song ~ how can I keep from singing

How Can I Keep From Singing
by Chris Tomlin

There is an endless song
Echoes in my soul
I hear the music ring
And though the storms may come
I am holding on
To the rock I cling

 CHORUS:
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing

(last time)...I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart
I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart
I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing



I will lift my eyes
In the darkest night
For I know my Savior lives
And I will walk with You
Knowing You'll see me through
And sing the songs You give



I can sing in the troubled times
Sing when I win
I can sing when I lose my step
And fall down again
I can sing 'cause You pick me up
Sing 'cause You're there
I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord
When I call to You in prayer
I can sing with my last breath
Sing for I know
That I'll sing with the angels
And the saints around the throne

blogging...

So, I have really grown into loving this blogging thing!  Can you tell?  LOL!  Originally when I was creating my blog page, I thought I would use it for the highlights and special events in my life like trips, vacations, weddings, other important things.  Then I thought I would add quotes that I found thoughtful, intriguing, inspiring, encouraging, etc.  Then I read other peoples blogs and liked how they sort of turned it into their journal, some its a way to post all their dreams and aspirations, others are about instruction, reference, articles, self-help, and then others just general life stuff.  Have I know made it more complicated by not keeping it to my original focus?  That I don't know...

but I was wondering, since you are one of my blogging friends, would you or could you give me any blogging tips or lead me to a resource or two? I have a couple friends who have some REALLY great blogs and ideas on them.  I know nothing about MckLinky, memme's (SP?), changing and creating your own background page thru coding, etc.  I wish I had time to do more research into it and know way more about it than I do, but alas, I don't.  I wish I had the time tor ead other peoples blogs and educate myself that way, but alas, I don't.  My focus right now needs to be on building my business.  So with that, any information you can send me, I so would appreciate it. Links, advice, tips, information, comments about what you like or don't like on my blog, think I should do or don't do, etc.  I welcome your comments below!

song ~ sweetly broken

Jeremy Riddle - Sweetly Broken

To the cross I look,
To the cross I cling
Of its suffering I do drink
Of its work I do sing

For on it my Savior
Both bruised and crushed
Showed that God is love
And God is just


Chorus:
At the cross You
beckon me
You draw me gently
to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so
lost in love, I’m
sweetly broken,
wholly surrendered




What a priceless gift,
undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified

You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled

(Chorus again 2x's...)




In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness

(Chorus again 2x's...)

wednesdays bible verse

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Psalm 42:2 NIV

Quotes

When you blame others, you give up your power to change.

~ Douglas Noel Adams

Process for change

48Days Newsletter by Dan Miller
Issue 506 - April 6, 2010


Here is a step-by-step process for change:
1.  Clarify your current situation.
2.  Seek the advice and opinions of other people.  (I add pray about it.)
3.  Identify the alternatives.
4.  Choose the best alternative.
5.  ACT.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I found these steps interesting and helpful with some current things going on in both my personal and business life.  What steps do you use?  Anything else that you find helpful?  Can you expound on this for yourself?

Quotes

A good friend is a connection to life―a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world.

~ Lois Wyse

Happy Birthday Terry!

My brother turns 29 today!  

I have had two ideas that I have been contemplating as to what I would make for my brother as a gift...both requried time, I decided to go with second idea that came to me, painting a verse using acrylic paint on canvas.  This is the final product:

I have only worked with acrylic paint one other time and it was with tissue paper, this was a whole different ball game!  I can't say that I am totally pleased with how this project turned out, but its a first attempt at something like this and coming from someone who can barely draw stick figures and has no artist capabilities, I think I didn't do half bad!  This project took 5hrs to do...yes, more than I thought, I was guessing 3hrs.  I can't complain though, I already had the canvas in my stash of project things and I only had to buy a special acrylic paint brush and the paint because I had neither of these two things. 

Please note: item is handmade, no two letters are exactly alike. This is considered an enhancement, not a defect.  It was painted by an individual not seeking a professional career as an artist.

* * * * * * * * * * *

In support of The Viriginia House and the quest for "We Can Do It Cheaper" my cousin will post a picture of a product and then her creation.  I do not have a product to compare to at the moment, so you will have to imagine it!  Here is how to make this product. 

Buy desired size white canvas ~ $5.99 at WalMart ($0.00 as it has been in my project stash for 5yrs):

Deside on font and quote you wish to paint on canvas.  Type in Microsoft Word.  Print out on plain white paper. 

Supplies you will need:  scotch tape & scissors ($0.00 - had on hand); paint brush $5.99 after 40%off sale at Hobby Lobby (normally $9.99); Acrylic Paint $3.59 after 40%off coupon at Hobby Lobby (normally $5.99).

 

Cut apart and affix to back of canvas with tape so you can trace it. (The photo I took of this did not turn out therefore I do not have this image as part of the process). 

I then put the canvas in a stand I had and sat at the dinning room table where I had lots of light coming thru the windows to see my image.  Paint letters on canvas. 

Enjoy final product!

time or money???

They say you don't have both time and money.  I am not sure what to think about this comment.  There are times I feel I have both, others when it feels like I have neither...and then there are the times I know I have only one of the two and need the other!!!  Is this true for you?  Which would you rather have?  How do you create a balance for both? 

Let's reflect:

Time...
1. we all have the same duration of hours in a day
2. we all have to use it wisely
3. we can't take back what we just lost in wasted time, its gone forever
4. we & others make our own choices on how we spend our time


Money...
1. we all make different amounts
2. we all have different expenses
3. we all have to budget (or live with the consequences of not)
4. we all choose in one way or another where to spend or save our funds

So, how do you solve the quest for both???  What works for you?  Share your tips and comments below because I need them!

Chocolate Lovers Cake

16 oz semi-sweet chocolate (4 4oz Ghiradelli Chocolate bars)
1 cup unsalted butter
9 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
Unsweetened cocoa or flour, for dusting



Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a 9” spring form pan; line bottom with buttered wax paper; dust pan with cocoa or flour. Slowly melt chocolate and butter together in a heavy saucepan over low heat; cool. Meanwhile separate eggs into two large bowls. Beat the yolks for about 1 minute; slowly add sugar and continue beating till thick and lemon colored. Beat egg whites until they just begin to peak. Add cooled chocolate mixture to egg yolks and blend thoroughly. Pour the chocolate and yolk mixture into egg whites and fold gently until completely blended. Remove 1/3 of the batter to refrigerate and cover. Pour rest of batter into prepared pan and bake 40-45 minutes. Cool 30 minutes before turning out onto serving plate. Frost with remaining batter.


Optional Garnishes Include: whipped cream, berries, berries in a glaze, sliced almonds, and sifted powdered sugar.

3 chocolate lovers cakes pictured here at the shower for RuthAnn 02.10.2008

CHECK OUT the giveaway!!!

Like to pour over idea books? home decorating? projects? colors? etc?  Then check out this giveaway from Susie Harris.  I sure hope I am the winner because this looks like a bunch of fun!!!

CHECK OUT the giveaway!!!

Do you like art?  Would you love to win a piece either for yourself or to give to one of your special friends?  Then check out Pretties and Posies giveaway!

CHECK OUT the giveaway!!!

Do you like jewlry?  Check out this blog: sweet as a candy.  There is a giveaway that you can enter between now and April 6, 2010 a 8pm.  This would be a perfect gift for one of my girlfriends that loves birds.

CHECK OUT the giveaway!!!

Another great giveaway!  Check out Chubby Cheeks Thinks for all the details. 

dreaming & drooling over this bolster pillow

Okay, seriously, I am coveting this Pottery Barn Bolster Pillow but have restrained myself from even contemplating trying to afford it......

closeup view

another view

I could save my funds and buy it, but really its not worth the price they are asking...unless it was 100% handmade then maybe thats what you would charge.  You really don't want to know what they are asking for this but since I am gasping for air, I will write it down for you:
$65 for the pillow form and $99 for the pillow cover. Yah...ouch!!!


I am determined to find a way to make it, and yes WAY cheaper!  even if that means I have to crochet or knit it myself!  That really isn't such a bad idea, because I do know how to do both, it just would be flat out time consuming which is something I don't have right now in my planner with other unfinished projects and deadlines taking up time slots.  In the meantime, I am dreaming and drooling all over it.  


Don't you agree its just way too cute and would look lovely on my shabby chic bed?  Yah, I knew you would totally agree with me!!!   So do you have any resources for these two items so I can fulfill this want?

start or finish projects???

There is nothing more inspiring or motivating than seeing something that you so want to create yourself!  You know that feeling that just pumps you up, makes you energized and gleaful to start a new project?  I am sure you have experienced it!  You almost feel like a little kid in the candy store with the happy prize you are gonna get.  I love it all: the dreaming, the searching for all the materials, the research on how just to do the project, the actual creating process, and even trying your hand at something completely new and maybe even making it look like an old knock off of someone elses.  But how do I do at finishing the project?  Sometimes, I am right on target and finish it in a day or two!  Sometimes I completely loose heart.  Why???  I only wish I knew.  Is it because I was still wanting to be there creating when the duties of life pulled me away from that fun thing or the bedtime hour was screaming at me and I knew if I didn't listen I would be paying the consequences the next day when I was supposed to be alive and working hard on the job?  or is it because this creative project is not turning out like I invisioned?  or because it has become totally exhausting and time consuming?  I have on more than one occasion made resolution to finish ALL started projects before I start another one, but the dreaming and creating is so fun...who wants to pick something up and try to figure out where you left off or how to make this limp looking thing alive and refreshed and inspiring once again?  I work well if I have a deadline, real or imagined.  There is just something about the thought of someone seeing my house with piles around of "things" or an unfinished job that makes me get my focus in gear and totally spurs me on to complete a project and work under time constraints that are usually beyond conceivable to accomplish.  I am just curious, are you a starter or a finisher of projects? How do you keep yourself inspired all the way through the project?  How do you keep yourself going? Share your tips with me in the comments because I am wanting to be inspired to do better and tackle that stack of unfinished projects.......

business web projects underway...

I have several business projects I want to complete in the next few months.  Some of them are time consuming and I am gathering ideas from every resource available.  I am in the midst of my next project for the business...actually two of them! I am working on creating a business blog.  The basic stuff has been created, so it has a ways to go before it will look decent, but if you want to check it out in a few days go to: www.medicalaccountsolutions.wordpress.com.  I am going to use it to discuss topics of interest related to my industry, skills and expertice to assist with questions from my clients and the interest of others. 

The second project has to do with my website.  I have hired Mike Coleman to design my website which should be done in 30days.  It is all getting downright exciting and things are starting to come together for this small business of mine! 

Do you have any ideas or suggestions?  If so, please leave a omment below.

Quotes

Faith is the ability to see God in the dark.

CHECK OUT the giveaway!!!

Another delightful giveaway that you must check out at Dreamy Whites.  I don't want to give you the details, because its too lovely to miss out on.  Hurry on over and check it out!  You only have until April 2nd at 9am to post a comment (or two or three) to enter into the drawing.

company ~ Caleb & Amy's wedding ~ sunday brunch

What a busy and fun weekend! 

Thursday, March 25th, 2010

Truman & Jessica along with Lacey & Melanie arrived about 7.45pm to my place after driving in from Arizona. 

I was working on our dinner of Rice Pasta Primavera, Rosemary Bread and Fruit Salad.  Once I finished meal preparations, we sat down and ate...visited a bit around the dinner table and then moved into the living room to visit until late in the evening.  Then they unloaded the truck and brought in their things, and we chatted some more.  Us girls (Lacey, Melanie &I) ate ice cream.  We got to bed about 1am. (Photo courtesy of Aunt Jessica Jean).

Friday, March 26th, 2010
I got up at 8am and quickly got ready to leave and go get my flowers at The Flower Market downtown Fort Worth.  When I got back, I made breakfast (Tortilla and Eggs with fruit) for us.  Uncle Truman had pretty much gotten the hang of my salt and pepper shakers now! :)  After breakfast, they headed out to spend the day with relatives and friends.  Martha came over about 11am and we started working on the flowers.  I didn't have as many as you can sometimes have or as I have done for other weddings, but the whole process took longer than expected.  The lovely Anemones were a bit finicky...the heads snapped easy and the curvy stems did not wish to cooperate, and if left out of the water for much time at all, they looked wilted.  As the day wore on, I realized I was not going to be able to make it to the rehearsal dinner.  We broke to go grab a quick bite of Mexican food at Antonio's and came back home to resume the project. Martha left about 11.30pm.  I kept working on stuff until Becca arrived to return vases she had borrowed for decorating.  While her and David were still at my place, my guests returned, and Dustin was with them.  I worked at getting Dustin's bed made up in the living room consisting of an air mattress and sleeping bags.  It was then I found I was missing a part for this borrowed twin air mattress.  I texted Martha and ended up making plans to meet Jackie halfway between her house and mine to get the needed motor.  Dustin and I got a few minutes to chat. On the way back, I stopped by Kroger to get the right size batteries as what I purchased was the wrong size.  All in all, I was up again very late, 2am!



Saturday, March 27th, 2010
The night flew by all to quickly and before I knew it, I was up at 8am and began working on the flowers after a quick shower. I knew I would not have too much time to finish and it was going to be a race against the clock to get the needed tasks done. 

Photo at left, courtesy of Aunt Jessica Jean.

Left my place at 10.30am to head to Weyman & Betty's to drop off the flowers.  The ribbon that hung down off of what I had tied on each of the bouquets slipped off when the girls held it and I had to do some repairs quickly to come up with a way to get it to stay.  Ellen gave me the suggestion to sew it in place (since my hot glue gun was back at the house) and I tried to work quickly to fix this problem on all 3 bouquets...this ended up taking 45minutes.  but I finished just as they were ready to pull out in the motor home!  Now off to drop off the arrangements at the building.  Then home to quickly put together a breakfast/brunch of Abelskiver's for everyone...as we were starved!  Then while they got ready for the wedding, I put together the rest of the flowers I needed to get done.  This again took longer than expected and I worked up until 2.45pm on flowers. I ran and got a quick shower and put myself together and left the house at 3.25pm. I arrived at the building at 3.40pm, just 20minutes before the start of the wedding.  I rushed like a mad woman trying to get all the boutonniere's and corsages on each person before they were to walk down the isle.  My job was now done and I was ready to sit down, but there wasn't a seat...it was full!  Eventually I located a spot that was empty and got a place to sit and rest my weary feet.  As I collected my thoughts and took a deep breath to gather my bearings and enjoy the fact that my project was complete...I realized that I had not brought my camera with me and had not taken one picture of the flowers!  I could not believe in my rush and hurries that I forgot...but the fact was, I did!  But even in the midst of my sadness at forgetting my camera, I was so happy for Amy...she was getting married to the prince of her dreams!

Photo above courtesy of Amanda Stogsdills (I saved it from her post on Facebook - thanks Amanda!)...since I was cameraless.  Oh, and can you believe I also never got a picture taken with my friend, the bride???  After the ceremony, I borrowed Sheila Harp's camera and got some shots of the flowers, but some of them were not looking so pretty by this point.  I haven't received this from her yet, but when I do, I will upload them here on my blog. I got some short visits in with several different people.  Dinner was absolutely delicious!!!  Beef & Pork Tacos and Rice & Beans.  I was exhausted and had much yet to do to prepare for the next day, so I left at 9.30pm to head home.  I worked at getting all the flower mess that was strewn all over the kitchen & dinning and living room floors cleaned up. I did some cooking for the brunch to be held at my house the next day and picked up the house.  I crawled in bed at 11.30pm, about 15minutes before my guests returned.  My body was so tired and I had rushed all day, but sleep took its time at coming.



Sunday, March 28th, 2010
I was up again at 8am and this time in the kitchen cooking for all who were going to have brunch at my house:  Nelson & Shirley King, Jeff & Debbie Roy, Nathan & Kathy Johnson, and of course Truman & Jessica Jean.  Keith Jr & Denise Gardner stopped by after we had eaten to spend some time with them also.  There were 25 people in my place.  Everyone left a few minutes before 2pm to head to the building. I went thru the house to do a quick pickup and make sure that the Jeans did not leave anything behind (didn't realize until later that Aunt Jessica's Abelskiver pan got left in my oven to dry - so I will have to mail this to them unless my bag is light enough to take it with me on the plane in 2 weeks when I go to Colorado for Ashley's wedding)...then I was off myself to the building for meeting.  It was a great message by Larry Balderson and a meal following.  I stayed for a bit and enjoyed visiting with some of the out of towners, but then got to a point where I was just too exhausted and felt I must get home to get a few things in order and myself to bed at a decent hour to sleep before work the next day. Having company is a lot of work...and to do so while being involved in the wedding was challenging and complicated, but the whole weekend very rewarding and lots of fun too!

philippians 4:8

So...until then...I will do my best to think on the true and noble and right. I will set my thoughts on whatever is pure and lovely and admirable. If something is excellent or praiseworthy...I will think on those things. And if my thoughts are on none of those things? I will pray...and ask God to help me set my mind on whatever is good...whatever is of Him....and to let those other thoughts go. Because if it is not of Him...it is of no use to me.