The Internet is a Good Thing

I have been reading over some of my posts and your comments, and thinking about the comments I have left on blogs. I've said it before but it's worth repeating. The internet is an incredible tool. The way it allows us to share, minister, encourage and make each other laugh is a miracle. I would never have thought I would be doing the things I am doing or writing the things I am writing on the internet.

Every good thing is for God's glory. We make a thing good by using it to glorify our Lord. Thank you for the opportunity to speak into your lives. I am forever grateful for you speaking into mine. Blessings to you all.

Went to the flower shop today to order an arrangement for Peyton's gravesite. Next Thursday is his birthday. I want it to look nice. I was doing well until I got into the florists. I've known the woman who owns the shop forever. Her son went to Heaven before her too. She was on the phone when I arrived so I had to wait a few minutes. Teared up some, but made it through just fine.

Football tonight. I have some posts inside me that are wanting out. I'm thinking it will be soon.

Have a blessed weekend!

A Full and Blessed Weekend

Friday – Homecoming

This girl is beautiful inside and out. We have taken several vacations with her and her family. She and Peyton were good friends. She is a very serious and focused young woman. Her mom stopped by the house one day; Amanda had had a bad day and stayed in the car. Peyton went out to the car, opened her door and kissed her right on the lips and said, “Love ya Babe” and walked away. Made her laugh.

The picture above is when they were in 1st grade. She was a cheerleader for the little league football team Peyton played on. (This is the south; we start football EARLY) Each cheerleader was required to sell raffle tickets to walk in the Little League Homecoming. If you can’t imagine a Little League homecoming, picture a southern beauty pageant with approximately 150 contestants, each with an escort. It is quite a production and raises a lot of $$$$$$$$$ for our little league program. Whoever sold the most tickets on each team was the Team Queen. Amanda won the title. In Peyton’s 1st grade mind, “if Amanda is the Queen, then I must be the King. I’ll never forget that.

After the Homecoming game, we had friends over and had some good deer chili, etc.

Saturday Afternoon- Taylor

Taylor came to visit us! We’ve known her since before she was born. Her mom is my BFF; she was holding Peyton in this post. We had a chance to talk about missing Peyton and how she’s been doing. She lives a couple of hours away and her friends didn’t know him. I know one thing that has helped the kids around here was having each other to talk to.

Saturday Night – 1st Runner-Up

We went to the Miss AHS pageant. The girl I mentioned in this post, got 1st Runner-up. Very proud

Sunday Afternoon – Project Graduation meeting.

Won’t bore you will details, but it was very productive!

As you can see, we had a busy weekend. Every event was good and had some difficult moments. I sometimes wonder if it is going to get harder when the kids graduate and are living more on their own and we don’t have them around nearly as much. I cannot dwell on or worry about things I cannot control. I can only believe that Tom & I will grow better and better. Our lives are changing all the time. The season we are in now will be replaced with another and we will be blessed in that season too. God has great things in store for us and we don’t plan on missing even one of them.

Father God, I am grateful for each and every moment. I am blessed and I know it. I am strengthened in my inner man with the knowledge of your unwavering, unfailing love for me. I plan to spread it to everyone I come in contact with. I am ready for anything and everything because You live inside me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

We Are It!

I just received a text message a little while ago. It said, "I love you." I replied back, "I needed that, I love you too." That text lifted my spirits and made me smile. I was thinking on this and God brought this to my remembrance…………..WE ARE ALL HE HAS TO WORK WITH on this earth. He uses us to bless each other. He wants to flow freely and touch lives. He can only do that through His children, me and you. If something comes to your mind today and it will be a blessing to someone, DO IT. It doesn't matter how small you may think it is; it could be HUGE to them.

Caution – Dead Animal Pic

Yeah, my man shot us a deer with his bow and arrow.

  

We do eat venison on a regular basis.  I have to admit I only eat it if it has been ground up for chili, spaghetti, lasagne, tacos, etc.  Tom likes to “chicken fry” his.  He usually does this for himself when I am out with friends.  ‘Cause he loves me. :)

It has been easier this year; Tom hunting without Peyton.  Of course it is not the same.  Tom got great joy teaching Peyton how to hunt and spending time together in the woods.  No matter what the situation, our focus on the positive is imperative to joyful living.

Hope the picture didn’t gross you out too much.

Cool Weather Cooking

Fall weather brings out the cook in me. Bread making is something I really enjoy. The process of kneading and letting it rise, kneading some more and letting it rise again brings you to the baking in the oven with your house smelling oh so good.

I took some pictures so I could share with you, not the cinnamon rolls, the pictures.

This wooden bread bowl was my grandma’s. I don’t think she made yeast bread in it, but she did make “cat head” biscuits.

This is after the first rising. Fixin to roll ‘em out!

Rolled out and spread with butter then cinnamon and sugar sprinkled all over.

This is my new kitchen gadget, a cutter/scraper very handy for cutting cinnamon rolls.

Ready for the second rising. Can you see the swirls of cinnamony goodness?

Baked and iced, ready to eat. They did turn out really good. I hadn’t made cinnamon rolls in awhile. My husband appreciated them and we ate the whole pan just enough.

Me Shopping?

Last night I went shopping with a friend. She is a friend of Peyton’s and now she is a friend of mine. She is in the Miss Alma High School pageant next weekend.

For the record, I am not a shopper. We were looking for casual/sportswear for the pageant. She tried on a lot of stuff. We even asked for help from the salesclerk, something I never do. She was VERY helpful and was quite an accessorizer. (my spell check is telling me that is not a word, but I’m using it) The MALL WAS CLOSING WHEN WE LEFT. I have never closed the mall and don’t plan on doing it again. It was fun and tiring, but we got the job done. She is going to look very casual/sporty next weekend when she walks across the stage.

Peyton & I didn’t shop much, but I enjoyed buying him stuff. Smell is a powerful memory trigger and the mall is full of them. The colognes that waft out of some of the stores are very recognizable and took me back to easier times shopping with my boy.

Staying in the moment is key. Focusing on the present, finding things to look forward to (like a pageant) are what keep me from looking back thinking about what I do not have. I had a couple of hard moments, but not a tear was shed.

Thank you Lord for the blessings in the present and in my future. Thank you Lord that I can see the blessings You surround me with everyday.

I’m sure there are no malls in Heaven.