Duke Duke...You Will Be Missed 08/09/2000-09/29/2009

34 Years And Counting.... and Stitches

"You Have My Whole Heart. For My Whole Life."

I am MORE than blessed to be your wife.

Thank you for loving me well.

Happy 34 Years!

I am blessed to be able to sit in the
Emergency Room with you...yet again!

Yep, last night M cut open his hand using a skill saw.

A hospital visit and ten stitches later

and we are ready to celebrate!

Happy Anniversary!

Where Are They?

*edited to add: they arrived at 5:00...PM!

So, the carpet was supposed to be installed today in our den.

We have pulled the old carpet up.

The furniture is in my kitchen.

And living room.

And playroom.

They said they would call sometime after 12:00 noon.

It's 3:22 p.m.

No carpet man yet.

To be continued...........

(Blurry But Cute) Wordless Wednesday

I WON! I WON!

Look what I won!!!

And, look at the pretty box it was in........
Teresa, over at grammyababychangeseverything
had a contest. I WON!!

Thanks Teresa!!!

It's Quiet Here

They've gone home.

We sure had fun.
Love,
Miss Angelove

Look Who's Here....

We've been so busy, we haven't snapped but two pictures.

That was in Targ*t....and they didn't turn out too good.

I'll share them anyway. Off to have more fun...........

I Want What She Has

I receive daily devotionals from Proverbs 31 Ministries. Today's post was such a good one, I wanted to share it here. Though at 52, I am past most of this in my life, it is something that I guess we all struggle with at one time or another in our lives.

Read and be blessed.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I Want What She Has

Lysa TerKeurst

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Proverbs14:30 (NIV)

Chances are, if you're like me, you've struggled with comparison and envy.

My house looks great until a friend redecorates. Her clever color combination and crafty restoration abilities have created rooms that look as though they've stepped straight from a magazine. Suddenly my home feels outdated and plain.

My kids seem great until I'm around someone else's who excel in areas my kids struggle in. I see her kids quietly reading books that are well advanced for their age and loving every minute of it. I compare that to mine who would rather have their right arm cut off than to read books that are barely grade level all the while asking me when they can go do something else more exciting. Suddenly I judge myself for not making reading more of a priority when they were younger and feel like a sub-par mom.

Suddenly all that I'm blessed with pales in the face of comparison. I'm blinded from seeing what I do have in the face of what I don't have. My heart is drawn into a place of ungratefulness and assumption. As I assume everything is great for those that possess what I don't, I become less and less thankful for what's mine.

And here's the real kicker… things for the person I'm comparing myself to are almost never what they seem. If there's one thing that living 40 years has taught me, it's that everybody has not-so-great sides to their lives. Whenever I get an idyllic view of someone else's life, I will often say out loud, "I am not equipped to handle what they have, both good and bad."

God has taught me a lot about how to nip a comparison in the bud so it doesn't develop into full blown envy and jealously.

The statement, "I am not equipped to handle what they have, both good and bad," has been one of the greatest realizations God has given me. Every situation has both good and bad. When I want someone else's good, I must realize that I'm also asking for the bad that comes along with it. It's always a package deal. And usually if I'll just give something enough time to unfold I can often be found thanking God that I didn't get someone else's package.

One of the first times I came to understand this truth was in middle school when I met a beautiful girl at the Children's Theater in my town. We were both budding child actors cast in a Christmas play. During rehearsals I can remember seeing her long dancers legs move in ways my stubby limbs never could. Her legs were muscular and lean and graceful. Mine couldn't be described with any of those adjectives.

One day there was an unusual pain in her left leg. And then a doctor's appointment turned into a battery of tests that turned into a hospital stay that turned into a diagnosis. Cancer. A surgery to remove a tumor turned into an amputation turned into a complete life change. Her world became filled with words no child should ever have to know: chemotherapy, prosthetics, hair loss, and walking canes.

As a young girl I was stunned by the whole thing. Especially because I clearly remember night after night after watching her glide across stage, I would ask God for legs exactly like hers.

… not equipped to handle what they have, both good and bad.

I don't want to paint the picture that every good thing someone else has will end with a tragedy. That's not the case. Sometimes others' good things are simply fantastic. But they are fantastic for them - not me.

…not equipped to handle what they have, both good and bad.

Dear Lord, thank You for only entrusting me with what I have and who I am. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

The Biggest Loser

So, if you've ever read much about me, you know I am not a big fan of television. With the exception of a few shows on TLC, I rarely ever watch anything except American Idol.
BUT

I

Adore


!!!!!

I have a favorite picked out already. I know, I know, she got me with her story. But, I can't help it. She lost everything.
She deserves a chance to win here!

I also like the youth pastor from Tennessee.

And the grandmother.

And how about Dan from N.C.? I so want him to succeed!

Tuesday nights...you know where to find me!

edited to add: Jillian is out of control. I get it that she needs to motivate the contestants. I even get it that she needs to be *mean*. But her language was totally out of control. I was disappointed. I didn't watch American Idol last season because of Paula. Jillian may ruin this whole thing for me.

Laying Tile...the BEFORE

Hopefully tomorrow will be
the AFTER.........

Missing This Baby Girl Today!

We Are Having Visitors!

My oldest niece, J.....

Her precious little boy, J....

and her sweet girl, M!!

We can't wait!!

I REMEMBER

Candy Corn

I LOVE Candy Corn!

Love It!

I am trying to keep myself from buying it too early.

Do you KNOW how much Candy Corn I could consume between now and Thanksgiving if I let myself?

My very favorite way to eat it.....

With peanuts.

Oh. My. Word.

The combination of salty and sweet is Marvelous!

(It HAS to be *Brachs* brand though.)

Try it and let me know what you think!

Wordless Wednesday

..........because there are no words for this set of friends.

Budding Photographer

I took a picture of E.C. while waiting on her mom's ultrasound.

She wanted my camera.
Here's what she took.
Budding Photographer.....Right?

It's A Baby Sister!

We found out today that we will be Nonny and Poppy to
two girls!
E.C. is having a baby sister.
Sometime around Thanksgiving
we will have TWO grandgirls to visit the M&M Man!!

Nonny and Poppy can't wait!
Congrats A, G and E.C.!

King Of The World

love this song by *Point Of Grace*.
my little granddaughter, E.C.,
loves for her daddy to dance with her.
i know one day this may be her song to him.
listen to it.
it's a good one.

Wordless Wednesday

*Worker Man* Is 28!!!

This baby boy was born September 1, 1981

J was the baby brother to a 15 month old sister and a three and 1/2 year old brother

He was THE CUTEST kid

....and he loved his *My Buddy*

His *DREAM* was to be a *Worker Man* and wear *Worker Man* boots.


Fast forward a few years.....

He is now a *Worker Man*


And his bride has *Worker Man* boots

We are so very proud of you, J.
You have a heart of gold
and
We know you would do anything for us.
Thank you for loving us well.

Have a Happy, Happy Day J.
You are loved.



Love, Mom and Dad
Edited to add: Click on THIS to see Worker Man's post from his bride.