Grateful...

I watched a documentary on Wayman Tisdale the other night. He was a former great basketball player for the University of Oklahoma, then for the Pacers, 84' Olympics, Sacramento Kings & Phoenix Suns. He died after a battle with cancer in 2009. He was also a bassist and produced some great music. I have a couple of his CD's. 

I watched him tell his story, his struggle with cancer treatments and later having his leg amputated all while flashing that million dollar megawatt smile. It was a beautiful documentary. Sad, but inspiring.

The one thing I walked away with afterward was to be more thankful! His wife said at one point, after his leg was amputated he looked out the window and said how he would not be able to just go out and jog in the park. It's so many things we take for granted on a daily basis.

The truth is...if you woke up this morning and able to get out of bed by yourself, breathe without the aid of an oxygen tank, bathe and dress yourself, you are way ahead and so many people. We tend to focus on things that we want, or what hasn't happened for us yet. But, if you look around, you are already blessed!

As we finish out this year and move into 2012 resolve to be more grateful for what you have. Your family, friends, health, etc. No, you may not have everything you want, but you have the most critical thing...

LIFE.

So, start enjoying it, stop complaining about every little thing. Stop putting things off to do. Go out and live your life to the fullest. Start that thing that you've always wanted to do. Take that trip, you've been putting off. Write the book, song, or stage play. Don't wait another day to start enjoying life. Do it today. Cuz you know what?  You may not have tomorrow, next week, or a next year.

Be grateful today!

James 4:14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone.

New Puppy...

Welcome our newest family member "Rocky" the Maltese.
 He's a heavyweight at  2lbs !  11 weeks old.


I love him! He's such a sweetie!!

Getaways...

I recently returned from a getaway to San Juan PR, to celebrate my husbands birthday!

Lemme tell ya. I think I found my 2nd home. I've never considered myself a "beach" person, but I may have had a change of heart. The weather was perfect, bright sunshine, nice breeze and great food.

I enjoyed every part of Puerto Rico, except for the traffic heading down to old San Juan. But, it was somewhat of a fun experience, but not one I'd like to repeat anytime soon. I think next time I'll just stay on the beach :)


We went snorkeling, which was a first for me. It was a great experience and if you've never snorkeled I highly recommend trying it!  It was just a peaceful experience. Alone out in the ocean, swimming with the fish and just hearing yourself breathing. Very relaxing!

Well, the trip is over and I'm back in the 'real world', but at least I still have my memories that I will think on when I need to find my 'happy place'!

Blessings!

1Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

12 Rounds...

Many of you will probably be huddled around the big screen with friends watching the Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez boxing match. I've watched previous fights of Pacquiao and he's a tough little fella.


I admire these guys. They battle until they're bloodied, tired and barely able to stand but they keep punching until one of them gets knocked out or the final bell sounds.

Life and achieving your goals/dreams are alot like a boxing match. You start out pursuing your goals with vibrant energy, bright eyes, smiling faces and full of optimism. Which is a good thing, but what you don't realize you're just in the first round. It's easy to maintain high hopes that the victory is yours. But what happens when the enemy sneaks in a left hook, or uppercut and pops you on the chin. You may get a little wobbly, but you stay on your feet and try your best to regroup.

You stay in the fight and during the next several  rounds you continue holding your ground, throwing some of your best punches. You  bob & weave, implement your best attempt at the Ali shuffle to try and avoid your opponent. But, in spite of your best defensive moves he tags you again. This time he gets you against the ropes and just pummels you while your high hopes of victory begin to wane. With each punch, you feel your knees begin to buckle, your eyes swell, your nose bleeds. You just want to give up. But off in the distance you hear your trainer yelling instructions, and encouraging you to keep fighting. Somehow you find the energy to reach down deep inside, to stay in there, not give up and continue to fight for the victory!


Today, I'm your trainer/coach **grabs you by both shoulders and looks you straight in the eyes**

1) You can do this!
2) Never give up! Never, never...Nevah!!
3) When you feel like you can't go on. Take a step back, re-group and get back in there!
4) Have Faith!
5) Dig Deeper (--Shaun T)
6) The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.

Which round are you in?

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Disappointment...

Ok, so the beloved Rangers lost the World Series :(  But, that's okay, we'll try again next year. It was an exciting series and both teams played well. But in the end there can only be 1 winner. Next year Rangers!! next year!!! :)

It's always sad when something that you want to happen, doesn't. Whether it be your favorite team winning, something good happening for someone, something good happening for yourself.

If it doesn't happen on your timetable doesn't mean it's not going to happen. It just means it's not your time 'yet'. It's okay to throw yourself a little pity party. But don't stay there, get up and shake yourself off and get back at it. And once you have a clear head, you just may realize that the negative news you received was actually a blessing.

Maybe the news you received came from someone that you 'thought' had your best intentions in mind, but in actuality, it was a wolf in sheep's clothing. Gah!!

Maybe the job that you thought would be perfect for you, was given to someone else. But it ended up being something it wasn't. You find out later, that the hours changed, they brought in a new mgr, who apparently just escaped from San Quentin and off her meds. Several months later, you see the person who got the job instead of you and they looked like they've aged 20 years! 

The man or woman who you thought was the 'one', married someone else.  You find out later that they're compulsive liars, in need of serious anger management classes and making the person they're with miserable. And no worries if that man chose someone else. Take heart from the words of singer Billy Soul Bond - "When he says scat cat, another says here kitty kitty!"  LOL!

God opens doors for sure, but he also keeps some doors closed for your own good. For reasons, you've not yet seen or understand, but one day it will be made clear and on that  day you will Thank God that door wasn't opened for you.

“When one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.”
- Alexander Graham Bell -

Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Long time no see..

Wow...I've been gone away for a while. I'm going to get back on a regular blogging schedule.

Been away, but it's all good stuff. My daughter got married to wonderful man! It was a beautiful ceremony! Yes, I cried like a baby!

Let's see, on the writing side of things...Uh, not too much happening there. But, I've promised myself that I would get back on the writing bandwagon this weekend... I'm going to try.  I'm going to do it!

Oh, and the Insanity work outs have ceased. But, I will get back on the wagon in this area as well. I completed phase one, now onto phase two! Woot Woot!

Happy days are ahead of you. Expect Great Things!!

Blessings!

Beth

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It's a new season...

It's a new season
It's a new day
Fresh anointing is flowing my way
It's a season of power and prosperity
It's a new season coming to me
All things are possible, possible
possible... --Martha Munizzi

It's a new season and time for change! Can you feel it? It's harvest time!! Time to reap what you've sown!
I've always loved Autumn and the changing of leaves to pretty fall colors. Well, um, yeah...I now live in Texas, so uh, not so much. I think it's supposed to hit 100 again tomorrow.

I have great memories of past Ohio autumns, especially when I was young and my parents would drive out to the apple orchard and bring home apples and fresh cider, not apple juice, cider. Just heat up a cup of that stuff--instant happiness!

It's a new season!!!

Expect GREAT things to happen for you!!!

And have a cup of hot cider with me!

 Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread on the waters: for you shall find it after many days.

Guest Blogger - Jeaninne Stokes

My first guest blogger!

Jeaninne Stokes

Visit her website, read her blog & register to attend her upcoming seminar "How to Write and Publish for the Christian Market" Oct 1, 2011 @ Concord Church - Dallas, Texas

 

Have a vision? Have a plan!

Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him. He took his wife, Sarah, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth. (Genesis 12:1-5, NLT)
When God told Abraham to leave his homeland because he wanted to make him the Father of a new nation, Abraham stepped out and departed. But he didn’t just leave.  He had a plan for his departure.  He took his wife, his nephew and all his wealth to help him survive his journey.
If you believe God is calling you to leave a secure job to pursue a career as a Christian writer, don’t be afraid to step out in faith.  But before you go, make sure you  have a sound plan in place for your journey.  Make sure you’ve discussed your decision  with your spouse or significant other and they support you leaving your job; make sure you’ve determined how you (and your family, if applicable) will survive without your income, and make sure you have a plan for your future expenses.
Leaving a secure job to  pursue a career in Christian writing is a step of faith; but if you  have a sound plan in place for your survival while on your journey to become a Christian writer, you will make it to your promised land!
Sharing the  Writing journey,
Jeaninne Stokes
Christian Author & Speaker
www.JStokeswritingministries.com

INSANITY!!!

Yep! I've climbed aboard the INSANITY train. The first week was a beast!  But I made it through-Woo Hoo! I've always enjoyed working out, but I'd reached a point in my life where I needed something heavy duty.

You see, I've found joy in consuming something bad....you may have heard of these 2 evil products.

You should avoid these products at ALL costs! Step away, Do not sample, Do not even look down the snack aisle, Do not...I beg you, I warn you,,  even  TOUCH the bag, cause that's an automatic 5lb gain. I promise you!! They're crazy addictive!!

And we all know that BEING OVER 40 + EXCESSIVE SNACKS =











So, uh, yeah...I needed to really kick it up a notch in the workout area and Shaun T is the perfect motivational coach!  The workouts are very intense, and you will sweat like a pig in August, but you will feel great and although it's only been a week. I'm starting to feel like my old self again--pre-evil snack days!

I'm proud to stay that I've kicked my evil snack addiction....and you can too! Just give Shaun T a call and he will advise you to DIG DEEPER!!!!!!

Psalm 121:1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where comes my help.

Stop The Madness...

At some point, you've got to DO something. I hear people everyday saying how they're believing God for this or that or they want to become this or that. But, they're not DOING anything. I want to be a published writer. So I read, write, re-write, write, read, write, re-write, submit, repeat.

You say you want to lose weight, but you're not exercising or cutting back on your calories. You want to move up in your company, but you're not applying for new positions or taking classes. You want to start your own business, but you've not read on up how to do this or even taken any steps towards it.

Yet, these very same people are self-proclaimed experts on everything and talk about the 'doers'. Criticize them every chance they get, talk about how it's not going to happen or work out for them. While they sit back and watch 5 straight hours of television, with their feet propped up on the table, eating Little Debbie snack cakes, sipping on a Big Gulp, every night and basically doing nothing.

Now, if that's what you want to do, then continue doing it. But don't criticize or discourage people who are trying to work towards their dreams. Stop the madness!

James 2:17 Even so faith without works is dead.

One night at Boudreaux's changed everything...

Today is my 1 year wedding anniversary...Yayy!!! :)  This first year went by quickly.  It's strange how things happen. I was out one evening with a friend having dinner. We were having a fun time and the conversation changed to relationships. She told me that I wasn't going to meet anyone cause alls I ever do is work, go home and write.....true..true...that's was my life during that time LOL!!  My daughter was gone off living her life, so I was an empty nester and just enjoying life, pursuing my passion which is writing.

I wasn't looking for a relationship at that time, certainly wasn't thinking about getting married. I told my friend that I wasn't looking for a relationship and when God said it was time for me to get married, He'd send him to me. Well, we all know that God has a sense of humor!  Approximately 30 minutes later, I met my now husband LOL!! Even when I met him I just thought...Wow, what a nice guy!! Where'd he come from? It didn't take long before I realized he was really something special, sent from heaven above. Just like that...it happened.

It's funny because there was a time in my life when I'd really wanted to get married and it wasn't happening and you know how folks are...Oh, you'll meet him when you least expect it...and how you would just want to tell them 'Awww Shaddup your face!!' LOL!!  Well, turns out they were right!!........

Wonderful things happen when you least expect it!!! And it happens when it's supposed to happen. So, if you're waiting for your 'special something' Just know it's on the way, and could be turning the corner right now, and headed in your direction :)

Psalms 37:4-7 “Delight yourself in the LORD; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him.”

My Strange Addiction...

This show fascinates me, but after last nights episodes I have seen and heard enough. I'm not sure if this was a repeat because I don't watch it every week. This lady's addiction was eating dryer sheets?!?! Yes! dryer sheets like Bounce! First off, gross! She said the smell captivated her or something like that to start eating them. There was another lady who ate soap powder and yet another bathroom cleanser, aka Ajax, Comet, etc. BLECH!!! double puke!!

And when I thought it could get no worse. This one man, who lives as a woman, lives her life at home as a baby! Complete with bottle, diapers and a crib!! Why, didn't I turn the channel after it went off? It's like watching a train wreck....The next episode really left me in shock! This lady carried her husbands ashes everywhere she went....okay,,,but that's not the kicker. She now eats the ashes!?!?! After she said "I'm eating my husband."

*CLICK* I had to turn the TV off. LOL!!

Okay, confession time. I want to know if any of you have a secret addiction. Do you secretly eat household cleansers, house plants, couches (yes, there was an episode of a woman who couldn't stop eating the foam cushions from her couch).

Unbelievable!

Nehemiah 8:10 "The joy of the LORD is your strength!"

English Bulldog -VS- Yorkshire Terrier

So, I want a dog.

But I'm unable to decide which one I want between an English Bulldog or Yorkshire Terrier. They're polar opposites of each other. The Bully (so so so CUTE) is big, stubborn, friendly, sleeps alot, snores and passes lots of gas. The Yorkie, tiny, cute, mischievous, and yappy.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.....but leaning towards the...................................

English Bulldog......Yay? or Nay?

Blessings!!

Psalms 68:3 But let the righteous be glad; Let them rejoice before God; Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly.

A word of encouragement

Fear can magnify trouble WAYYY out of proportion. What you've already imagined the outcome to be and what you've already allowed yourself to get sick over--doesn't even happen!

Why do we do this? .....Cause we're human. (2 Timothy 1:7) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

(Hebrews11:11) Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.....NOT SEEN! If you can "see" it...then that's not faith. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (Romans 8:24)

When you come up against things that are going wrong and the devil  starts whispering to you. Just know he is a big, fat liar!  (John 8:44) When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.



When he tells you that you are not valuable...You can best believe that your price is far above rubies!!

When he says nothing good is ever going to happen for you....It is & It will!

When he says no one loves you.....God loves you and you have a host of friends, family members and people that you don't even know watching you, because they admire you!

In the book of Isaiah God promises-- I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.  Trust and believe he will do what He has promised.

(Numbers 23:19) God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Spend time reading His Word and in prayer...and re-new your relationship with God. Feed on His Word until your spirit is saturated with it. Then when the ole lying devil comes running his mouth--telling lies. Use your sword (The Word of God) to fight back....but you can't fight if you don't know His Word which holds His promises. You'll also find when things do go awry that you're able to handle the situation better.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 1Peter 5:7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

Just a word of encouragement....
Keep holding on Baby!!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

If I Had Wings, I'd Fly Away

Have you ever just wanted to chuck a few items in a bag and leave? I mean, sell off all your possessions,  go away to a deserted island, grab a hammock and the beverage of your choice and listen to the waves.

Take a moment and just think about it....Ahhhh.... Such loveliness

But Alas, we cannot. We must stay, work and persevere towards our goals. It is a time for everything. But what if you were handed 300 million dollars!  What would you do? Have fun thinking about it...not the obvious, give to people, help the ministry, feed the hungry, help the elderly.

What outrageous thing would you do? LOL!!

A) Would you quit your job but still show up everyday dressed in shorts, flip-flops and a tiki shirt and remind your coworkers that you no longer needed to work Neener, Neener!

B) Just disappear from civilization, change your name & acquire a new Jamaican accent? "No, Mon...I tain't nevah hear'd of no Beth, mon."

C) Go on a gnome shopping spree and fill every crevice of your front lawn with your bounty?

I would probably go on a world wide chocolate truffle tasting binge! Mmm chocolate...

Blessings!

Psalms 126:2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

Imagination

"I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world. Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

I'm working on my first science fiction manuscript and I gotta say it's going really well :) It's different from what I've written previously but I'm loving it so far. The imagination is a powerful thing and I'm thankful that God graciously gifted me with a doozy very unique one ...Yeah, that's sounds better LOL!!

Without imagination we'd never know about a place called Disney, take a journey to Middle earth (LOTR), That a place called Narnia was on the other side of the wardrobe, space being the final frontier and my favorite "You're traveling through another dimension -- a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's a signpost up ahead: your next stop: the Twilight Zone"  Love Rod Sterling!


I love worldbuilding, creating this imaginary world, people, creatures, personalities, governments, etc.  My favorites were this group that lived in Canyon Marais, ruled by King Bluche. They lived in this swamp like area. When they were first discovered they were thought to be ill because of their pale green skin. However, their appearance was caused by fine scales that covered their bodies, nostrils were flaps of skin, huge hazel pupils, long lush eyelashes and vibrant orange hair. Oh, did I mention they were dragonflies and are Biochemical Warfare Specialists. Not the type of people you'd want to tick off!  But they're my little created babies!!

Inventions start in the imagination...What have you imagined lately?

Proverbs 8:12 "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions." 

Movies

I'm not much of a movie person. I've always been a book person. Don't get me wrong I do watch movies but just not very often. When I am watching a movie it is most likely an old black & white one (Like Gaslight with Ingrid Bergman), science fiction. Yes, I could spend all day watching the SyFy channel and all those cheesy movies :)  My most favorite movie of all time is Enter The Dragon with Bruce Lee I've probably seen this 100 times and it never gets old.

But lately I've been thinking about movies with the release of the final Harry Potter and all the hub-bub around it. I watched a girl on the news in tears because it moved her so. Hmmm...That got me thinking about movies that moved me so that I couldn't shake it.  Two come to mind.

"The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas"  Eight year-old Bruno is the sheltered son of a Nazi officer whose promotion takes the family from their comfortable home in Berlin to a desolate area where the lonely boy finds nothing to do and no-one to play with. Crushed by boredom and compelled by curiosity, Bruno ignores his mother's repeated instructions not to explore the back garden and heads for the "farm" he has seen in the near distance. There he meets Shmuel, a boy his own age who lives a parallel, alien existence on the other side of a barbed wire fence. Bruno's encounter with the boy in the striped pajamas leads him from innocence to a dawning awareness of the adult world around them as his meetings with Shmuel develop into a friendship with devastating consequences.

"The House of Sand and Fog" Massoud Amir Behrani is living a lie to fulfill a dream. Once a member of the Shah of Iran's elite inner circle, he has brought his family to America to build a new life. Despite a pretense of continued affluence, he is barely making ends meet until he sees his opportunity in the auction of a house being sold for back taxes. It is a terrible mistake. Through a bureaucratic snafu, the house had been improperly seized from its rightful owner, Kathy Nicolo, a self-destructive alcoholic. The loss of her home tears away Kathy's last hope of a stable life--a life that had been nearly destroyed by addiction--and Kathy decides to fight to recover her home at any cost. Her struggle is joined by deputy sheriff Lester Burdon, who tries to take the law into his own hands to help Kathy. Ultimately the tale, itself, explores what happens when the American Dream goes terribly awry.


Both of these movies left me with my mouth hanging open and a feeling of ....WHAT?!?!! I cried during both. Both had endings that I didn't see coming and after these films ended. I turned off the TV and just stared at it.

Have you ever watched something that moved you beyond words and caused you just to sit and contemplate life?

Blessings!!

James 4:14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes..

Motherhood

Getting older.
Gah! Just the sound of it...Just sends shivers down your back. But the fact is, I'm getting OLDER. (Wow, that hurt) LOL!
I've never had a problem with my age. When I turned 30 I was okay with it. 40--well, it was cool, no biggie. But then all of a sudden I've realized that I'm deep into my 40's, past the halfway point. Not that it's a bad thing, but I have this feeling like. Am I really this old? When did it happen? I feel no where near my age. I look at the people I went to high school with and they look fabulous. So, again. Are we really this old?

My daughter is getting married in the fall. We went dress shopping this past weekend. I was just in awe seeing her in the wedding dress. Such a beautiful young woman. When the heck did she grow up?!?!?!  While looking at her I had flashbacks to when she was just a baby, then toddler, teenager.  I remember the feeling of sadness I had when she graduated high school. Our cross country road trip to take her to college. Then her college graduation.   I think the real kicker was after she graduated from college she moved back home for a few months before she was to begin her new job in the next state over.

The company she worked for came and moved her stuff. Watching the movers pack up her room and then place her car onto a truck I think I was numb. I remember walking into her empty room and honestly
at first....

((shhhh...don't tell her I said this... I was like WOOO HOOO!!! YIPPEE-KI-YAY!!!   I'm an empty nester!!!)))  But then...SADNESS.

Now, wedding dresses?  Oh Lordy I need strength! I've pulled out all her baby books and cried over the pictures. I kept 2 of her newborn baby dresses I pulled them out and held them. Wow--the emotions that run through you with the different stages of motherhood are amazing.

What's next....Grannyhood?  **fainting**

Blessings!

Ephesians 1:17-19 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power

Creepy People

 
Have you ever just been creeped out by someone?

There is this lady in the building that I work in. She is so creepy. She just stares at me. If she's in the elevator and I walk in and say 'hello' she just stares and doesn't say anything back. Once while I was walking through the lobby she was standing there with another lady chatting. I spoke to both of them (cause that's just how I am, I say hello) well, the lady with her said hello but the creepy lady just stared and continued to stare. How did I know that? Well, thanks for asking....You know how you have that feeling that someone is watching you? Well, as I was about to get onto the elevator I glanced back at her and guess what?? She was staring at me?!?!? Another time, I went down to the deli to get a snack and she was in there chatting away to the deli lady. I walk in, she stopped talking and just looked at me...no lie...just just LOOKED at me.  The sorta intentional stare, as if saying..you see me LOOKING at you.   Uh, Yeah....You're scaring me....

Other types of creepy people are those that pull up right beside you at a red light and look at you! Or what about when you're in line at the grocery store and the person behind you, stands so close you can feel them breathing. Yes, this stuff probably only happens to me LOL!!

Blessings!

1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Pantyhose & Slips

Do people even wear slips anymore? What about pantyhose? Have they both gone the way of the dinosaur?

Here in Texas I very seldom see women wearing pantyhose. But, with temps in the 100's who can blame us. I still wear them to church if I'm wearing pumps/skirt. But if its open toes then I'm bare legged.

What about slips? Gosh, going back ole skool...I had so many slips--the full slip, knee length, 3/4 length, each of the previous with the side split, back split, front split. The half slip, the cami top. Then on top of that you had the black, beige and white color LOL!!

I know they're hot, but c'mon ladies, some of you need to have them on. Especially in church..OMG! I'm sure the church mothers of old would turn over in their graves and have a conniption if they saw how women were prancing up in to the house of the lawd! :)

Sun dresses with spaghetti straps, low cut, non supportive bra, too short, wayy too tight I just wanna pull them over to the side and in my old church mother voice "Baby, you need a slip on with that dress, the deacons are getting distracted. Baby, you're sitting on the front row, that dress is too short, you're showing ALL that the Lord has blessed you with,  here is a modesty cloth to drape over your knees"  I'm sure these days those poor ole mothers may get fussed out trying to bring that to some women LOL!!

So what say ye....Shall we have a bonfire and burn the slips & pantyhose and declare....

GIVE US FREE!!!  <-----Amistad 1997

1 Timothy 1:5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Vitameatavegamin

Remember this episode of "I Love Lucy" LOL!!  (Love this show!!)

Anywhoo...Everybody & their momma has been squawking about Vitamin D.  Ladies, are you getting enough Vitamin D?  If not, I've found a great solution. GUMMY VITAMINS!! made by VitaFusion

They taste just like gummy bears!! They're sooo tasty...I'm probably on Vitamin D overload... **mental note--google Vitamin D toxicity**

Now, I'm hooked and on the lookout for women's gummy multi-vitamins.  I'll never swallow another horse pill-gargantuan-sized-vitamin again.


Blessings!

Jeremiah 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD

Excited..

For the past two weeks. I've felt like something BIG was about to happen. Remembering back to my childhood at Christmas. I could barely sleep from being so excited about possible gifts. I didn't know exactly what I would be getting, but I knew that I'd 'asked' for certain items. I wasn't for sure that my parents were going to get them for me, but then on the other hand somehow I knew I was going to get them.

But then there's this thing called 'Waiting'....LOL!!  You had to wait until it was time to receive your gifts. But up until then I remember being giddy with excitement. Expecting the best!!

That's how I've been feeling lately. Like something Big is about to happen. Although when I look around with my natural eyes I'm not seeing anything. But deep down inside...I sense something is about the breakthrough for me or someone close to me. I'm soooo excited!!!

EXPECTING GREAT THINGS!!!

I believe it, receive it, name it, claim it, decree and declare it!!!

Blessings,

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!!

Especially to my father the late, great Ernest Staples. How I wish you were still here, so we could laugh and talk like we used to. I miss watching you draw and sketch out different characters and talking about that picture book that you always wanted to write. Thank you for passing your creativity to me. It has allowed me to pick up and write where you left off.

I have your wacky sense of humor. Your creativity. Because you taught me about tools, I have ability to tackle any home project--large or small, just move out of my way and give me my tools. When I was little you tied those Everlast boxing gloves onto my toothpick arms and taught me how to box--introducing me to physical fitness. Because of you teaching me how to clean, load & shoot a gun. I qualified as an EXPERT shooter with the military...Yeah Baby!!  I can garden, fish, shoot pool and outplay anyone in pingpong!!
((Pssst!...remember when you taught me how to hot-wire a car....fun times!!...I'm proud to tell you that I never tried it again since that day LOL!!))

Thanks Pops!!
RIP

Psalms 127:3 Children are an inheritance from the LORD. They are a reward from him.

Working Out!

Yep! I need to get back to doing just that--working out.
I'm finding it very difficult to return to something that I've not done in a couple of months, especially hard after recovering from surgery.
I'm just going to have to plan a date night with the gym. Schedule it and refuse to miss it. After all, I wouldn't want the gym to think I don't want to be bothered with it anymore. Make big plans to do all this stuff together and then bail out at the last minute. I don't want the gym to have low self esteem caused by being stood up over and over again.
I'm turning over a new leaf. I'm going to schedule a date to begin again.
Now, if I only had a pencil so I can schedule it on the calender......

Where is that pencil?......*looking in drawer*....*looking around desk*....hmmm

Nope, not one pencil anywhere to be found...

Well, maybe tomorrow I'll have a pencil handy and can schedule my return, or maybe the next day....

Blessings!!

Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Water

Lately I've been trying to rekindle my love affair for water. Just plain water, no flavor packets-I'm tired of them, no lemon-I don't like the flavor...just pure water. Blech! Yuck! Boring!  My daughter says I should use sliced cucumber in my water because it gives it a refreshing flavor. That's interesting! I'm willing to give it a try!

I'm so amazed at how some people can just chug it down all day long with no problem. My husband for example seems to drink gallons of it a day. The result, youthful, glowing, healthy looking skin. You can pretty much tell a persons water intake just by their skin. Amazing isn't it.  When someone doesn't drink enough water, their face has an ashen look to it, the eyes are dull, and they've got that crusty lip look going on LOL!!

That alone should be enough incentive to make you want to guzzle up. So fill up those jumbo water jugs and drink, drink, drink your way to youthfulness!!

Blessings!!

John 7:37,38 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

The Blues

I love the Blues!!!

I have a new found love for this music genre!!  I love the Blues!!! And I'm not talking about those modern day, fancy Blues. I'm talking about those "Sat-Down-Rat-Now-Imma-tell-you-ALL-my-personal-business-kinda-Blues"

While listening to the radio. I've heard such prolific and profound lyrics such as...

"I'm guilty baby of being no good!"
"If you're man enough to leave. I'm woman enough to let you go!"
"Woman, alls I asked you was yo name. Why you gotta tell me all yo bizness!" 

LOVES IT!!

I'm going to have to come up with a catchy blues name for myself! Such as-Sugarfoots, LittleMoMo, Sweetwater Jive...on second thought...maybe not!!

Blessings!

Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Dear Writer's Block

Dear Writer's Block:

      Well, here you are again! Don't you have anyone else to visit? I've been doing just fine without you and I would really like to finish writing this chapter.

      My writing has been flowing and creativity has been at an all time high. Then the doorbell rings. I was so caught up in my story that I wasn't thinking clearly, so instead of doing my usual--peeking out the window to see who it is. I opened the door. Worst mistake ever!  

      You came in and made yourself comfortable, plopping your behind right on my couch and putting your feet up on the coffee table. (which by the way was just polished) First, you wanted some water...I took it a step further, by adding a flavor packet to it, thinking, you'd drink it then leave. Next, you decided you were hungry, so I made you a sandwich--made it all pretty by cutting off the crusts just as you requested. After you finished eating, I thought for sure you were going to leave and I could continue writing. But NO--you started jabbering away. Telling me to check email, check facebook, oh, and reminding me how I've been meaning to re-organize my sock drawer.

      Could you just go away? Go on a retreat! Visit your family members, Procrastination & Time Wasters! Better yet, why don't you take them on a cruise!

       JUST GO AWAY!!! you are not welcome here!

Regards, Sincerely, Best Wishes, Yours Truly, Take Care & May The Force Be With You!

xoxoxo

Beth

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Dreams

What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore -
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over -
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
- Langston Hughes, 1951

Has your dream been deferred? What have you given up on?

What project did you begin a while ago with excitement & hope and then you quietly placed it in a box and hid in the attic or garage? Whether it was writing a book, starting a business, losing weight, returning to school, starting a ministry or anything else that was on your heart to do. Then rejection came, or you didn't see results as quickly as expected. Or, maybe someone you thought was your friend said something to discourage you and you just gave up. During these times you have to dig deeper and even encourage yourself if no one is around to support you. I'm blessed to have a very supportive husband, daughter & friends.

Although along the way I did have to distance myself from a couple of "friends". You will have to do this from time to time when pursuing your dream. How do you know when to distance yourself? Well, if during repeated conversations with these "friends" it always turns negative, when you mention what you're working on, or pursuing. They'll tell you it can't be done, they've already tried and they didn't succeed so you shouldn't try, how many people have failed trying to do it (funny--they never mention how many have succeeded) or, they'll just quickly change the subject because they don't want to hear it LOL!

Well, I am self-appointing myself as your personal cheerleader!!! I encourage you today to pull "it" back out of the box, dust it off and begin again.

You can do it!! I believe in you!! The world is waiting on you!! So, go ahead and plan your work & then work your plan!!

Blessings!!

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Texas Heat

It's HOT outside!! Man! I'm already sick of the heat and here in Texas we're just getting started! It feels like its been 100+ outside everyday since January (okay, so I may have slightly exaggerated that fact just a wee bit)
When I first moved here 11 years ago from Ohio. I thought I'd found the glory land. My job in Ohio sent me to Dallas for a training class in Dec.

The day I left, I dressed in a big leather coat, gloves, hat  & scarf, went outside and shoveled the snow off my car and drove myself to the airport. My brother met me at the DFW airport in a t-shirt. He laughed when he saw me all bundled up and said, "you won't need that coat here."  And he was right, I was in awe when I saw people walking around with no coats on and one of the days while here I actually saw people in shorts?!?!

I went back to Ohio and told my daughter, pack it up, we're moving to Texas!!! Needless to say no one mentioned to me that while the winters may be mild, the summers can be brutal. I moved to Texas the following July...I've never felt such heat!! On the weekends I did all my shopping and everything else that needed done before 10am. After that, I was back inside for the day. Eventually, I got used to it, but there are still some days...Gah!!

The greatest evangelism should be here in Texas. Just take people outside and let them stand in the afternoon sun, and they will surly get a taste of what hell can feel like!

Blessings!!

Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Writing

I've always had a love for books and enjoyed writing. I've always loved creating stories and have always wanted to write a book, but kept putting it off again and again. I believe it was the summer of my daughter's sophomore year in college and she was home for summer break. Sometimes in life you need someone to give you kick in the pants to get you off the procrastination wagon! And that's just what she did. That day, while sitting in Schlotzky's parking lot having lunch (they have the BEST sandwiches). I grabbed a napkin and scribbled the first two sentences of my first book.

From that point on I've not stopped. Well, I've encountered some pit stops, but I kept at it and finished not only that book but written others. I'm currently working on my fifth.

I'm a work-in-progress, still honing my craft. But I'm getting better and closer to my publishing dream with each word that I type.

Keep pressing towards your dream. Don't give up!! Silence the naysayers, finish what you've started. Even when the going gets tough and you think you've reached your breaking point. Try just one more time and if at that time you've not reached your goal.............

TRY AGAIN!!! 

Blessings!!

Ephesians 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believes, according to the working of his mighty power.

NBA Finals...

Well, the MAVS did it again!  although I'm still a huge Lebron Fan  They played well, but it ain't ovah til the fat lady sings. But, uh...it sounds like she's warming up her pipes.

Random Thought  I was watching Hoarders the other day and for some reason this show fascinates me. Whether its just junk hoarding or animal hoarding. I mean, these people appear to be normal, everyday, next door type of people but have TONS of junk stacked up everywhere. Where'd they get all that stuff. It just makes me itch when I see it. But I guess the worse are the animal hoarders...how in sam hill dickens can you walk around in that much poop all day and night and act like its not there at all. Blech!!  You know it's quite possible your next door neighbor is a hoarder or how about your co-worker. That stack of empty coke cans collecting on their desk could be a sign...Hmmmm

Blessings!


Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Welcome!!!

Welcome to my blog!!!

I'm so excited to FINALLY start this!!

About me--I'm an aspiring writer (middle grade fiction) and I'll be sharing my horror happy stories with you as I navigate through this publishing maze.  I'm also a wife, mother and lover of fuzzy socks!!

Oh, and I'm currently in rehab--procrastinators anonymous :)

I won't even tell you how long I've been wanting to start a blog!

Stay tuned for my random thoughts on life, love, writing and whatever else piques my interest for the day!

Blessings!!

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.