy visiting often) Just copy and paste the questions to a comment. :)

1. What brought you to my blog?

2. How long was your visit?

3. Did you read old posts or just the first, make a decision and move on?

4. What do you wish I was writing about?

5. Do you blog?

6. Did you check out my other blogs?

7. Does the music bother you when you are visiting?


Thanks for taking the time to answer and give me your comments. I truly value your opinion and sincerely want it. If you didn't find what you are looking for here, I encourage you to check back. I'll get it right eventually.

May God bless you with a fabulous day and week. He is worthy to be praised even if He doesn't.
I love you Lord! I give You all the glory!!!!!

Signed,
Faithful

Baby Chicks By Mail Order!

Several times when I was a kid, my Mom would mail order baby chicks to our farm. That's right! And when they came in to the post office, they'd give us a call - "Your chicks are here and making a lot of noise! So come get 'em." That was always so fun! Talk about a package. When Mom order baby chicks by mail-order, she always got the deal - "Order 100 and get 1 free." So we had 101 baby chicks that arrived in a big multi level box. Yes, of course, with holes! They came chirping didn't they? The chirping was deafening. You'd take off that first lid and they'd just look up at ya like they were saying "Momma? Get me outta this box for heaven's sake, it's dark in here and cramped." We had baby chicks for days. My Dad built a nice home with warming lights for them and they grew up and became big chickens right before our eyes! Once they got big enough and started molting, which is the not so fun part. Ewww, those cute little creatures get really ugly for a few weeks. Then they start putting on the most beautiful colored feathers. My Mom order all the fun ones. Exotics, they called them in the catalog. From Dominique, to Araucana, to Polish, to Barred Rock, to Plymouth Rock, to Rhode Island Reds. You name it. So cute! We enjoyed them for years...until the massacre. Oh yes, it was exactly that. You won't believe it. More on that tomorrow. Can you wait that long? Well, you'll have to. I'm taking the little tyke to see the WWII bombers that are in town today. I'll post on that too. Wow! So exciting. What does all this have to do with God you ask? Well, nothing and yet everything. You see God is in everything. The little, the big, the mundane, the exciting, the scary, the sad, they uncertainty. Life in general. He's always there. He's such a hoot. I love His humor in things. I love that He lets us enjoy so much on this beautiful spinning sphere we call earth. Thank you Lord. Now I gotta go....Talk to you tomorrow....I promise.

Signed,
Faithful

Fun Giveaway at....

Life in the Carpool Lane. She's giving away a $50 Target Gift Card. Now who couldn't use that?

Target is my fave! You gotta go check out her blog and enter! Like now! Go...Bye....

Kingdom Coming Download

Knock Knock...

Some day, every eye will see and every knee will bow to Him.  For those who do not believe, I challenge you for the next 30 days to pray to God that He would reveal Himself to you.  If you earnestly seek Him, you will find Him.  That is the truth.  God is a gentlemen and stands at the door and knocks.  He will not break it down.  It is up to you to let Him in.  Do you hear Him knocking?  Let Him in.  It will be the most awesome ride of your life!