Tim Tebow

Many years ago I heard Christian speaker Joyce Meyer asking for prayers of protection for herself - and other well known Christians. She had come across a person that admitted to not liking her  and was actively praying for her downfall. It really  made me stop and think - and pray! - for her and other well known Christians. 

This morning in my Bible reading I read Psalms 31:20: You (referring to the Lord) hide them (referring to those who take refuge in God - v.19) in the protection of Your presence; You conceal them in a shelter from the schemes of men, from quarrelsome tongues.

Over the last few months we who pay attention to professional football have heard a lot about Tim Tebow. He has gotten a lot of press about his beliefs and how he lives them. There have even been several commentators that talk of their hope for his downfall - which came to my mind as I read the above verse.  It total baffles me as to why people are so poisonous.  But yet, here in the Bible written thousands of years ago, are people who hope for the downfall of True Believers.

Most of us can't go up to Tim Tebow or other well known Christians to encrouage them, but we can pray for their protection.  It takes act-upon-act to build a strong reputation, but as we have seen in the Penn State scandal, it only takes one wrong decision to bring it all to ruin.

Please, join me in praying not only for spiritual protection for Tim Tebow, but also for others who speak out for Jesus.

New Laws

In just about every state some new law starts today.  In Utah you can no longer have daily drink specials - which basically means no more happy hour....which makes me wonder two things... Does it really effect many people in Utah since most people there are Mormons who don't drink alcohol? And secondly, I wonder it this will effect Sonic and their daily half-price drink specials??? Will half-price strawberry slushies be banned??? (Are there any Sonics in Utah??? If not, you Utah-ians are missing out!)

Also, in California and Oregon you can no longer sell shark fins.  No real loss there....and  yes,  I have actually eaten shark fin soup (it was in Hong Kong about about 15 years ago - judge me not).

So, in keeping with this tradition, we are enacting new laws in our household. Drew is EXTREMELY tried of turning off lights...lights in a room where no soul is in. So. For every light left on that he or I have to turn off or tell a child to turn it off, we will be charging fifty cents to the offending party.

Had this law been enforced yesterday, we would already be $1.50 richer.

I see a new source of Starbucks money for me.

Christmas 2011

Christmas 2011 was very nice. More than nice.  For our second Christmas in the Deep South, we were able to once again spend it with family at our house - this time with my family (last year Drew's parents and one sister were with us). My brother and his family along with my parents arrived Friday.  We had a delicious dinner cooked by Drew then opened presents.

I don't think I'll ever get tired of seeing my kids playing and hanging out with their cousins! Such fun!

Drew and I got a portable heater from my parents - which we will use quite often since high school soccer season is during the winter. Even if we are in the Deep South, it's cold at night.

Saturday morning we enjoyed a large breakfast before my brother and his family left for their house. Saturday night we enjoyed the Christmas Eve service at our church then rode around looking at Christmas lights.   Of course, as we were looking at the lights the kids were trying to get us to drive faster so we could get home - yes, they were ready to open presents again!

Of course, we did finally get home and yes, open presents again.  And yes, the kids were happy.

Sunday the kids got full stockings and a few more presents. My mom and I were up first - we were getting our coffee when I got a text from Melissa - "can I go to the bathroom?? I'm about to burst!! SAVE ME!!"

We just laughed! After she returned to her room, she started texting again - "when can I come and see my stockings???" Then she started to text her brother to wake him up! 

After church we had a wonderful dinner with my parents as well as two airmen from Drew's office that have no family in town.  My aunt joined us late in the afternoon.  Later in the evening we did presents with my aunt - if you are counting, that's number four time for presents! 

I think the kids enjoyed all the present time instead of just opening everything at once!

This morning we just hung out for awhile before my parents and aunt left.  Not long after they left, one of Drew's sisters, her husband, their daughter with her husband and baby arrived for lunch.

We love time playing with the baby!!  They only stayed an hour or so as they were driving back to their houses, but anytime we get to see the baby, we'll take it. Oh, and yes. Anytime to see ANY family, we'll take it!

Now, I'm snuggled up in bed with one son and Drew watching the Saints take on the Falcons.

Love that I have at least one football team that knows how to play and WIN!!

Great times....wonderful times!

We Have a WINNER!!

Yes, we have a winner - ME!!!! SO EXCITED!!

A few months ago I won a book from a blog contest - this week I won again!  Last time was from Pantry of Praise a book about setting up a food pantry for those in need of food. I was able to pass along the book (after reading it, of course!) to the director of the soup kitchen we volunteer at.  This week I won a book from Annie Blogs.

The great thing about this contest is that I won two copies of Annie's book - From Head to Foot.  Part of the contest was to list whom you would give the second book to. I said I would be giving the second book to my friend, Tricia, because she teaches tenth grade girls Sunday School class at my church.  Tricia is excited as well!

I have been reading Annie's blog for several years now - read through the post of her writing this book -  I'm looking forward to reading it!

What was also a great surprise is she added a nice hair bow (which Melissa has already made off with) and a Christmas CD of one of her friends - what a nice way to start this weekend!

The Next Great Chef

Here's William rolling out stars to make a cookie tree. Actually, all the kids did some baking last night. Now...to see if I can remember to take a picture of the finished product...

A Pirate Christmas

Benjamin at his class Christmas party....he's suppose to be a pirate....yeah... I know. Pirates & Christmas don't usually mix, but that's the theme his school picked. It's based on a book - A Pirates' Night Before Christmas. Yes. It's a crazy school.

Carol of the Bells

Today it dawned on my that one of my favorite Christmas carols, Carol of the Bells, is not actually about Jesus. That made me slightly distressed. And sad.

So, I decided to reread the lyrics. Sure enough. Not one word about Jesus. But at the end of the lyrics I read this:


Carol of the Bells, also known as the Ukrainian Carol, was adapted from Shchedryk by Mykola Leontovych (1877-1921), which was first performed in December 1916 by students at Kiev University. The original Ukrainian song is based on an old Slavic legend that every bell in the world rang in honour of Jesus on the night of his birth.


While I seriously doubt all the bells ranged - even if there were bells waaaay back then - its a nice thought.

So. No longer distressed. Or sad.