It is all in the way you say it

Don't you just love it when a book makes you laugh? I do. I also love the language and the accents that the author gives the characters. I love Irish, Scottish, and English accents. I actually sound pretty good in mind, but when I open my mouth, a southern drawl with a sick lilt comes out. I am only good at a few words and that is reaching.

Popsaroo and BubbaLou are pretty good at obnoxious English accents. We really like to play around with phrases like, "You are sooooo boorish." We call the dog, "Duke Swirly Butt" or "Lord Thomas". We use words like "peasant" and "oaf" and can even be proper when we say "me lady."

So I let out a chuckle when I was reading my current book Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn. It is a historical who-done-it. I just love those! Anyhoo, the main character is named Lady Julia and she is sniffing out a crime with a fellow named Mr. Nicholas Brisbane. She is irritated with Mr. Brisbane and she says, "Brisbane, you are being churlish."
Isn't that great? Churlish, another name we can use for boorish or rude. You can't even say the word churlish unless you say it with an English accent!

How does it sound?

"Popsaroo, you are being churlish." or how about, "BubbaLou, you are being soooo churlish."

I can't wait to use it!

Milestones

I wanted to share the spectacular milestone my daughter, aka BubbaLou has accomplished today. She is so excited about it and has been showing me time after time. In fact, when Popsaroo got home, it was the first thing she showed him. She continued to show us in the truck on the way to MOE's for some dinner, and she even hid behind the truck door to show us one more time before we went inside.

Can you guess???????

She can arm fart!

Have I told you how proud I am(as my eyes roll back in my head and sigh)?

Aahhh!Milestones of childhood. Way to go BubbaLou!

1Sam 1:27 I asked him for this child, and he gave me what I asked for.

Just in case you are wondering about the context of the above scripture, it is the story of Hannah dedicating Samuel to the Lord. But children are children. I prayed for and dedicated BubbaLou to the Lord too! Wonder what she will do when she grows up!?

Too much JOY in her heart

My lil' girl can't make the pitiful face that gets Popsaroo out of lots of trouble. She will almost get it and then she cracks a smile. Her entire face lights up. We tell her she just has too much joy in her heart not to smile. It is the only contest that Popsaroo ever wins.

I picked her up from her first day of school after she had been sick all week with the crud from beyond. Her first words to me were in form of a confession of having her color changed to yellow. She followed the confession up quickly with a demand to stop at the gas station for a doughnut.

She whines in her defense, "Mom, I was just talking, it is what I do! I didn't even get a warning!"
"Yellow is the warning- no gas station doughnut for you!"

As you can imagine, that did not go over well, she was trying to practice a little emotional eating. Now if someone would just stop me from doing the same thing!

I am amazed how cranky one little girl can get when her emotional eating is thwarted. She got mad, slamming things around in the car, and just well, put out! Somehow it became my fault!

"Darling, where is the joy in your heart?"

"I don't have any joy in my heart and I don't want any!" OUCH!

Of course I chose this time to entertain myself and encourage her to do a pitiful face since she had no joy in her heart. I mean it was the perfect time. She might just get it right! She refused. I even told her that is how her Popsaroo gets out of so much trouble. She still refused.

I really wanted to see if she could do it. Sorry, it's a weakness.

Back home and several chicken nuggets later, she starts to perk up, a little. Now she is worrying herself to death over what Popsaroo is going to do when he sees her yellow. I think she was worried about him not having joy in his heart because she made me go over every possible scenario that might occur. Amidst her frenzy we finally made it to swim practice-late.

Do you know that when she climbed out of that cold water, she was a different child? She was! My cranky lil' girl was now in a great mood. I asked her, "Did you get your joy back?"
Holding her towel close around her cold little body, she did some silly little jump and smiled up at me with her whole face as she laughed,"Yes, I have my joy back!"

Oh, Joy!

I've got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart.

I've got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart to stay!

Secret Recipes

I have always had issues with "Secret Recipes." Why is it that people bring these recipes into my presence, adding inches to my already fluffy waistline, and then hit me with,"It's a secret recipe!" How insulting! I can be trusted to eat it, but not to make it? I don't get the logic in that. I guess, they just want to be the only person in the world that is allowed to deliver that taste to my taste buds. What am I supposed to do when they are not around? Sit around in awe of their secret recipe thinking of how grand they are because they can make it and I can't? As far as I am concerned, if it is that secret, then don't let me eat it. It is just not fair!

I promise that I will never hold back a "secret recipe" from anyone. As far as I am concerned, if I am not selling it, what does it really matter? Recipes are to share, to bring joy, to make taste buds happy-that is why they invented the recipe swap!

I have some recipes to share, but they are not just for food-why limit myself??

Recipe for a fun afternoon with your daughter
1 mom
1 daughter-may add more to taste
1 hour shoe shopping(you both have to buy shoes)
30 minutes in the pet store looking at bunnies, hamsters, and rats! Oh my!
20 minutes in the dollar store picking out snacks that will fit in your purse.
1 large movie size coke
1 1/2 hours in the movie of your choice- we liked this one
Fast food of your choice on the way home.
Mix together with smiles and laughter.


Recipe for delousing a bad hair situation- by popular demand.

This recipe is for all of you out there that can't stand these and have small children- it is safe without any pesticides that can cause your face to swell up and create breathing problems like they do for me.
1st step
shampoo-preferably one that has tea tree oil and/or eucalyptus oil in it.
white vinegar
olive oil
Mix in equal amounts and place directly on dry hair. This will foam up beautifully. Choose your favorite color of saran wrap and wrap the hair tightly with it. Please be careful and make it like a hat so that it can not droop down over their face and suffocate them. Keep your child in site, and let them wear it for at least an hour or more if possible while all those nasty things die. Then rinse your child's hair and watch how many go down the drain.

2nd step
Place your child in a high stool(it will save your back) in front of the TV and under a good light.

place a small amount of conditioner on their hair
have some white vinegar in a spray bottle
small container of water to rinse the comb in-you won't believe what ends up in here, and it makes a great science lesson.

Separate their hair into sections and start nit-picking. Use a fine comb-a good metal one made just for this-and comb away. You may have to use your fingernails to remove some of the nits, but the vinegar will help them come off. Rinse hair.

3rd step
Wash linen, vacuum, and put the stuffed animals in the dryer or bag them up for 14 days. Oh, and these things hate the heat, so blow dry your child's hair every day. You can repeat this treatment everyday if you want. Your child's hair will look great!

4th step
Take your child out for a fun afternoon. They deserve it!

That is enough for you to digest for now, we don't want you to get a stomach ache! Hopefully, you won't need that second recipe!

A SuperDylan SHOUTOUT

Dylan has started his last and 6th round of chemo today. This one is more tricky and will involve a stem-cell transfer that may take 4-7 weeks. In isolation. People, he is 5 years old.

Let's send him some LOVE Internet style!

This is no time to lurk, so join with me in sending Dylan good tidings!

You can send comments to him via his SuperDylan site-just hit the contact tab in the top right hand corner. There is also an address for his hospital room on the home page.

If you have no idea what I am talking about, go to the SuperDylan site and educate yourself on this wonderful little boy and his family. I grew up laughin' with his mama! So get to readin' and prayin' and sendin' some love!

Psalms 66:19 But God has indeed heard me; he has listened to my prayer.

Who said, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend?"

Dogs are! Dogs are a girl's best friend! I know for a fact that dogs are a girl's best friend. That is, if you have the right dog.

You must have a dog that loves you, adores you, and plays with you. That dog will want to cuddle with you when you are sick. That dog will eat your last saltine cracker, even if it is all you can hold down. Why? Because he loves you and your saltine cracker (the best saltine cracker he has ever had).

If you have ever been loved by a dog, you know what great medicine it is for that dog to sit on your lap, to refuse to go outside (except for business only), and to never leave your side while you are ailing! The dog will even finish your chicken noodle soup! Come on,Y'all! His mom taught him to lick his plate clean!!!


When you are loved by a dog, he will follow you around as you make trips from the couch to the bathroom. He will watch all your Barbie and Holly Hobby movies right beside you, because you are sick. He will even lay on your blankets, and let you cover him up with a bright red cape, no joke!(Sorry no pic, believe me, I am wishin' I had grabbed the camera.)

When you are well, he will be ready to play again. He will camp with you, right in your very own tent, that you built in your room.

Dogs truly are a girl's best friend!

"You have never been loved by no earthly creature until you've been loved by a dawg."

~Jerry Clower

Fashion-A dogs perspective

Our dog is our Supermodel for 2007 and 2008. He gladly wears Haley's fashions designed just for him. He is patient and gentle when it comes to multiple wardrobe changes. He is always open to new trends and colors. He trusts Haley to come up with the most sought after fashion in the industry. However, not everything has been a fashion hit. So my daughter and I have compiled a list of fashion dos and don'ts for dogs everywhere. So if you have a mutt, pay close attention, and you can have a stylin mutt.


Fashion Do
Tommy cocoa models
the suede jacket that
is a must for trendy
dogs every where.
The jacket is warm
with its faux fur lining
and collar.


Fashion Do
Texas Tom models stone washed denim jeans with a
stylin pink suede cowboy hat. Not every pooch can carry
off denim.

Fashion Do

Thommytopia carries off these pink glittery wings with style. Perfect for every little girl and her dog. Thommytopia fairy wings will bring a magical dog into your living room. Your dog will seem to glide across the floor(especially if they are wood floors.)




Fashion Do

Everydog looks good all dressed up.

Thomasina is very fetching in red velvet, sure to turn many an eye. A short sleeved red dress is also perfect for less formal occassions but remains very festive. A pink sweater and tafeta skirt is perfect for school or church. Pretty as a little rose. Just make sure that your dog is not planning to play rough or in the mud while wearing such fine attire.

Warning: Do not let your dog take care

of business while wearing such finery.

Fashion Don't

Thomasummer doesn't pull this sundress off well. It is currently being worn backwards, which tends to be rather revealing when wearing a sundress.

Fashion Do If your dog is planning to dress up in seasonal attire, please make sure the entire costume is available. Dressing up as Rudog requires a red nose. Be sure to provide a bright red nose and maybe your dog will sing along.

Fashion Don't

Unless your dog is starring in a movie as Frau Thomasina or Thommyanna, that requires him to be in costume, these looks are not recommended.

Wishing you the best style for you pooch in '08. If you have any fashion questions you can leave comments for Haley. She is our fashion designer for Thomas, our good humored, fashionable pooch!

It's the Simple Things

Have you ever wondered why it is the simple things in life that can make or break your day? I love to look back at my day and remember the simple things that made me stop, even if for a second, and thank the Good Lord above for these simple details that made my day!


Haley and I were on our way to and from swim practice the other day and we actually saw a handful of simple things that just tickled us pink! The first was this lazy cat, taking a nap on the very top of the roof. We even turned the car around and pulled up and took its picture. We were a few moments late for swim, but it was for a simple thing that mattered.

On the way home that night, we saw Pepe the little baby donkey that lives in the pasture behind the pool. He is so cute and we look for him every time we pass by. Two girls were feeding and petting him. I would have pulled over and taken a picture, but their bikes were in the way and I had someone behind me. Closer to our house we saw a dog running along beside a bull, like they were the best of friends. I love to watch the relationships between animals-they can truly be friends. When we pulled up to the house, the sky was very pretty. I was just able to take a deep breath and relax knowing that God had His hands on everything. My camera doesn't do it justice, but God's watercolors are amazing.

What was my simple thing for today, you ask? My daughter's art. Yes, we had come home from church and she had been playing in the yard. I went to put some clothes in the dryer, and out of the corner of my eye, through the window, I spied her art. Her yard art. Her rural yard art. It made me smile and laugh! Who knew she had it in her for such modern expressions art?

The collage of yard tools- by Haley

Ecc 7:29 This is all that I have learned: God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated.

Elvis

I got an iPod nano for Christmas. I am really enjoying it and I think I have a little bit of everything on it. I even have some Elvis! My husband had brought me home an Elvis gospel collection CD about a year ago. I did a little rip/synch and now I can listen to Elvis on my very own iPod. I wonder what Elvis would have thought of the iPod?

Elvis' birthday was yesterday, I got to thinking about how his life was so changed by fame and fortune. I saw an interview on TV last night that was done right before he got famous, he was just getting his feet wet and about to blow the top off. He said that he didn't smoke, he didn't drink, and although he wasn't in love and did not have a girlfriend he was looking forward to finding someone, that no matter where he was, he wouldn't feel lonely. He wanted a home, a family-that he would never leave.

Then he got famous, and not just any famous, he was ELVIS. He was placed on such a throne of popularity that many women and probably men too, worshipped him. He recorded several gospel albums, and was supposedly saved. I hope so, I think that he must of gotten so mixed up in the fame and fortune that Satan had a really good time with him. Rolling Stone wrote: "Gospel pervaded Elvis' character and was a defining and enduring influence all of his days."[22] During breaks at recording sessions or after concerts, Presley often joined in private with others for informal gospel music sessions.[23]

I wonder how much of a witness he really was. He made an impression with Rolling Stone, he must have made an impression with the guys he was playing with in those informal gospel music sessions. I bet that was a way God kept calling to Elvis, the draw to play in those impromptu sessions. It was Elvis' little grasp of Jesus in the midst of the madness of fame that he could not stop.

He certainly ruined his life with a list that is too long to name, and fell short of the plans that God must have had for him.Yet we still remember that with all the sin, we think he loved God. At least I do. I kinda hope God just took him home early since he made such a mess out of his life.

It makes me really think we should be careful, be accountable, and pray for those in the celebrity positions. When I asked my daughter who she wanted to pray for she said, "Brittany Spears and Lindsay Lohan" -Out of the mouths of babes! I am going to try to do that this year. Instead of passing judgement or shaking my head, I will pray. Those people are in a crazy mixed up world; some are adults, some are children.

Join with me this year to pray for those who you know need it in Hollywood -God sees them just as people, not movie or music stars. He knew them before He formed them in their mother's womb.

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Psalm 146:3-4

Goodbye Fat Charley

Fat Charley has left the building! Yes, it is true, Fat Charley was sadly undressed of all of our precious Christmas ornaments, the snowflakes, the angel(Beth) on top, the garland, and the lights. We are sad to see him go, we grew fond of him through all his hard times falling over in the floor. My daughter, who had reservations from the start and wanted another tree, asked, " Why do we have to get rid of Fat Charley?" Why, oh why? Maybe, because Fat Charley had no roots and no good soil to sustain him past this Christmas season. Thank goodness our roots can not be cut! If we are rooted in the Lord, our Lord will feed us living water! I am so grateful for that!

Rom 11:18 ... You are just a branch; you don't support the roots---the roots support you.

Once Fat Charley was out of the house, I swept up two full dustpans of Fat Charley's needles. Poor Fat Charley, he was going bald. How embarrassing!

Haley's 1st Snow Day

Haley just got her very first snow day! Right here in Tampa Bay, she got a snow day from swim! Okay, okay, that is not real snow in her hair, it is foam snow from the Santa booth in the mall. It was the closest thing I had of her in the snow. It is not snowing right now, nor has it, but it is COLD for us! I won't tell you how cold it is here because all of you up North would just laugh and call us wimps. We even had to turn the heat on and people have covered up their plants. We are wearing house shoes and sweats and the dog is wearing a coat!!!!

Haley has been trying to convince me not to make her go to swim today because it has been so cold. I told her they would probably just work out of the water today but I could tell that plan wasn't selling. She wanted no swim. We finally got a call saying that the coach has cancelled for today. She was relieved and excited. I looked at her and said,"You just got your first snow day! How does it feel?" She replied with a big whoop after I spent a minute explaining about getting out of school when it snowed and how excited we would be.

I've got to take her to see some snow next year, it just isn't fair she has no snow to play in! When we were at the Santa booth, Haley and her friends were playing in the little bit of foam snow falling. There was just a small amount of this snow on the floor and they were making snow angels! Florida snow, seems to be lacking a bit! But a Florida snow day from swim is still the bomb!

Look out 2008, Here I Come

Ahhh! The first day of 2008 started out with a backache, burnt pancakes, and a grumpy attitude. It got better after pumpkin pancakes(that were not burned), a glass of tea, and some ibuprofen. Then it was time for the black-eyed peas, ribs, and chicken. I got to make Memphis magic dust and prepared the ribs and chicken for the oven. Slow cooked and yummy. I don't cook them very often, but they are good when I do! My husband and I had decided that dessert was not necessary, my daughter had other thoughts. She decided a cake was needed and brought the box to me as we were finishing dinner. Why not? So a carrot cake we made as we sipped on hot cocoa with plenty of whipped cream and marshmallows.

I lived it up today, but no more. No more eating like Santa Claus, tomorrow we eat healthy! We can not eat like Santa 365 days of the year. My husband is siked, my daughter is not so pleased-more like insulted that we would include her in the healthy habit. Too bad.

Even though I ate like Santa today, I did start a healthy habit for 2008. I started the Engage the Journey Bible Study online, a chronological read through the Bible for 2008. I sat down and started reading Genesis 1,2, &3 and I felt so much calmer. I think this will be very fun and challenging, especially since I plan to do Beth Moore's Patriarchs Bible study starting Jan 15. Hmmm, homework might be quite the challenge. Oh well, sounds like I will have plenty of reading material that will only change my life for the better. Look out 2008, here I come!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

Our family has shed many tears this past year, but we did a lot of smiling and laughing too! We allowed the Lord to show us His mercy and His blessings this past year as we lost several dear family members and a few good friends. We have felt honored by the people that He has placed in our lives in 2007 to help us along the way. We look forward to the lives that we will touch and that will touch us in 2008. May your year be blessed.

This was from a Christmas card my mom got from my Aunt Dot, I really loved the message. I thought, "Wow, how beautiful! This is a good guide for us in 2008."

God gives us breath that we may sing.

God gives us all the earth that we may plant faithful gardens.

God gives us the promise of His second coming

that we may dance even in the rain.