Project 365 Week 23

Hello there!

And welcome to week 23 of my 365 Project.
One picture a day for a year!
Challenging?
Yes!
Fun?
Sometimes!
But the purpose...
to open my eyes to the things that I might not see in my every day life
things worth remembering...

Here we go!

Monday, October 19
It has been my goal to lose weight and for about 4 months, I have been doing just that.
(total so far...about 20 pounds)
One of the things that I have learned is that planning healthy meals is an ABSOLUTE MUST
in order for me to make healthy choices.
So, I have several cookbooks that I use.
The photograph on the top book is what I made for dinner on Monday.

Tuesday, October 20
We had a baby shower at work today. I took a picture of this really cute cake.
Since nobody else had a camera, I ended up being the photographer for the shower.
And no, I didn't have any cake.
:)

Wednesday, October 21
One of the biggest challenges to doing this project are the days that I go to work, go to the gym, come home to cook dinner, take care of my evening chores, and go to bed.
Wednesday was one of those days.
So, this is my desk at work. I have settled in a little bit more than the first picture I took of this desk on my first day at this new job.

Thursday, October 22
Oh, how I have been waiting and waiting for this day to get here!!!!!
Me, and two of my really, really good friends
(you have seen them on here before...Tricia & Marla)
went to see THIRD DAY in concert!
This band has been one of my favorites for almost 15 years!
I love...can I say it loud enough...LOVE! this band.
Extra special - it was Tricia's very first Christian Concert!
And she loved it!
We had an awesome, wonderful time of worship, admiring, singing, dancing, hugging, crying, loving, and thanking God for His glorious blessings!
(and yes...we were that close to the stage!
That is Mac Powell on the left and Mark Lee on the right!)

Friday, October 23
My hubby and his best friend...and a big bunch of guys...all went to a big fly in
in Reklaw,TX.
It is an annual event and a tradition for Fred, Dan, and several others.
Lori, my BFF and Dan's wife, we did what we like to do....shop!
This is the roof at one of the malls near our house, and the mall the houses one of the stores that Lori and I love to shop in. They were having a sale...we were all there!

Saturday, October 23
Rebecca had her friend, Suzy, over to spend the night. They have been friends since 7th grade and for some of that time, inseparable. There have been some hard times in their friendship, but love and loyalty wins out. It was great having both of them around for the weekend!

Sunday, October 25
My friend, Ashley's son, Collin's baseball team was having a fundraiser.
They were selling pansies!
I bought some and planted them today.
The weather was beautiful and so are the pansies!
Texas is the only place I have lived that I know, I KNOW, that the pansies will stay alive all winter long. It just doesn't freeze for long enough to kill them.
After I planted the pansies, I took a really long nap!
What a perfect weekend,
and a lovely week.

I hope yours was too!
Love,

Friday Fill-Ins

1. The crickets sing _but I don't know why_.

2. _God is with you - _wherever you are.

3. I want to get far away from _the hateful people_.

4. _I won the lottery_ ; this was a dream.

5. But as for me _and my household, we will serve the Lord_. (Joshua 24:15)

6. _I don't think much about_ where I come from, _but more about where I want to go_.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _dinner and movie with one of my best friends, Lori_, tomorrow my plans include _cycle class, running some errands, and then fun things at home_and Sunday, I want to _go to worship services and take it easy for the afternoon!_

For more fun Friday Fill-In answers go here:

Happy, happy, Friday!!!!!

Project 365 Week 22

A belated Project 365 posting.
Time has gotten away from me...

Monday, October 12
This is a photo of Coco-nut.
He is my daughter's albino parakeet.
He is also very happy in this photo because his cage was very clean
and his food and water were fresh.

Tuesday, October 13
Shopping.
It seems that Rebecca didn't have any long sleeve shirts.
(really?)
hmmmm.

Wednesday, October 14
Rebecca and her boyfriend made rice crispy treats.
There is a more entertaining photo of them preparing them, but Josh didn't want me to use it.
:(

Thursday, October 15
This is Rusty, our nearly 14 year old dog.
He misses having all the "kids" around.
Rebecca is the only one who lives at home now, and when she is gone, he doesn't know
what to do.
So, he sleeps on her mess, I mean, belongings, until she returns home.

Friday, October 16
This is a terrible picture, but there is a transient in between the cars.
This is the exit that I take to get to my office, and it is about 7:15 a.m.
This man is here every couple of weeks.
He will just walk up to the cars and it is sort of scary.
I have seen the police ask him to move before but since he doesn't appear to be of full, sound mind, I don't think he really cares so much that it is illegal.
I feel sad when I see him and I just pray.

Saturday, October 17
It is Band Competition time!
(like football season isn't enough?)
I chaperoned the trip; which means I ride one of the dozen school buses that transport the band students to the competition.
It is really sort of fun.

And the "score board" as our High School was announced.
They scored all "ones"...which is the the score they want.

The performance

Sunday, October 18
Cupcake?
If you know me, you know I DO NOT bake.
I haven't in years.
But...we invited our daughter's boyfriend's parents over for coffee and dessert.
Rebecca suggested something chocolate or cheesecake - ie.
These are chocolate, cream-cheese cupcakes.
They were very good!

Blessings~

Without God

A friend at work sent me this in an email today. I like it.

Without God, our week would be Sinday, Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday, Fightday, and Shatterday.

So true.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. So are we going to have fun at the Third Day concert next week or what?

2. Change is what's up ahead.

3. I love to meet new people and make new friends.

4. It seems that my life always has at least a little excitement of some sort.

5. I walk a lot slower than my 6'2" husband!

6. To love and to be loved is the true elixir of life!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to working at the Culture & Theology (God and Sex) discussion at my church, tomorrow my plans include cycling, watching Texas Longhorns play the OU Sooners, a little cleaning, a little shopping and chaperoning a Band Competion and Sunday, I want to go to worship services, relax, and then I will have some hang out, Bible Study time with my friend, Ashley!

Go here for more Fun Friday Fill-Ins

Pure?

"She was in her mid-eighties and had lived a good life."

That was how my friend described the deceased woman whose funeral she attended that day. It was the type of description that we like to hear when someone in our life looses another someone in their life to the inevitable, death.

But the way that the deceased was honored by her grandson, a man in his early thirties, when he described his relationship with his grandmother, now THAT is the sentence that really has made an impact.

He said, "My relationship with my grandmother was the most pure relationship in my life."

Pure.

Wow!

The description of a pure relationship was so intriguing to me that I looked up the word "pure" in the dictionary. Some of my favorites out of Merriam-Webster are these:

1 a (1) : unmixed with any other matter
(2) : free from dust, dirt, or taint
(3) : spotless, stainless: free from harshness or roughness and being in tune

2 a (1) : free from what vitiates, weakens, or pollutes
(2) : containing nothing that does not properly belong
a : free from moral fault or guilt
b : marked by chastity

A pure relationship; how beautiful.

What a challenge - to strive to make all my relationships pure. Relationships that are free from all moral fault or guilt. Free from taint. Relationships that do not include anything that weakens or pollutes.

This includes not only my relationship with my heavenly Father, but my earthly relationships as well. And pure relationships should not only include those that I love and who love me, but my enemies too. Are all my relationships free of things that do not properly belong? Envy, hatred?
How about resentment, or even avoidance? These things do not belong in the life of a believer, no matter what. No matter what.

Pure has taken on a whole new meaning.

The Power Of Slowing

I have been enticed by reading notes on an Internet book club over on the High Calling Blog's and hosted by by blogger friend, Laura. The book in discussion is The Wisdom Of The Wilderness by Gerald May and I have had some quick catching up to do, since I decided to join in two weeks after the discussion began.

Before I started reading, I had been pondering...wondering, "Would it be possible at this time in my life for me to just get away for a weekend, even a day, alone? To think, to listen, to reflect?" I had considered a motel overnight and hesitated, thinking my family would think I was nuts, or depressed. Then I discovered my mother had spent the day at a former monastery, now a place called the Forest of Peace and I became even more intrigued by the idea. Now, reading this book, May's words capture my calling with uncanny similarity to my thoughts and yearning. The end of Chapter One (The Call) May says this about his decision to spend time - alone - at a campground, in the wilderness, over night.

"I suppose you can tell that something is really right when you feel such a sense of interior exuberance, of "Oh,yes. This is it!" I know there is more to spiritual discernment than good feelings, but if the exuberance goes deep enough, it doesn't matter what your rational mind has to say about it. It's like a homecoming, something lost being found, a feeling that makes your insides shimmer with rightness. And if you don't say yes to it, you yourself feel wrong, and a little less alive."

Chapter Two, The Power of Slowing -what May names what he finds there, before he discovers what it is. He says it is a welcoming feeling. It is powerfully reassuring and it holds him. And he decides he is in love. Not knowing with what or with whom, but he is just in love. The power of the slowing, for May, was an immediate, face to face encounter with Divine Presence, and something that He had longed for all his life. May's experiences prior to this encounter he describes as mediated and as a result, unfulfilling.

And my mind slowed here for a while. "Do I feel my encounters in the Presence of God are mediated or immediate? And then, "What would I expect from spending that time alone - if I were able to arrange it?" I am doubtful that my experience would be as profound as May's because as I pondered my own encounters, I believe many times, my experience with the Divine Presence of God have been direct. In my times of prayer, I know it is only me and my Lord - sometimes His presence overwhelms me into light-headedness. In times of brokenness, it has been as if His arms lifted me to hold or to carry me through times that I don't entirely remember walking through. And He has revealed Himself to me, sometimes, almost audibly, as He has revealed His truth. I have been totally satisfied in His Presence.
But...

I still yearn for more.
Always.

Next week, chapter 3's title is Night Fear. Check out High Calling Blog's for more insight to The Wisdom of The Wilderness by Gerald May.

Project 365 Week 21

This project is getting more and more difficult.
Honestly, I feel like some days, all I do is drive to work, work, drive home, cook, and get ready for bed.
Which is one of the reasons that I started this project.
This week, I missed some shots while falling into that rut.
We celebrated boss's day on Wednesday and had a lovely lunch.
I didn't even think to take a photo.
Thursday...???
hmmmm.
I don't even remember Thursday.
Oh, Rebecca was sick.

So, here is what did get captured, with a couple of fill-In's for the days I missed.

Monday, October 5
On Sunday, in the car with Rebecca and Josh, I mentioned I wanted to make chili in the crock-pot. I did. And Josh was invited to try some. I think he enjoyed it. Rebecca enjoyed having him...she actually took this picture.

Tuesday, October 6
I actually watched television...but it was really on Monday. (cheating)
I have decided I am going to watch "House". I have watched almost zero television for almost 15 years. I have decided to watch one show a week.
Rebecca took this photo too.

This is a photo of a spider that I took while on a walk.
I thought he was really cool.

And this was the first color change I saw all season, and I saw it in Missouri, not Texas.

Friday, October 9
It was middle school night at the football game. Rebecca was so excited because when she was in 8th grade, she was a "Band Aid" in the 6th grade flute class. She got to see "her" students.
The middle school students played in the stands while the high school students prepared for the half time show.

Which was outstanding.
They placed 4th in competition on Saturday for overall performance.
Woodwinds placed 1st place, so did the drill team (that is them under the blanket of gold)

Saturday, October 10
While Rebecca was at Band Competition all day, I decided to do some work around the house. If you read my Friday Fill-In's, you would notice that one thing I wanted to do was clean the linen closet. If you look at the picture, you can see why! It was totally out of control!
While I was cleaning the closet, I decided I would put the flannel sheets on Rebecca's bed, which lead to my cleaning of her entire room...total cleaning - all bedding washed, bird-cage cleaned (free of charge by mom), all clothes, washed, dried, and put away, (free organizing of the drawers while at it!), and some slight rearranging of furniture.

Sunday, October 11
Well, the Cowboys won - FINALLY!
And my dad and Glena (his wife) came over for a short visit. They brought "fall harvest".
I love it!
I think we will make some squash soup!
And Thien (my son's girlfriend) would love to be here...home made pickled ocra!

So, for me, this week...my eyes are open to new things!
Determined to find something every day to photograph!

Have a wonderful week!

Magical Music

Music.

Several times this week, music has been an instrument (no pun intended!) to affecting my mood.

For the last twenty-four hours, I was a little grumpy. No real reason, just one of those icky moods, probably hormonally induced irritability that takes over periodically. My hubby was cranky when I got home from work yesterday and that was enough to push me into an entire day of grouchy-driven house cleaning today. While rearranging my teenage daughter's bedroom, I listened to music. Some songs were fun, and brought back lots of memories. I worked all day - her room is spotless, all her laundry washed, folded, and put away (she is at a band competition today and this will be a treat since I do not normally clean her room OR do her laundry), her bird-cage has been cleaned. Additionally, the linen closet has been emptied and refolded, and the bathrooms smell real fresh. And as each area of dirtiness became fresh and clean...songs that accompanied the changes in the house started making changes in my heart.

At the end of the day, my husband and I decided to go out and get something to eat. I was too tired to cook and I had not made it to the grocery store anyway. On the way out, an old Cat Stevens song came on the radio. Something about that song totally changed my mood and I was the young teenage girl who loved that song - again.

How does that happen?

Earlier this week, I had similar experiences. I heard a song that reminded me of my old best friend and I missed her so much that I cried - after all this time. And I heard a song that reminds me of taking my son to college for the first time and all of a sudden, it is 2002 again - in my heart. And tonight...I was 17 when I walked out the door to go to dinner with the man I have been married to for 28 years.

Music. What is it about the sound of notes, rhythm, harmonies, that bring memories to the surface of our souls as if the memory was at that very moment, replaying? It stirs my soul, it grabs my heart, and music invites me to live life at a level that goes deeper than what life would be like if I only had words by which to communicate. Music. As I type this, I am listening to an instrumental...and without words, it still has a story. Amazing. It lives through centuries of time, generations of people. Music...we worship with it. Music...we dance to it. Music...we sing to it. Music...we live through it.

Music.

~

Friday Fill-Ins

Today is Friday and time for me to play the fun fill-in the blank game

Friday Fill-Ins

1. Sweet dreams are coming more often these days.

2. God has wonderful blessings, especially for me.

3. Silliness is something that I still enjoy, even at my age.

4. I am not sure what I want to do this Halloween.

5. Outstanding or not, I will continue to exercise whatever creativity I have.

6. A week of free time is what I want right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to coming home from work and going to the football game...if it has stopped raining! Tomorrow my plans include sprucing up the house and yard for autumn, cleaning out my linen closet, and a lazy evening reading a book and lounging with with whoever is at home and Sunday, I want to attend worship services, and watch the Dallas Cowboys win a game (I HOPE)!

For more fun fill-ins

visit

Friday Fill-Ins

Happy Weekend!

Hey! I won!

I am honored!
The Wellspring Blog
is a blog that I have been reading since the very beginning of my blogging hobby.
Seriously.
I look for her updates nearly every time I am on the computer.
Her writing is beautiful
and challenging
and thought provoking.
And her blog takes me back in time a little because
her two sons remind me so much of mine when they were younger...
But the first thing that caught my attention?
Her profile picture.
So pretty, yes.
But, she is at the beach!
And when I found her blog, I had only moved from the Virginia coast a year or two ago.
And, if I remember right...I think the photo might have been taken at the
North Carolina Outerbanks.
My favorite.

I comment almost every time I read her blog, because I like her posts,
and it is courteous. :)

This week...
I won her book!

Yippee!

I can't wait to read it!

I won!

Princess

She descends the stairs; a princess

And my mind wanders back to another time,

she pretended in my high heels and a fireman hat.
She was not quite three

Now her dress-up clothes are real,
her shoes, on feet; pedicured and perfect.
They spin around for me to admire
her hair, and to tie her sash

She came into the room a toddler
and she walks out a woman.
I watch her walk away, her blond hair
shining in the sun

Memories of my conversation,
asking God for the chance to see her
walk away from me, in a dress,
with long hair gently on her back.

His answer came perfect
and now, I can only give her back
to Him who blessed me
with this woman, my child.

Project 365 Week 20

Week 20 of a picture a day for a year, and I did miss Tuesday.
Since I took a couple of extra for Saturday, I am not going to fret!
Here we go....

Monday, September 28
Dinner - Shrimp quesadillas
I was very glad to live in a part of the country where seafood and Mexican are popular- together.
This is one of my favorites, and it is very quick to prepare.

Tuesday, September 29
there is no picture.
:(

Wednesday, September 30
I bought new rugs for my kitchen. I finally threw away the rugs that we have had for 8 years!
It took me almost a month to find something that I was was willing to buy. I could not find anything close to what we had before (navy and cream). It took me two days to even take the tags off of the ones I bought. I think I can tolerate them. I would have eliminated the rugs entirely, but this is the area below the kitchen sink, and with the wood floors, there was too much water splashing to not have a rug.

Thursday, October 1
I was suppose to go marching practice tonight and learn my daughter's routine for Parent Night.
But, it rained like crazy and flooded the school parking lot (the electricity was also knocked out).
So, I went outside to survey the damage in my yard and wondered if I could capture the sparkling water on the plants.
Not really, but I will keep trying.
(unless you click on it and make it full screen)

Friday, October 2
I headed out of town right after work and school to go to Tulsa for the weekend.
This is Rebecca and Josh in the backseat of the car as we began traveling out of town.

Saturday, October 3
This is Fred, the Great Pyrenees, getting in his vehicle.
He was at the Art Show in Utica Square.
We stopped by here before going to the fair.

Tulsa State Fair

Rebecca and Josh, with my mom, (Grandma) at the fair.
Neither Rebecca or Josh had ever been to a fair before.
Wow!

Sunday, October 4
It has become a tradition to eat breakfast at Phill's Diner when we visit Tulsa, and usually the morning we leave. It is a great place to eat something hearty before hitting the road. I almost always order Eggs Benedict. This morning was no exception and it was great, as always.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,