By God's Grace ....

By God's Grace .... and so thankful that my family was not hit by the trouble tornados that hit last week, April 27th.  A day I will never forget.   A tornado did hit my  hometown of, Ringgold, GA.  It caused mass destruction in our small town. 

I have seen so many news cast of places that tornados have destroyed, and I always felt for those people and said a prayer.  But until you actually witness one coming through your town, it just isnt' the same.  The pictures really don't do the devestation justice. 

Since, Wednesday night, I have prayed, cried, my heart has ached and I have just been plain numb.  I still can't believe that this has happened to us.  In all my 46 years, I have never experienced anything like this .. and pray that I never go through this again. 

I am not sure how many homes it destoyed in its path or businesses.  But I do know that it destroyed the high school and middle school that my kids attend and that I went too.  We have three high schools in our county and one of them is taking our students in for the rest of the school year.  We are going half a days.  It also destroyed our athletic facilities .. football field, wrestling/cheerleading building, athletic building and the baseball field.  My sons  played on that field - and one still does.  We are in the state playoffs and get to host the first series, but we don't get to play on our own field.  Thank goodness one of the other high schools in our county is letting us use theirs. 

That is one thing that I have gotten out of all this tradegy and it has been most amazing.  That even though we are country rivals and I mean rivals, we can all pull together in the mist of trouble.  Our coach has had numbers calls from other high schools in our region offering and sending us money, equipment and most important support.  It has really warmed my heart and of course, brought tears to my eyes.  It reminds me of my sisters growing up ... we can talk bad about them .. even hate them .. but don't let anyone or anything happen to them. 

There are so many stories that are coming out now ... survivors.  Of how wonderful  our Lord is ... at how he can put a tornado right over a house, but the people come out of ruble to talk about their experience.   Of how, people in the Ruby Tuesday's are living to tell their stories.  Unfortunally, not everyone was as lucky as some ... we did loose 8 people in this tornado, but we are so lucky that we did not loose more.   The tornado not only went over houses, but it also destroyed McDonald's, Ruby Tuesdays, Pizza Hut, Waffle House, 3 gas stations and 4 hotels.   People were stopping on our exit off I-75 to weather the storm .. little did they know at the time that they were in the path of the storm. 

You know .... there are so many lessons to be learned from all of this .... one is that we need to make sure we are saved and know where we are going and to make sure we are right with God, because in a blink of an eye we could be gone.  Also, that need to tell our loved ones that we Love Them!!!  We may not have a second chance to do that ....

I just want to finish with ... "Thank you Jesus" for protecting me and my family!!  For bringing out all kinds of support from people to help others in need.  It has been life changing experience.  One that we will never forget and it will forever change us .. for the better "I hope". 

Ladies Tea ..

I had a wonderful time yesterday at my sister's church for the annual Ladies Tea.   What a blessing .... 

From left:  Haley (my niece), Mary (my daughter), Lisa, Wanda, Wanda, Millie (my mom)

Ladies hosted a table and decorated their tables.  There were some really pretty tables and no two were alike. My sister decorated her table with frogs ...  Fully Rely On God = FROG!! 

The food was amazing - no matter what my daughter says. 

It was a really nice time spent with family & friends.  Thank you to my sister for inviting me and Mary. 



Mary, my daughter and Me


The best part of the Ladies Tea was the speaker.  Oh!  What a blessing that was .. more than I can put into words.  The speakers name is Linda Hicks and she has an amazing singing voice too!!  What a gift this lady has .. she will have you laughing and crying all at the same time.  She spoke yesterday on "Blooming where God has planted you!"  I have never thought about this, but I am now.

My sister's Frog table

I am hoping that the church taped the message because it is one that I would love to listen over and over and I would love to take some notes.  I just wasnt' thinking yesterday to take some paper & pen to take notes.  I really missed that one ...

The flowers she used to talk about was:

1- The African Violet - it  is a flower that you will bloom no matter what the circumstances is it growing in.  Whether is doesnt' get watered or it gets buried in the ground.  It still blooms.  This one doesn't need all the glory that goes with it.  Do you bloom for God no matter if anyone pays attention to you?

2- The Orchard - This flower blooms for weeks and never fades.  The bloom doesn't wither away for the time that it is blooming.  It will hold true.  Do you keep going in your walk with God?

3- The Rose - Now this flower is the most gorgeous and it grows among thorns.  Enough said on this one .. Do you bloom no matter what your circumstances are?  With whatever your thorns are?

A table at the Ladies Tea

The best part was her speaking about the Sunflower and how the roots of this flower grows way down into the ground to get it's nourishment's.  And when a storm hits the Sunflower may fall over, but with time, it will stand back up, because it's roots go deep.  You can't kill a bloom when the roots are buried deep.  That is what our lives should be ... that no matter what storm is hitting ... and a storm will hit .. that our roots are deep in God's word that we can with stand the storm.

Another table at the Ladies Tea

Do you have roots that are on top of the ground or are your roots deep into the ground?  The way to get your roots deep is by getting into the Word of God.  Don't let your bloom wither away during a storm.  Don't let the storms in life kill your flower!!!  Keep blooming for God!!  Are you "Blooming Where God has you Planted?" 

Well, I am still here ... just been busy.  The new job with the concession stand is going better.  It was overwhelming at first but it is getting better.  I am getting a handle on the whole process.  We, the board, just has a difficult situation that needs to be taken care of .. it is never easy.  

Good news though .. I have lost another pound.  YEA!!  I was afraid with working in the concession and being around all the bad food that I would gain.  I guess all the walking and being on my feet is helping.   I am planning on taking me some "good" food with me.  I am working 4 nights and Saturday ...so I will need to do something. 

I havent' had a lot of time to do anything for me; such as cleaning house, doing the WII or me time.   But I have decided this week that I can't work ALL the time.   I have to find a balance in my life for everything.  It isn't easy, but I have to do it or I will go insane.   So, this week, I am only doing so many hours as my "work time". 

I am interested to see how others handling so many different things.  How do you do it?  Working from home and still managing to run your house too.  Of course, it could be the problem of me having too many part time jobs ... you think? 

What Faith Can Do- Kutless w/lyrics

When searching for Strong Tower, I found this song.  This is another amazing song .... the words are so true!!

Hope this song will BLESS you as much as it has me

Strong Tower (Kutless)

Crazy life ....

Just when I thought that my life couldn't possible get any crazier ... well it has. 

Just being a mom and wife isnt' enough for me .. oh no.  Like being a mom and wife doesn't come with enough jobs and duties of their own.  I also drive a school bus.  Which I love .. it is the perfect job for a mom.  You get to be off from work when school is out.  but ....

I have also taken on some other part time jobs, because I like keeping busy and I want to get out of debt.  One part time job I have is doing bookkeeping work for our local recreation association.  This doesnt' require alot of hours and I really like doing it.  However, now the rec. has voted me in as treasurer.  So, my bookkeeping duties have now multiplied.  So, it is going pretty well. Oh yea, this job I don't get paid for .. I volunteer those hours. 

Another thing I love doing and right now not making any money at it is ... blogging.  I would love to one day make money doing this, but for now, I am loving just blogging.  I haven't gotten to blog as much lately as I would like, but I am hoping that I will get my schedule under control and be able to blog more. 

Like this isn't enough ... I have another job and I have undertaken this past week.  I am now over the concession stand at our local rec.  The lady that was doing it quit on us and right before our spring season, which is our busiest.  Oh my gosh .. what was I thinking?  I have spent the week trying to get things organized, cleaned and figure out what needs to be done.  It is coming together, but out league play starts this coming Monday.  I hope that I am ready for this ... I do love a good challenge. 

So, if I dont' get to blog as much you will know why and know that I havent' stopped, I am just probably going crazier than I am now.  I am hoping in doing this last job that I will be able to make enough to really put a big dent into our debt.  I am excited about that.  I was going to put it all towards our debt, but I think I am going to divide it into thirds.  First being debt - second put some away for a small vacation this summer (we haven't had one in about 3 yrs) and then third to get somethings done around the house that we have been putting off due to not having any extra money.   But the first and foremost the extra money is going to my debt snowball. 

Even though my life is crazy right now .. I am very thankful that God has given me these opportunities to be able to make the extra money that I have so been praying for.  God does answer prayers .. sometimes they are not what we were thinking. 

One last thing ... I have lost 3 pounds in my weight loss journey.  I am loving doing the WII fit plus. It is a lot of fun.  I am hoping with this working the concession stand I will be able to loss some more weight.  I will be doing a lot of standing and walking.  Now .. just to stay away from the junk food. 

Hope you all have a great weekend!!! 

Pretzel Congealed Salad

This is a really yummy dessert!!  It is really simple to make!!  ENJOY!!!

1:  Crust:  1 cup crushed pretzels
                1/2 cup melted butter
                3 Tbsp of sugar

Mix together and press into bottom of dish & bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  Let cool.

2:  Mix:  1 - 8oz cream cheese
              1 cup sugar
              1 small 8oz cool whip

Spread over crushed pretzels when cooled.

3:  Topping:  1 lg box strawberry jello
                    1 pkg. frozen strawberries

Mix jello with 2 cups of boiling water and 1/2 cup cold water.  Fold in strawberries.  Refrigerate until 1/2 chilled and then spread on top of cream cheese then refrigerate until good chilled.