...tradition(s)

@dictionary.com the definition of tradition
the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, esp. by word of mouth or by practice; a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting; a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices; a customary or characteristic method or manner

Growing up we had a few things that were traditions in my parents home.  One of them was homemade pizza EVERY Friday night.  As a child, I liked pizza, but wasn't just downright crazy about it...course you have to realize I had never eaten restaurant style pizza - homemade was all I knew.  But the one thing I did love about Friday Night Pizza was it was the only time we were allowed soda pop!  One glass, and usually it was Root Beer because that is what Dad liked, or we could have Pepsi as that is what Mom liked.  I didn't and don't care for Pepsi, so I either had Root Beer or Punch if I didn't want that.  As me and my sister grew older and assumed cooking responsibilities, pizza making became more fun.  We got to try other things besides a pepperoni pizza and hamburger meat pizza.  We My sister learned to make better pizza crust and it became a really fun project each week.  We rarely skipped having pizza on Friday nights, and when we did, Dad was always sorely disappointed.  Looking back at my childhood, this is a fond memory of a tradition we had.  So I ask...

What is tradition to you?  Did you or do you have traditions in your family?  Do you like them?  Abhor them?

Quotes

The man/woman that walks with God always reaches their destination. 
We reach our destiny – God's will – by walking with God.

signs...with a message

Okay, I am in love with this sign...I thought it was sooooooooooo cute and just my style.  I had to grab my camera phone (and quickly put it on silent so that I could snap a picture of it and nobody hear me do so) at one of my favorite shops (nope I won't tell you where since I actually didn't get permission to take the picture or post it on my blog for free advertising - LOL), then I texted it to a friend who emailed it to me since I don't have the internet on my phone...(please, don't give me a hard time for being too cheap now).  I love the simplicity of the colors, the message and the shape...but for $199???   uh ummmmmmm, yah not that much. 

Maybe I will try to make it.  Think I can???

blogging...

sometimes I don't get blogger...blog spot...blogging
I try really, really, really hard to figure this stuff out in the little bits of time I have, but sometimes I am just left flat out stumped when nothing logical comes from my research!  have you ever felt like that?  so maybe you can help me...you know how you follow blogs, right? and so when your blog is listed on someone elses blog page (i.e. like I have the list I follow on the right hand of my blog), depending on their settings, it either shows your post recent post date or the title of the post unless they don't have it setup this way.  so, how come my blog that is being followed on someone else's page shows the last time I posted a post was 5 months ago???????  this is nowhere accurate. :(  I don't get it and don't know what is wrong with this dumb blogger!!!  Sometimes I schedule posts, sometimes I automatically post them...it just depends on whether I am working in rears, current or the future. LOL!  Either way, 5 months ago was a long time and I have posted a million posts since then!

Quotes

Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.
― Robert Louis Stevenson

exciting news...

I am going to be an aunt again!!!  yes, so fun.  I have six months to plan something fun for my girlfriends first baby...off to the yarn stash and the project room to get my favorite babies knit book the simple knits for cherished babies.  hmmmmm, what shall I make?


(p.s. I can tell now...its RuthAnn)

Quotes

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
~ Abraham Lincoln

...to give

@dictionary.com there are lots of definitions for the word give.  For the content of my post today, I am only going to use a few of them that are most relevent to my thoughts and some things I have been thinking about and working thru:

give =
to present voluntarily and without expecting compensation; bestow;
to impart or communicate; to furnish, provide, or proffer; 
to relinquish or sacrifice; to apply fully or freely;
to be warm and open in relationships with other persons  

II Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Giving takes effort.  Giving takes time.  Giving takes motivation.  Giving takes planning.  Giving takes putting someone else first...yourself last.  Giving takes continuing in a difficult situation that doesn't seem to be going anywhere.  Giving means you let that go without any expectation of return.  Giving means you are not cold in your attitude.  Giving means you are rewarded for your hard, very hard work; sometimes not in the way you expect, sometimes not in this life, sometimes never from the individual(s) involved...but giving 100% selfless brings peace.  Giving means you see a need and are willing to fulfill it to the best of your ability.  Giving takes a pure heart.  Giving dissolves your own hurts.  Giving takes focus.  Giving provides a bigger picture to the problems at hand.  Giving makes friends.  Giving requires sacrifice.  Giving makes someone feel special.  Giving is a gift.  Giving is love.  Giving gives life.

What does it mean to you to give? How do you give? When do you give? When do you quit giving?  Can you give too much?  Is it possible to give too little?  Do you struggle to give?  Do you benefit from giving?  What are your thoughts about giving??? 

Quotes

Cherish your dreams, as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.
-Napoleon Hill

CHECK OUT the giveaway!!!

posted@Dreamy Whites

Cabbages and Roses will be giving away a lovely Cabbages and Roses tablecloth and 6 napkins to one lucky reader.  Valued at $185.00. 

You get to choose from three different Cabbages and Roses patterns:

Natural Raspberry, Tulip and Rose, or Cerise Hatley.

                               ...just beautiful! 


check out the book...

Quotes

In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson.
― Tom Bodett

Quotes

You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
~ Wayne Gretsky

5 verses for you Terry

Blessed is the man who keeps on going when times are hard.
James 1:12


Don't get tired of doing what is good.  Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
Galatians 6:9


I will rescue those who love me.  I will protect those who trust in my name.
Psalm 91:14


I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
John 16:33


The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust.
Psalm 18:2

As previously stated a month ago, I have told Terry several times that he needs to pick 5 verses that will strengthen and encourage him in his battles...verses to help him fight the thoughts that invade and consume his mind...that he might be able to combat the lies and find hope in the truth.  Here are an additional 5 verses that I will drop by to him tonight on my way home from work.

how do you help someone that is hurting?

I wish I knew the answer to this question.  I have been pondering it for awhile and I am stuck at square one. 

Sometimes you can tell its physical pain and they just don't want to be alive because the pain is so bad.  Other times you don't know why their response is cold, distant and short.  I mean, you know that we all have bad days, but does that mean you must treat me like this?  I love you...my heart achs for you, I want to see you succeed, what can I say to make you feel better?  I ask if you are bothered, need to talk, what is on your mind, did I do something wrong, hurt your feelings...you say no...but now I am out of ideas and you are still stiff, rigid and determined to leave this wall up...why???  I know that life has treated you really rough, some of it your own doings but much of it out of your control.  Do you know that you have control over you life now?  Would you please just believe me?!!

It makes my heart deeply grieved.  I want to cry.  But will tears proove?  I feel I have failed.  Done nothing to help you.

So I ask you my friend:  How do you help someone that is hurting???

Quotes

Triumph is just 'umph' added to try!
-unknown

Quotes

Inch by inch, life's a cinch. Yard by yard, life is hard.
(line from Patch the Pirate song)

New Home Gift for a friend...two white throw pillows

I love to be creative...when I was helping a friend recently paint her guest bedroom, we were discussing a shop I absolutely LOVE...Simple Things at the University Shopping Center in Fort Worth.  I so love to go in there and browse...see what new ideas they have and just be inspired...someday, I want my house to look just like that place!  For now, it is a dream.  I wish they had a website, I would post a link so you could dream and be inspired too, but they are just as their name states in the mode of "Simple Things" which means that they keep things very simple and they do not have a website.  Anyways, Alisha was sharing with me that she wanted the bed to have lots of different shapes and shades of white pillows but that throw pillows were so expensive.  My mind immediately got to thinking of what I could make to start her collection for the guest bed.  A couple days later, I dug thru my plastic box of fabric stashed under my guest bed and here is what I made her:   two throw pillows, one 16" bolster pillow out of white silk dupioni and one 12" square pique pillow that we may add some buttons, monogram, or other handwork to if she so desires, for now it is plain.  Both had invisible zippers so that the casings could be cleaned if she needed to. 

"We Can Do It Cheaper" breakdown of the cost for this project:
Both pillow forms were down fill.  The square one I obtained from my big stash of pillow forms and I simply do not remember what I paid for it, but lets just assume it was $5.99 as I always try to get these things on sale.  The bolster was $8.49 from Tuesday Morning.  The fabric was $0.00 as I used scrap pieces leftover from previous projects.  Total Cost: $14.48 before tax. 

I should have been doing chores and tasks around the house, but the 2hrs spent working on these was a blast! 

Tell me what you think of these two pillows:

the card:

and the inside of the card:

the complete package ready to be delivered:

(and yes I am an avid recycler, so this bag was in my closet,

it isn't as if I was trying to pretend these pillows came from there)

Doesn't it make you want to create some new throw pillows for your couch?

guest bedroom?

your bed?  or the patio chair?  

ummmm, I do!!!

 

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I am getting really very frustrated with blogging today...I am trying to simply put The Virginia House button on this post for you to link to We Can Do It Cheaper...but its not working.  I am able to save the button as a jpg, but then it doesn't link anywhere when I do it that way as it is supposed to.  I have tried multiple times and when I save the encryption that is supposed to automatically make this button thing happen, it does't, I only get "/>.  Ugh, somedays I don't know what the heck I am doing wrong. I am very computer literate, but today, nothing is working like it did on a previous post in April when I did this. Frustrating is not even an adequate word to describe what I feel right now.

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

After the 20th time, it worked...not sure what made it decide to cooperate, but I still have no clue what I was doing wrong.  hmmmmmmmmmmm.......

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

I think I have figured it out...one of the buttons on my cousins website doesn't have the same lingo as another, so that is why it wasn't working...yah, it wasn't me! :)  I let her know and she has fixed it now so it should work for you too.

update on Terry

Terry had his evaluation today for the outpatient program for Pecan Valley MHMR.  He told me that it went well and that he has been given the top of what they can give him for his situation.  Since I am new to all this, I asked him what this means.  He said that they give you a Level 1 to Level 4 and that he qualified for Level 4.  I am grateful and pray that he will utilize this program to its fullest and not miss any of his appointments.  PLEASE continue to pray for him, send him notes or calls of encouragement, and reach out to him when you see him.  He needs us badly.

Quotes

Employees will tolerate a boss, but will follow a leader.
- Dave Ramsey

Quotes

Life offers no guarantees...just choices;

no certainty...but consequences;

no predictible outcomes...just the priviledge of pursuit.

- Tim Conner

May Camp 2010

What did you this Memorial Day weekend? 

It is our annual christian camp retreat in Oklahoma and I had plans to attend.  I had offered Terry to go with me if he wanted unless he wanted to go with someone else.  The day before we were to leave, he called me and told me that he was not interested in going as he didn't want to be with a group of people that said "It's good to see you" and not mean it.  I told him that wasn't true, there are many that love him and want to encourage him and are very glad he is still alive and participating with us.  He went on to say that he feels he is not physically, mentally or spiritually well and therefore didn't belong at the camp.  I told him we all need the encouragement and refreshing time spent in Gods Word and that each of us go for this reason.  He stayed pretty gloomy in his thoughts so I contacted both Jeff & Weyman not knowing what to do from here, but knowing that I didn't feel that I could leave him alone all weekend with his current state of thinking.  He ended up having a talk with Jeff and breakfast with Weyman and got "talked out of it" as he said to me later. 

Terry & I were on the road about 08:00am Saturday morning and headed for camp.  We left a little later than planned as he had forgotten to turn off his air conditioner and I was still getting a few things prepared for snacks on the road.  We stopped and got ice at Sonic and some breakfast and then were off.  We made good time even with four stops along the way...I swear that guy has no bladder!  We did our meals with Mark & Bev and had a good time just being lazy and chilling outside or in the camper.  We stayed at Sheila Harp's place.  It was definately blasted hot there!  We headed home Monday morning about 08.15am and again made good time with only 3 stops.  I asked Terry if he had a good time and was glad he came on Sunday when we were driving back to camp from Sheila's. He said he wouldn't say that he was glad he came but that he had had some good conversations.  Well, sounds to me that makes a good time especially with all he has going on right now in his head! I am glad he went and feel it was a good experience for him.  I personally didn't come away with any one highlight but a few nuggets that I wish to reflect on.

He will have his evaluation with the rehab center this next Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010. He has not been taking his medicine consistently, by his own doings.  Consequently the Texas Department of Rehabilitation will not release him back to work at Goodwill until he is stable for 30days.  He has an appointment with his counselor in about 30days.  Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers as he works thru some things.  It is a day to day thing as to his outlook on life and his demeanor.