Ankles, Shopping, and Another Birthday

As some of you already know, my ankle has to be replaced...eventually. At my last visit the doctor said it would have to be replaced in five to seven years. That was four years ago. Lately it has been really acting up. It pops continually and a lot of times there is a terrible pain that darts up the back of my leg from my ankle. Believe it or not, it's the most painful when I'm sitting still. Especially when I've been walking or standing on it all day like today. I am also finding that I hobble and limp more these days. My point to all of this (..is there really a point?) is I have a feeling I'll be having surgery within the next year. I am not looking forward to this at all. But I knew it would happen...eventually. Do you really care about all of that? Probably not. Sorry for
boring you, it was on my mind.

Last night, Brother Johnny led the meeting for the parents whose children will be going to Puerto Rico. Eleven days to go! We were given our handout for what to bring and what NOT to bring. So this morning, Hannah and I dropped Justin off at work, ran a quick errand to the bank, and spent the better part of the day shopping for this much anticipated trip. I do believe all that is left is the packing. We had a lot of fun together and were thankful for the many deals we found today.

Tomorrow is my birthday. Yes, folks, I'll be 37 tomorrow. Thirty-seven years old. hmph...thirty-seven. Oh, I know, that's not a big deal. I have to admit that I love having birthdays. I always have. People often ask what my favorite holiday is. I always answer Thanksgiving and Christmas. But the truth is, it's my birthday. I know it's not an actual holiday, but it is for me. lol My dad has been telling me for WEEEEEKS that for my birthday he knows something I don't know. I also know he needs a couple of hours with me, so I'm very interested in what this birthday surprise could be. And then before Bruce left for bluegrass practice tonight, he snuck a birthday surprise in under his shirt and gave it to Hannah for wrapping. That's the thing about my birthdays I like the best. The surprises!! And I know that my mom, although suffering with an infection in her legs, is at this very moment making her homemade chocolaty chocolate pound cake for me. She makes the chocolate pound cake from her mother's recipe and then SMOTHERS it with thick, gooey chocolate topping. Sounds like a great day for me tomorrow, huh? Just so you'll know, I did ask her several times to please not go to the trouble of making the cake, to stay off of her feet! But she's very stubborn, that mother of mine. So this cake will taste even sweeter to me tomorrow. Thanks, mom.

I have some small details to attend to tonight, so I'm going to close this post and, OH YEAH! Blogger finally allowed me to publish the FIFTEEN comments waiting to be moderated. Thanks, Blogger. *sigh*

Comments

Is anyone else having or had problems moderating their comments? I have nine waiting to be posted, but for some reason, they're not posting.

A Hoppin' Place To Be

You've heard me mention my friend, Crystal, on my blog several times. Crystal has jumped on the bloggy wagon and has started her blog, A Hoppin' Place To Be. Crystal is a fourth grade teacher at a local school and, although I have never seen her in action, I am confidant that she is a great one. She has a true heart for the little ones and desires to see every child go farther in their education and life. She loves the Lord and has three great kids. She's also married to one of the nicest and craziest men I know, Terry.

Stop by and give her a holla! I know she'd love to hear from ya.

God Loves You, But Does He Like You?

When we were at camp meeting the other night, Brother Tom Sexton preached a message titled God Loves You, But Does He Like You?

The title alone was enough to make you stop and think. It was a great sermon! His text was I Chronicles 28:1-4, but the text verse was verse 4, "Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel."

Why did God like David?

1. God liked David because David had faith in God. Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall trust in the LORD." He gave his testimony of his faith in Christ.

2. God liked David because David was willing to follow. II Samuel 7:8 "Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:" David was a good leader because he had learned to follow God. God will never use us as a leader if we do not learn to follow Him first.

3. God liked David because David found a purpose to life and a reason to live. God has a plan for each of us. What is God's plan for you? I Samuel 17:46 "This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel." David was going down to kill Goliath. The purpose was that God wanted the whole earth to know there is a God in Heaven!

It's not looking for God's will in
life that matters. What matters is giving our life for God's
will.

Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Are you going to keep that life of give it to God?

4. David was liked by God because David was willing to fight. We need to fight the good fight of faith. When we've done all we can do to stand, stand some more! And do NOT stand behind the man of God. Stand WITH him. We should rather die than compromise.

5. David was liked by God because David didn't want to end his life as a failure. The devil may have gotten in David's life, but he found forgiveness. Psalm 51 was written by a broken man that found forgiveness and he knew he would die knowing God liked him.

This is Brother Sexton's son-in-law singing We'll Walk Through the Gate.

A Na-na-na-Boo-boo Lunch!

Today was Mander's birthday. One of our friends treated us all to lunch at Ham's. It was so delish and we had a good time. I hope you did too, Mander!


Carissa enjoyed her special Ham's chips and dip. As you can see she was wearing the dip.





Celine enjoyed her chips and dip too.




I'm not sure who started it, me, but someone, me, got Carissa saying, "Na-na-na-boo-boo" on top of sticking her tongue out. So we all joined in on the fun with her.....great role models, I know.

Just who ARE these people and why am I out in public with them?

It was an interesting lunch to say the least. Especially when Carissa started running through the restaurant yelling, "Na-na-na-boo-boo" while her mother chased her between the chairs and tables. LOL

Happy birthday, Mander! I love you!!

The youth group went to Carowinds today. Originally I would have gone, but Thursday is my babysitting day now. Mander didn't have to work, but I didn't find out for sure until Wednesday night. So I just ended up skipping this outing. These are some pictures of Cassie that Hannah took on the van. This girl is slap nuts.

The girl in the pink is Taylor, Cassie's best friend. These girls are always getting into something. Usually mischief. LOL

Hannah said they had a wonderful time. Justin said it was the BEST day he's had in a long time.

We went to Brian and Amy's tonight for a cookout. It was nice to sit in the living room and just chill while the guys grilled hamburgers and hot dogs. OH! While we're on the subject of food....does anyone out there put cucumbers in their potato salad? Just curious.

Batman flew through the house to the kitchen to drink his power juice. The commissioner had a job for him and away he went.

Unfortunately, Amy and Pam were still in Na-na mode. Will these two EVER grow up?

Reformation Tour

Our Pastor's wife, Mrs. Ava, returned from a three week Reformation Tour through Europe a couple weeks ago and tonight at church, Pastor showed us her pictures and videos. It was so interesting hearing the stories behind the sites and also wonderful seeing places that Bruce and I have actually been to. It brought back such great memories for both of us.

I'll admit that I smiled a little at the thought of them digging up the bones of Zwingli, Wycliffe, Hus, and men of like, to burn their bodies, scattering their ashes into the river so they could not be made a saint. Little did they realize, God had already done that!!

There was one picture that brought tears to my eyes. I had already heard the story behind these steps, but when I saw the picture it broke my heart to tears.

The steps in Italy, are believed to be the steps that Jesus climbed the day he was sentenced to death. It is said that the steps were ordered sent from Jerusalem to Rome by Saint Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine. The stairs are known as the Scala Pilati (Pilate's Staircase) or Scala Sancti (holy stairway). People literally crawling on their hands and knees, kissing the steps. And as they climb, a prayer related to the passion of Christ is recited on each of the 28 steps, in hopes of spending less time in purgatory. I looked up those prayers and how sad it made me to read them. Oh, if they only knew it is not their ritual prayers, but the blood of Jesus Christ that can and will save their lost and searching souls.

Justin's picture DVD

This is the picture DVD Bruce made for Justin's birthday party. Enjoy!

Greer Baptist Camp Meeting 2008

Last night our choir helped kick off the first night of the 61st annual Greer Baptist Camp Meeting. Pam was my bus buddy.


Mander and Chris sat in front of us. They were celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary. I've heard tell that after you've been married a while, you begin to look like each other. Boy is that every true with them!

The bus ride was fun and we made it to the meeting just in time to grab our seats. Brother Joe Arthur is the moderator of this meeting and it is always a joy to be in any service he is at.

Our Pastor led the opening prayer.

Harrison was going to video tape our choir singing, but I had the camera on the wrong mode and he didn't know how to correct that. So, maybe next year!

Offering time!

Brother Tom Sexton from Florida preached the service. It was a GREAT message. God Loves You, But Does He Like You? Wow! The sermon was as great as the title. I'll share the notes on that one day this week.

God's people under the tabernacle.

After the service, those who wanted to, gathered for refreshments and fellowship. I made Chris and Mander share an anniversary kiss. Well, I say I made them, but it didn't take much coaxing. Isn't that sweet?

And then, of course, Justin was ever ready for a silly picture.


Don't ask...

The preaching and the fellowship came to an end and it was time to board the bus. Thank you, Brother Greg for, once again, taking us there and back safely!

Birthday Party

Being a true blue Carolina fan, Justin wanted a TarHeel cake. How beautiful is that?


My friend, Amy, made the cake. She can make some YUMMY cakes. Her icing, especially, is so good. I could eat a whole bowl of it, it's so good.


BroKen always has some unusual facial expressions to share with the camera.


This is Pastor and Mrs. Ava. That's Jordan giving Pastor bunny ears. SHAME ON YOU, Jordan!!

Sweet Crystal. She has an infectious laugh and I love to hear it.

That's Justin's picture slideshow from birth to present that Bruce put together in the background. It turned out good. I'm going to try and figure out how to post it. His baby pictures are so sweet.

Everybody seemed to eat good, even though we had lots of leftovers. We had nachos and cheese, tacos with the fixin's, and mom's homemade sloppy joes (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH MANWICH) and of course cake and ice cream.

Tammy!

My Sweetie Pie

Haili, Nicole, Cheyenne, and Hannah were enjoying their food upstairs in the game room.

Justin C...poor thing. He opened up a strawberry 2liter and it erupted like Mount St Helen, spuing it's contents everywhere...including all over him.

Evan being as attractive as he can be for the picture he KNOWS will be on the blog. Yes, folks...one fine boy there!

His dad, on the other hand, smiles with his mouth full of....well....food.

Brother Joel caught me taking a picture of him getting ready to lick his fingers. We did have napkins, but why use a napkin when God gave us tongues?

Caleb is a sweetheart too. He'll be going in SIGMA this year. Hard to believe!

My Harry-boy with cheese sauce and chocolate all over him. He must have skipped the plates and ate straight from the trough.

Malachi, Isaac, and Joseph were so sweet sitting in the kitchen eating their food. Are they not cute?

Their little brother, Ethan, was content to sleep behind the couch.

My brother-in-law Barry came by and brought my nephew Zach. We were so happy they came!

Eventually, it was gift time. I thought this was a neat gift for a sixteen year old boy. He has a car sitting in the back yard ready to be worked on and I'm sure these gadgets and liquids will come in handy for that! Thank you, Corriveaus!

Justin was very pleased with the strings Gary gave him. Three sets for his banjo, fiddle, and mandolin. That's true musician brother-hood, wouldn't you agree?

Uh-oh! Gary + Evan + Jeremy = TROUBLE!

Brian and Amy were holding Baby Ethan. Ethan is a Douglass child, but we all share him. We just can't help it. lol Oh yeah, that's Brandon in the background. He's our "special" friend.

Naomi was so enjoying her ice cream. Don't you just love her hair? I think she's the prettiest when it's everywhere like that. Sometimes she'll take her little hand and brush it out of her face. I think that's precious.

Justin with the shirt and hat that Taylor gave him. I was so thankful that she bought him a new hat. The one he had was getting on my nerves. THANK YOU, TAYLOR!!!!!!!! It was definitely time for a change!

Of course, Justin was ultimately thrilled with the birthday cash received. It's his favorite color

and it always fits!

Some of us played air hockey, ping pong, and pool.

While some played video games.

Of course, Celine, just had to show off her new hair do. Isn't it lovely? She looks more and more like her mom everyday! LOL