FRIENDSHEEP

"Now,Gladys, don't you tell anyone what I'm going to tell you...you know I don't like to gossip."

(sheep in Ireland...12/07...Ian Owens)

READING THE REFRIGERATOR

Does your refrigerator have the same problem mine does? Mine seems to collect any and everything that has a magnet back. I recently pulled all the 'stuff' off of mine. I sat looking at it and boy did it bring back memories. Some of these things have been around since my boys were small. So I put some of them back up and made some pictures. Thought I'd share them with you today. Click on picture to enlarge.

IF.....

If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can be cheerful, and ignore aches and pains,
If you can eat the same food everyday and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can ignore a friend's limited education and never correct her,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can face the world without lies and deceit,
If you can forgive when friends take their frustrations out on you,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without pills,
If you truly have no prejudice against race, religion, creed, or politics,

THEN, my friend, you are almost as good as your DOG!

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING #5

"Take a good look at God's wonders-
they will take your breath away!" Psalm 66:5

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"God made the heavens-
Royal splendor radiates from Him,
A powerful beauty sets Him apart.

Bravo, God, Bravo!
Everyone join in the great shout. Encore!
In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.

Bring gifts and celebrate,
Bow before the beauty of God,
Then to your knees-everyone worship!" Psalm 96: 5-9
TMB

ANOTHER SURPRISE !

I haven't been able to do much reading this week, because Alex has had a rough time. But, today I was catching up and I see that I received this award from Nancy. I am honored that she thought of me. Nancy is sort of a newcomer to blogging, but she's doing really well! We live fairly close to each other and hope to meet IRL one day. So thanks again, Nancy. You can catch up with her life here.

OH HOW NICE !!!

What a sweet surprise I had today to receive this award from Jennifer at
Zaankali's Adventures. Thanks for YOUR kindness, Jennifer!

My favorite quote about kindness:

**************IT'S NICE TO BE IMPORTANT******************
*********BUT, IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO BE NICE!***********

I pass this along to:

Dianne, at Glasses of Grace
Lynne, at Lynne's Little Corner of the World
Jean, at What's Up at the Stauffers'

READ IT AND LAUGH

I got this in an e-mail today, and thought it was too funny. Sad...but funny.

For the record...this is NOT on my car!

THE ANNIVERSARY GIFT

On December 30, Don and I had our 35th wedding anniversary. 35 YEARS!!!!!
Anyway, I got him a complete collection of all the SEINFIELD tv shows on DVD. Every single one. Now personally, I could never find the humor in that show...it was about a lot of nothing. Granted there were some funny moments, but nothing that I ever made plans to watch. Donald, on the other hand, loved it. He thought it was hilarious. And still, when he runs across it while surfing channels, he'll always stop and watch. Which is why we rarely watch tv together.

Anyway, he wouldn't open my gift. He said, "yours has not come in yet." Yeah, right. I figured he forgot or just decided to let it go, which would not have been a wise decision to make. He knows better. So, his gift has been sitting, unopened, on his nightstand since Dec.30. Friends, I could never let a gift, with my name on it, sit unopened for that long. I tried to get him to open it when he was in bed with the flu for a week. Told him it was the perfect time to use it. But...no deal.

So...tonight he came in with my gift. And it really HAS been on order since before Christmas. The company sold out and had to make more. He did real good, too...I got a KINDLE! Do you know what that is? If not, go to www.amazon.com/kindle to read all about it. (tried to link...wouldn't work)
Now, it may take me a while to get it all figured out, but when he and Alex were showing it to me last night, they asked me what was the next book I was going to buy. I told them, and in less than one... "1"...O.N.E....minute, the complete book was downloaded and in my hands. Can you believe that? I am so excited. Just think, travelling, you only have to take that 1 small gadget and you can read as many books as you want. He said you also can have the entire Bible on it, and it comes with the dictionary included. Also Internet, and lots of other surprises that I will learn about when I have a tutor with me to interpret the instructions! I will let you know how it works...but, I think I am going to like this...alot!

TO CHINA...WITH LOVE

I have a sweet friend who I teach with who is embarking on a new adventure. Sherri and her husband and their boys are adopting a little girl from China! They have begun the process and hope to be able to bring her home this summer. Isn't that exciting? What a blessing they will be to each other. I would like to introduce them to you here...Sherri has started a blog to document their adventure. There are pictures of sweet Sophie there. She's a doll!

If you have a minute, give her a word of encouragement. You'll enjoy meeting her, I'm sure.

SAD NEWS

I don't usually pass on sad news like this, but sometimes we just need to pause and remember what life is all about. There was a great loss recently in the entertainment world. Larry LaPrise, the Detroit native who wrote the song
"Hokey Pokey," died last week at 83. It was especially difficult for the family.
They had the hardest time keeping him in the casket. They'd put his left leg in,
they'd take his left leg out and...well, you know the rest.


I'll wait while you sing the whole song in your head and get the mental picture...

Have a fun-filled day!

LINK LOVING IN 2008

This link loving in 2008 came from Lynne, at Lynne's Little Corner of the World.

I have randomly selected 5 of you below to be tagged and I hope that you will similarly publish this post in your blog. You will have to tag 5 other bloggers and just keep adding on to the list. (Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list!) It’s real easy! Tag others and see your Technorati Authority increase exponentially!

The benefits of Viral Linking:
- One of the fastest ways to see your technorati authority explode!
- Increase your Google PageRank fast
- Attract large volume of new traffic to your site
- Build your community
- Make new friends!

Add your blog url here...The Strategist Notebook/Link Addiction/Ardour of the Heart/ When Life Becomes a Book/The Malaysian Life/ Yogatta.com/What goes under the sun/ Roshidan’s Cyber Station/Sasha says/Arts of Physics/And the legend lives/My View, My Life/ A Simple Life/What Women REALLY Think/Not Much More Than This/Jayedee/Jenn/Beth/ Christie/Marla/Cailin/Simone/FlipFlopMom/Katrina/Gill's Jottings/Work of the Poet/ Wakela/Modern Day Goddess/Livin With Me/Are We There Yet??/The Erstwhile Librarian /Lynne's Little Corner of the World/ Gatherings You are next...

Now, add/tag 5 of your friend's blogs...

Dianne at Glasses of Grace

Tracey at Show Me State...Of Mind

Kat at Just A Beach Kat

Angie at By Faith...Ang Baylis

Nancy at Too Wonderful For Me

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

Thought you may like to see the new dress I made...
I plan to wear it alot this year!




*****Click to enlarge and read******

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING #4

Do your windows look like this? How intricate these tiny crystals and snowflakes! And, unless magnified, we could miss just how complicated the design....by the Master Designer, of course.

5 THINGS MEME

My friend Kat,at Just A Beach Kat, tagged me to do this meme a while ago. I'm just finally getting around to it. I am to give you 5 weird or random things about myself...here goes:

1. I can not stand to wear pajama pants unless they have elastic at the bottom. Can't stand them to crawl up my legs while I try to sleep.

2. My name is pronounced like it is spelled...Tonja....with a 'J'. Most people try to say it TonYa...but they're wrong. However, my sweet grandmother called me Tonnie all my life.

3. I play solitaire on my palm pilot every night when I get into bed. Something about that just relaxes me, and I get sleepy quickly.

4. I think coffee is the vilest tasting drink ever. I know most people love it...but, I'm not one of them. I do think it smells good though. Give me hot chocolate or hot tea, please.

5. I rode a motorcycle to school when I was in high school.

WE HAVE A WINNER !!!!!

Thanks to all who played and are still playing. I have the first winner!

It's Lynne, Lynne's Little Corner of the World.
Congratulations, Lynne. It was fun playing yesterday...and night!
Thanks for celebrating my blogiversary with me!
A $25.00 gift certificate to Applebee's is on its way to you. Enjoy!

I will leave the game open until Sunday...12:00 NOON, then draw from the other correct entries!

CELEBRATE WITH CAKE !!!!

This is the cake I think would be appropriate for our celebration. What do you think? It is modest and unassuming and very tastefully decorated. And, I'm sure it tastes just as good as it looks! And, there will be enough for everybody, and some left over for breakfast tomorrow.







This is the cake I got for our celebration. It is modest, and unassuming, and tastefully(!?!) decorated. And, I'm sure it tastes just as good as it looks! I don't think I can cut it in to very many pieces, but I will surely think about you when I eat it. And there will NOT be any left over for breakfast tomorrow!


PLEASE CONTINUE READING.....

THE ABC'S OF BLOGGIVERSARY # 1

As I reflect on this first year of blogging, much comes to mind.

I learned I must be ACTIVE in blogging and AUTHENTIC, as well. You know, "Keep it real!"

I have met many BRAVE people, Some in what they are going through and others by the way they live their lives. Of course, the BEST B's of all: the BEAUTIFUL BOISTERIOUS BABBLING BLOGGING BABES.....the "B" Club!! And reading so many of your life stories, I feel very BLESSED!

There are so many CARING people in the B community, I find myself very CURIOUS as to just what makes you all tick. You are a CONFIDENT group and I am thankful to say that most everyone I COMMUNICATE with regularly is a CHRISTIAN. And, I love it when you leave COMMENTS!

We are a DISTINCT group. You are very DEPENDABLE in keeping us up to DATE with your lives. We worry when you don't.

And what EXCEPTIONAL people you are. Despite distractions of many kinds, we are an ENERGETIC bunch, and ENTHUSIASTICALLY share our lives with one another.

Oh, I have met some FASCINATING women, some FIESTY, some FANCY and FRILLY...some FUNNY...but all FRIENDLY!

Because of the lives some of us lead, I have been privileged to meet some very GUTSY women. Living true to themselves, in spite of circumstances. GOOD women and GENTLE women...with much to share. Find out more when you read GATHERINGS!

We are a HARDWORKING bunch. Some of you hold full time jobs, run a house, have a family...and still keep up a blog! Kudos to you! We are all in differing stages of life...and dealing with its needs. Almost everyone I have met has pledged total HONESTY in their blog,,,and it shows. It makes me proud, how HELPFUL we can be to each other...always willing to pass along our knowledge to a new blogger...or a not so new one, who is just dumb! (I'm speaking of myself here...HONEST!

How very IMAGINATIVE we are! Just to look at all the names we have given our blogs is such fun! And, the way everyday happenings in our lives can become so INTERESTING...is a sure sign of our INTELLIGENCE...INDEED!

Despite tribulations we all face, we are still JOYFUL! And JOY comes from the Lord.
Some of us can get so JOY filled...we can get downright JAZZY!...but, never JEALOUS or JUDGEMENTAL.

I don't think I have ever read a comment from anyone that was not KIND. I've heard of people being rude and uncaring, but have never seen it personally. I think those of you that I have met are KINDRED spirits. And for those of you with children still at home, I get a real KICK out of some of the KIDDY stories.

Yes, we are a LIVELY bunch, aren't we? LIVING LIFE to the fullest. Tackling head-on those problems that come our way. LOOKING forward to better days.

Speaking for MYSELF, I have been overwhelmed at the friendships I have made. Some very MEMORABLE people, I now call friend. And when I have trouble getting MOTIVATED, I just read your blogs, and I am ready to go again. MANY thanks!

Personally, I think bloggers are the NICEST people of all, don't you? And, there are always NEW bloggers to check out, too. You just never know who you'll hear from NEXT!

I am learning to be more OPEN-MINDED. There is more than one way to look at most situations. I learn daily from your OPTIMISM. Many of you are so clever and ORIGINAL! How do you come up with such?

You have been a POSITIVE influence in my life. And I am PROUD to call you my friends. Why, you are all just tooooo PRECIOUS!

Now I am going to admit this right up front...cause I know it's true! I am a little QUIRKY! But, that has not seemed to make even a QUARTERS worth of difference to you. Thanks!

It amazes me just how RESOURCEFUL you all can be. I am in awe of some of the ways you tackle your problems. I am always learning something new. It is easy to see that you feel a RESPONSIBILITY to your READERS.

It is not SURPRISING to me how very SPIRITUAL most of you are. You seek God's guidance and SUPPORT. You always have a SYMPATHETIC ear...ready to listen.

I am learning to be more THOUGHTFUL in the things I write. I realize that once it is out there...there's no bringing it back. I want to be a TRUSTWORTHY blogger, as I share my TALENTS with you.

We are all UNIQUE! Well, God made us that way, didn't He? You show an amazing capacity to UNDERSTAND others. And, in spite of hardships, you still manage to be UPBEAT. You are UNSELFISH in your concern of others.

You tackle your blogging with such VIGOR! You have become VERY VALUABLE to my life.

I find you WARM, and WISE, and WONDERFUL....and sometime WACKY! I WISH you only good things.

You go the eXtra mile, and are eXtra special to me. I do not need an X-RAY to see your hearts.

YOU have been good to me this year and I thank you. YES, I think YOU are all terrific. You help keep me YOUNG.

I think it's time to pull the ZIPPER on this post, don't you? Hope it wasn't too ZANY for you!

**********************************************************************************
Now, as an added bonus, for those of you who like games...the alphabet graphic at the top of the page comes from 26 famous American brand names. Can you guess them all?

See how many you can tell just by looking. I will have a prize for the first person to get them all correct, and then I will draw for a prize from all the others with correct answers. Good Luck!

Yes, I know I should show a picture here of the prizes, AND...as soon as I find my camera, I will. But, trust me...they are good ones.

EDITED TO ADD: E-mail me the answers ... that way no one can copy off of your paper!

IS IT ME.....OR NOT?

I came across this cool personality test site today, and decided to try it and see just how accurate it was...according to me...since no one knows me better than myself. Except God, of course. I just picture Him shaking His head in dismay, though! But, anyway...I did it, and it takes a while to do...about 30 minutes. I would say that I agree with about 90% of what it said about me. So, maybe I wasn't totally honest in answering all the questions, but I tried to be. Some are just a little confusing...and some are just hard to decide. It is good to do, even if you don't 'buy' the results, because I have never really thought much about where I stand on some of the traits. This causes you to really THINK about yourself. Which can be a good thing or a bad thing...depending on how you feel about yourself. Which, in my case, can vary greatly depending on the way the wind is blowing, or how many clouds are in the sky, or if the sheets on my bed got tangled up or not or how much quality chocolate I have consummed. So, I guess, in essence, what I am saying is, well, I actually don't know for sure WHAT I am saying. I don't even know where I was going with this. I think I have had a brain freeze, or an avalanche of senior moments, or I am just plain loony. Whatever...

Oh, yeah...about the test. Take it or don't....makes no difference...
You can see my results in the brightly colored strip next to my archives...
This may or may not be my personality...
Really only me and God know...
The colors are real pretty though, don't you think?
I think...I need a nap!


Oh,here's where it is

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING #3

How long do you think this gorgeous rose will last in this frost?

I JOINED !

I joined! Yes, I did! Blogoholics Annonymous, that is. And, it is only right that I should since I have become more and more addicited to the bloggy world. When ever something exciting happens to me, actually whenever ANYTHING happens, I immediately start thinking about the best way to blog about it. Do you do that, too?

My friend, Kat, sent me over here to get set up. So, it's out now...I can't hide it any longer...I'm a BLOGOHOLIC!

CELEBRATE SUNDAY

THE INTRUDER

I feel like someone has been pulling this through my body this week! Sound like fun? Well actually, I have passed 3...3!!!!! kidney stones this week! One on Saturday, one on Sunday and another one yesterday! For those of you who have never had the pleasure of birthing one....thank your lucky stars! Because it feels as if you went through childbirth...with no epidural or anything...and you have only a little grain of sand to show for it. Needless to say, I'm not a happy camper. I was not able to go back to school at all, and know this creates a hardship for them. So a heaping pile of guilt on top of the pain. Of course, they understand, and want me to be well. Plus, they know if I was there I'd probably be saying things the children should never hear! Not really!!! I just say that at home! :)

But, I am better! Thank the Lord!

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING #2

Look at the brilliant colors on this tiny robin. God IS the master painter, isn't He?

THAT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING #1

There are so many things in this world that the general population consider beautiful. But, I think beauty is a subjective thing. As different as people are, so are the ideas of beauty. We all see it different...and we are all correct. So, this year, I have decided to post a weekly picture of something that I think is beautiful. I'm a week behind...so look for #2 soon.
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This is an old cottage in Scotland. I would love to see it inside, but to me it is SIMPLY beautiful!

WHERE DID THIS ALL COME FROM?

Doesn't this picture just make you want to scream and run the other way? It does me! The past few days I have been going through all...ALL...my Christmas 'stuff'.We are planning to build a house this year, and I do not want to take anything there that I do not use. So, I'm sorting through EVERYTHING related to Christmas, purging and packing and labelling. This is not really my idea of fun. But, our architect says we will be in by next Christmas, so if I do it now, it won't have to be done then.

I am one of these crazy folks who likes to decorate for every season and holiday. So, I have 'stuff'...lots of 'STUFF'...TOO. MUCH. STUFF. So, my big resolution for the year...wait, I don't want to call it a resolution..that sounds too hard...my GOAL is to sort through and discard as I go along. I did it in the fall, and I'm closing in on Christmas. But, I just can't believe I have all this mess. Now, I have to admit, I am not one to throw away something if there is the remotest possibility that I will need it at any time in the near or distant future. But, of course, I can never can find it when I do need it. I KNOW I have it....just not WHERE I have it.

The biggest problem I have with a project like this, is my ADD. It is so hard for me to keep focused on anything for very long. Well...here I am blogging instead of working right now! It really is hard, as those of you similarly afflicted know. Your mind is not happy in one mode for very long...it needs to move on. I want to stay at it until I finish...I really do, but first thing I know, I'm in another room doing something else not even related.

Well, Don has gotten one of those big trash containers delivered to our house, and he is going to clean out the garage, and we are going to put these things I am packing in there and when it gets time to move, it will just be a matter of moving the organized, labeled boxes full of only the stuff I really want. Sounds great, huh? Only with God's help will it happen. I do have a friend who is going to help and the girl who cleans for me is going to help also. Maybe it is a possibility...we'll see.

I've talked to you friends long enough...I'm going back in....wish me luck!

WHERE THE PATH LEADS

OK, friends...did you take the path? I did!

Click HERE to see what I found! See also http://www.walkinginireland.org/glendalough.

Isn't it nice how our chldren get to visit such wonderful plsces IRL, while we stay home and work so they can???? :) :) Just kidding, Ian! I'm so glad you got the opportunity to do this...BUT who ever taught you such creative trip planning?

Note to friends: Ian DID have an elective class he could take in London during the Christmas break. It was a 3 day class, and by taking it, he will have an easier last sememster in grad school. But, SOMEHOW...his trip turned into an 8 day adventure, when he was 'mysteriously' routed back to the States through Dublin! Strange how things happen like that, isn't it? Always one to make the most out of every situation...Ian just bucked up and did his best to enjoy spending an extra 5 days on the other side of the world. He's real resourceful that way!

THE PATH

I love pictures like this. It leaves so much to the imagination. Where is the path going? What will you find when you get to the end? Will you joyfully go further along the path...or will you turn and come running back? Would you travel the path alone? Or walk it with a friend? Would you even walk it at all...or just stand and look and wonder?

This is a picture Ian took while in Ireland in December. I'll ask him where it leads.....till then...what do you think? What would you hope to find..?

A THOUGHT FOR YOU TO REMEMBER

Have a Blessed Sunday!

THANKS, SON

Just a note to thank my sweet boy, Adam for working with me on the pic for my header. Well, actually, HE did all the work, I just set up the picture, then he tweaked it. Turned out well, don't ya think? We make a pretty good team. Thanks, Adam...I love you!

This pic was made on Christmas Day...I am not still wearing my Santa stuff!

A LITTLE HUMOR

IT'S 2008.....THINK OF 8

I saw this quite a while ago and thought it would be appropriate to do it now, as we begin a new year...It really made me think.

A. Name 8 things you are passionate about:

1.God
2.My husband
3.my boys
4.teaching
5.blogging
6.books
7.art
8.my home

B. Name 8 things you say often:

1."Hey, my friend"
2."What do you want me to pick up for supper?"/"Why don't you pick up something?"
3."Debit"
4."You're just not right!"
5."That's a beautiful thing!"
6."I'm glad you're my______"
7."Now where could I have put that?"
8."I love you more"

C. Name 8 books you would read again:

1.Bible
2.Of Mice and Men
3.To Kill A Mockingbird
4.The Purpose Driven Life
5.Faith Is Not A Feeling
6.The Red Tent
7.I Feel Bad About My Neck
8.The 'PURSE' Driven Life

D. Name 8 songs you never get tired of hearing:

1.You Are My Hiding Place
2.When You Call On Jesus
3.Breath Of Heaven
4.Mary, Did You Know?
5.What A Wonderful World
6.You Light Up My Life
7.You've Got A Friend
8.I Can Only Imagine

E. Name 8 movies you would purchase:

1.Mrs.Potter
2.My Big Fat Greek Wedding
3.Phenomenom
4.Somewhere In Time
5.Fried Green Tomatoes
6.Gone With the Wind
7.Pretty Woman
8.The Shawshank Redemption

F. Name 8 things you hope to do before you die:

1.See Alex get better
2.Write a book
3.Move into our new house
4.Have grandchildren
5.Travel to Europe
6.Have a beach house
7.lose weight
8.Get my closet organized

G. Name 8 Changes you plan to make in 2008:

1.lose weight
2 get rid of clutter and things I don't need
3.do more Bible Study
4.TRY to cook more
5.start writing Pop's book
6.spend more time in my studio...doing the creative thing
7.take a trip with MOM, JOY, DIL, NIECES
8.change my address


Now, how about you? What are your 8 things? I'm not going to tag anyone specifically, but I just know the "B" club will play along. And if you'd like to be considered for entrance into the "B" Club...this would be a good start! Have fun!

WORKING ON BUSH MOUNTAIN

I have been helping Tara, my niece, for the past 2 days. They have moved to Bush Mountain, and it is beautiful! They are going to love living there! Here is a pic of the house. Don't you just love that porch? It goes all the way around the house. They got all their stuff moved in...and then we went to work. We bought new sofa and recliner, new book cases, new rugs for the great room and dining room, things for the bath and kitchen, and decorative accessories. So yesterday, we worked on the bookcases and the kitchen, hanging pictures, etc. Both the rugs had to go back...we got them too small. Don't the book cases look nice? Tara is an avid reader, and has wanted to be able to display her books. Now she can. She and Joy took the rugs back and I haven't seen the new ones yet. Know it is going to look so nice when we finish it. Will says to not look at the yard, his first big job is to get it sodded and build a walkway. He'll have it looking great in no time...if he can stay away from those sweet, innocent deer that live nearby.