Mornin' to All! Had a beautiful weekend, very relaxing but yet somehow managed to get a lot of work done around the house & yard too, very satisfying! A sugar maple died in our front yard 3 or so years ago, had it cut down last winter (better than fall down), and chopped up for firewood. Late yesterday afternoon went to Lowe's and got a white dogwood and a 'firebush', came home and planted both of them. The area is a small, square-shaped section between my split-rail fence and the mailbox and we are going to mulch that in tonight so we don't have to drag the mower out there. There's already a forsythia from my grandmother's house in the square too. I think the colors are going to work out good, the yellow forsythia, white dogwood and the firebush is an evergreen that turns red, obviously, in the fall with red berries over the winter for the birds! Oh the joys of homeownership. . . always something to do!

We did go to the youth rally Saturday nite, very good service but attendance was very disappointing, about 37 there, half of which were adults. . . oh well, it is the first county-wide and already planning a second one in July sometime. The praise and worship team was fantastic as was the youth preacher, he spoke right to the kids on their level and stuff they are facing today with mixed families, peer pressure and difficulties at school. It was very good, even for us 'older' teenagers.

Michele ^ glad to hear the job is great. . . sounds like this one was hand-picked for you and fits you exceptionally well! A job is always so much better when it's something you enjoy doing and can look forward to. Sounds like things are also going well with Eric. I can't image being a golf instructor and having allergies, - seems like that would be a difficult combination. Just don't overwork yourself with the two jobs - be sure and take some time for yourself too!!!

EZ ^ loved the XTRA large planter, - I presume this is for veggies??? and lots of 'em! Really enjoyed the pics of your DD, Angie (with or without make-up, she looks a little aggravated at you, perhaps for not helping weed?) and your GLS <gorgeous looking son>. Angie's roses look beautiful. Roses are VERY difficult to grow and I just don't have the yard for them, - too much shade.

SunnyD ^ I also LOVE your graphics!!! Please don't stop unless it's just too time consuming. Congrats on the 12.25 mi post since 4/1. I have also started keeping track since I'm walking at lunch now too but you beat me last week, I only have 9.8 mi to post since 4/1. You must be feeling really good with the sunshine as you have been much more active and posting a lot more. . . way to go, keep it up for more and more 'good' days!

mnewton ^ AMEN! can I also add PTL! Continued prayers for Channon's recovery and healing. What else is keeping you busy these days?

MrsSmiley ^ We have also had a beautiful week, weather-wise and suppose to be another beautiful day today. I had windows open all last night and the ceiling fan on! First night so far this year. I love to sleep with the windows open. I also love your devotions but would you please get off MY toes? Some spoke directly to me and I thank you for that, - I needed it! (Just don't step so hard!)

momof10 ^ bless you girl. 10 children! I would have loved to have had a house full myself but can't do it alone. One alone is enough and I am VERY blessed with the one I've got. I'm sure your ten are ALL a blessing to you, I can't help but think of "Cheaper by the Dozen", perhaps this is your household also???

I understand your concerns about 'emotional eating', the first step you have already accomplished by recognizing that you are an emotional eater. Now you have to come up with some ways to divert your attention when those emotional situations arise, that's a good second step. And always FROG (Fully Rely On God), pray and pray when you are having those tough emotional times that you don't go for the groceries. Hang in there and keep us posted! Welcome!!!

SAMI ^ Hello & welcome back! Prayers for a happy, healthy baby for your DD. I also, like Sunny, want to know how you lost those 35 pounds! Keep it up and keep us posted as you can!

Wilma ^ sounds like the new job has been keeping you extra busy with a lot to learn. Hang on, it won't be too much longer and you'll be like an old pro! I'm sure you have outperformed what was expected of you in this short of time anyway. We'll be here, waiting to hear all the good results of your check-up and BP on Thursday.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday and enjoying the blessings of our Lord - Margie

Happy Monday Everyone!! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. We were quite busy this weekend. On Friday night my sisters and my cousins came over and we just all hung out, put some meat on the grill and had a nice dinner and a movie. My husband had to work really late so they came over to keep me and the kids company. It was alot of fun. Then Sat. morning had to take the 9 year old and the 2 year old to tap practice. They had a lot of fun. Then I had to get balloons and set up for my mom's 50th birthday party. I gave her a suprise b-day party and she loved it. She thougth I was taking her out to dinner. So I told her that I had to go get some money from my husband at my mother-in-laws house. So we went there and I told her she had to come in and say hello. Well, when she walked in the house was full of people and was decorated so nicely. She was so surprised she started to cry. We had it fully catered with a fajita bar. It was delicious! So the party ended around midnight. Then Sun. morning I had to teach at the 9:30 service. I teach the 2-3 year olds. They were so busy this Sunday! It was very interesting. Then I came home and put some chicken on the grill and made a nice salad for dinner. Then it was off to our cell group at 4pm. Pretty busy this weekend. Actually it is busy every weekend! I really couldnt sleep last night because I was so nervous about my interview today. The entire interview process is 4 hours long. I meet take assessment tests from 1:00-2:45 then meet with the Seach Committee from 2:45-3:45. Then meet with the Director from 3:45-4:30. Wow, I have never been in an interview that was so complex. Well, just please keep me lifted up today.

Margie B- Sounds like you were busy doing alot of gardening. I alwasy wished I could garden because I love plants and flowers. I tried but to no avail. My plants looked horrible. Oh well, I can always go and buy some I guess. Well, I stay really busy with the kids. Tap classes, library, play dates, and then working. I cant really post that much because I dont have a computer at home so I post at work when I have some time. Sorry to hear about the turn out for the youth group. Sometime it just takes a little time for the word to get out. I will be praying for more teens for your July event. Sounds like there was some good teaching going on though. That is always a blessing when we can reach the youth.

SunnyD - Congrats on the 12.25 miles!! You are doing a great job! Thank you so much for waving that beautiful weather my way. We had beautiful days all weekend long. It is really nice out today too! Keep on waving, hope your arms dont get tired!!!

Momof10-Welcome!!! You have definitely come to the right place! Ten children??!! Wow, I admire you! I have 3 and am ready to pull my hair out sometimes. You have to have a gift to be able to handle that many children. God bless you!! I am glad you are here. Keep posting when you can I know you must be pretty busy. Especially with a 2 year old. So where about do you live? I live in Kent, WA. Me, my husband and my 3 kids - 1 9 year old boy and 1 2 year old girl and a 1 year old girl. Yep, pretty busy myself!! Well, welcome again.

EZ - looks like you are doing great with your new home. I enjoyed all of your pics of your wonderful family. Keep them coming!

MrsSmiley - thank you so much for the devotionals. They are so what I needed!

Sami - Congratulations on the weight loss!! I am also curious about how you lost 35lbs. That is wonderful!! Keep up the great work and let us in our your little secrets!!

Michelle - Sounds like you fit right in with your new job. That is fantastic!! You know when God has something for you, it always is a perfect fit!! It also sounds like your friend is keeping you very happy. That is great that you are going to church together. It is always nice to have someone around that treats you well. Sounds like he is the real deal!!

Well gotta get back to work so I can leave early today. I will post soon and tell you how the interview went.
Blessings to you all!!

HI GALS

Hi ladies, taking a few minutes after dinner before Angie and I go walk the dogs.

SUNNY No, that wasn't my back yard....just one side where I have my storage bin and keep drywall ladders and gear...am sending you pictures of the rest of my yard...WHY?...Because I CAN!!! ssoooo proud of myself for learning how!!!!!

First picture is one side where we keep the dogs in their run and 3 of the original 6 planter boxes...second pic. is the back yard and the third pic. is the side with the new planter box, the fourth pic. is of Rylee when she was "CUTE"!....right now she is barking at Reba for stealing her bone...not so cute!!!

SUNNY OF COURSE you get the BBQ sauce on the side at Red Robin...I could tell you have manners....I know you wouldn't be caught "dead" in public holding a bunless burger with BBQ sauce dripping down your hand That's a date dear...Angie and me, you and Joe...of course you might have to come to Washington...but then we will have a guest room.

Angie is going to try and come up with pictures of the jackets she designed for the play.

Oh, as you can see...the new planter box is behind the fence...as long as the "big" people close the gate we will be OK...as you remember the furry ones ate ALL the old crop!! in the other planters

So glad to see you out and about....I know you are right about the T-mill...3 miles on land is much harder than on the T-mill...but ANY exercise is better than NONE!! Keep on truckin'!

SHERRY I am so glad I am not the only one that tunes into those stupid TV shows in the afternoon...usually for me it is in the winter when it is too chilly to go out after work. Angie has most of her roses in the front yard...the dogs don't have access there unless we are with them...she has about 8 in the back yard...they "stole" a white rose the other day!!

Well, off to walk the dogs....I shall return............

MARGIE Good to see you out enjoying the spring! Don't get too disappointed about the turn-out....look at it like.."WOW" 37 turned out...if we just add half of that each time we won't be able to hold 'em all! I used to be Chairman of the Board of Christian Life at our church for many years...we used to have a pizza/bowling night that drew up to 75 people EVERY time...well one night I went to the pizza place and NO ONE was there...we had reserved 10 tables as always...humm....waited at the bowling alley and at the time for bowling 2 people showed up...they said they went to pizza too but no one was there...so they waited in the bowling alley parking lot the hour and half for the bowling...no ryme or reason why no one came...the next time we had it 75 people showed up...go figure.

My nephew picked out strawberries, corn, zucchini, acorn squash, cherry tomatoes, basil, oregano, shallots, rosemarry and roma tomatoes for his garden. Not sure how things will grow on that side of the yard.

Angie has about 8 rose plants in the back, 8 in the front side yard and about 12 in the front yard...most of them do pretty well, she did re-plant a few a week ago because of the shade factor.

MNEWTON I loved it when my daughter took tab/ballet and jazz...many years ago...in fact I am a year "OLDER" than your mom...ouch!! ...A fajita bar and I wasn't invited?? Boy am I bummed My son graduated college last year and will earn his teaching credential in a month or so...my daughter graduates college this year ..so at the end of May we are having a party for them both...menu?...FAJITA BAR!!! and of course you ARE invited

The new house should be finished around the end of this month...I will send more pictures of it if we take some when we do our walk through with the builder.

Well I think I am caught up on the posts....

My neice is getting married this week-end...here...my sis, brother in law and other family members will be around here soon...may slow down my posting...LUCKY YOU!!!!!!!!!

It's another dreary, rainy day here. At least it's not snowing!! The sun is supposed to come out tomorrow so another cloudy day. My mood is kind of matching the weather too. I made a mistake at work by forgetting to do something really important. It made me feel dumb and that I might not be able to do this job. I did evaluate the situation last night and realize that's the only thing that went wrong and not to beat myself up about it. I'm still a little depressed about it. I tend to hurry too much and then end up paying for it by forgetting important steps. Please pay for me memory!! Today is a new day and I love the FROG comment that was posted about Fully Relying on God because that's what I'm learning to do.

Gary: Thanks for the pics. It's nice to see where you live. Roses blooming? We just lost all of our snow and have another month before anything blooms. Have fun at the wedding!!

mnewton: What a fun, great thing for you to do for your mom. Sounds like it was a lot of fun!

Margie: Don't be discouraged about the turnout. If any of the kids that came out had their lives changed then it was worth it. Once word gets out about how great these evenings are the numbers will go up.

Sue: How are you doing? I also appreciate the devotionals you and Sprout post here. I need that in the a.m.

Hello to everyone else. Have a great day! I'm off to work.

Good Morning CEers!!!!

How is everyone this morning? It's a beautiful morning in central Texas with the sun gracing the landscape with it's presence. Ahh! The birds are singing, life is just waking up. I love mornings!

Well, my iron demon says I am losing some and I was supposed to go today to WI (I live an hour away) but will not today. My friend and I that are doing it together has to work on her day off today due to a funeral. And I don't want to go today and then have to go again later in the week for a meeting. So, I guess I will wait. Who knows maybe I will lose even more by that time! I'm walking on the treadmill, walking other ways and softball, so I'm moving more and more these days. I got 2 miles in yesterday.

Gary~ Glad to hear you have those beautiful roses out of reach or should I say out of "bite" from the dogs. What are you planting in your new <a style='text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 3px double;' href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=24&k=planter%20box" onmouseover="window.status='planter box'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">planter box</a>? Veggies, did I hear? We planted our corn, okra, cucumbers, carrots, turnips, several types of tomatoes and several types of peppers, brussel sprouts, lettuce, watermelon, canteloupe of yellow squash, regular green zucchini and a newer version of yellow zucchini. Doesn't it sound good about July now?? I love those fresh veggies!!! Good luck with the wedding this weekend. And all the company. You better sneak away and post every now and then, NO EXCUSES!!!

MNewton~Your weekend sounds busy but ahhh so much fun. I miss those family weekends so very much. My parents are gone now and I live 750 and 900 miles from my brother and sister. We have no family here except an elderly aunt and uncle that are in very poor health. He is in the last stages of Parkinson's (Memory gone) and she is fighting lung cancer.
I hope your interview went well yesterday. Wow, that is a long drawn out one! I'm sure you did well. It's just the doing it part that's hard. I always loved teaching the 2/3 yr olds. They are the cutest and eagerest to learn at that age. That's before they get too much attitude. Let us hear from you.

MargieB~I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to step on your toes. Just kidding. It stepped on my toes too. We live in such a busy world this day in time and sometimes, I feel that I don't give the Lord near the time I should. I think if I He treated me like I treat Him, I would be so sad. Ouch! But the Dieter's Devotional gives me strength and a different prospective. I am trying to do better.

Sunny~ I so enjoy your graphics, too but I probably won't do very many unless I have a day with more time. I seem to have so much on my platter these days. Look forward to see "ME" in hot pink.

Hope EVERYONE has a GREAT Tuesday!!! Hello to Michele ~ Wilma ~ Sami ~ Sue ~ MKay ~Everyone ELSE!