Everybody loves Friday, am I right? It’s my favorite day of the week. It holds no special power other than it marks the end of the work-week and who doesn’t love surviving another hard week at the office? Let’s face it, weekends are for fun and relaxation! Both of which….I am a professional!

My weekend will be spent car searching. It’s finally time to make something happen for both Gavin and Ally. If you’ve done any car shopping lately, you know everything is sky-high in price. What happened to getting a decent car at affordable prices?

It’s also fall in Indiana AND THE LAST DAY OF SEPTEMBER!! Can you believe that? Me either! October is birthday month for hubby and me. Seriously? I thought I just had one. hehe! Oh the 40′s….they seem to be on fast-forward!

Make sure to enjoy yourself this weekend. It’s too beautiful out to stay inside….so GO, DO SOMETHING FUN AND EAT FALL FOODS!! I sure will.

Nothing seems to sting like the words that come out of our mouths. Especially when it’s from a loved one. Words have power. They can build you up (Eph 4:29) or they can tear you down (1 Thess. 5:11). I’ve been guilty of wielding my tongue for both. I regret every misuse of the opportunities God has given me to build another up.

Why is it so easy for us to tear another down? What is inside our hearts that creeps up to our tongue? Oftentimes, we use sarcasm to send out little zingers. We mask meanness behind jokes and we hurt senselessly.

After an incident at the dinner table recently….I realized just how large the problem was in my family. Each of us pounce on opportunities to wound one another. Maybe not intentionally, but certainly with some sort of intelligent knowledge.

The problem sin had to be addressed.

I went to bed with a heavy heart. My family loves one another. They love other’s outside of our family too. But HEART CONDITIONS are not what they should be. It’s time for a clean-up.

This post by Suzie Eller sums up how I’m feeling right now. Maybe you can relate. I pray for you that (like me) we can do the heartwork necessary to use our words to love and care for others. Beginning right now!

NOTE–This post was written by the same Mom that wouldn’t let her toddlers watch The Rugrats!

I do not need anymore distractions in my life.  Especially when they come in the form of computer time.  I’m somewhat of an addict with my netbook.  Some people love their iphones….I love my computer!

I’ve battled the vortex of Blogging, Facebook, Pinterest, Ebay and even online shopping/surfing.   During my “time” online I would see Stumble Upon icons everywhere and wonder…..what is that?

Yea, I’ve figured it out now and  I LOVE IT!!

It’s addicting (of course) and a great way to find stuff that people like me (narrowminded little safe types) wouldn’t normally see.  I tend to “hang” out in the same circles, like in real life. So, I miss stuff! Not anymore, baby.

Now I just need a few more hours in my day to STUMBLE around the internet world.

Have you heard of this magical phenom?

What is Stumble Upon?
It’s a cool way of surfing around the web with just one click. Instead of searching for something particular (say like in google) SU randomly selects neat things that are interesting. The range is unending. You fill in topics that interest you (at the beginning) and it selects items geared towards that topic. Check it out!

Clothes shopping has become my nemesis! For some reason everything I try on fits like a nightmare. I admire the cute stuff on the rack but I curse it once I have it on in the dressing room. What is my size? It seems to keep changing. Either that or the clothing manufacturers are playing horrible tricks on the public by making clothes smaller and smaller.

What are we, Asian’s?

Look around. People in America seem to be growing. Me included! I’ve always been the tiny one in my circles. Not so anymore. I’ve never been the size I am right now AND I HATE IT!!

I blame it on Pioneer Woman! She’s always blah-blah’ing about this recipe and that recipe. I think she’s a skinny wicked Okie out on a mission with her other Tasty Kitchen cronies to fatten up all the wives in America (they NEVER eat anything they post)! Dang it, it’s working!

Oh, I tease! Ree isn’t that kind of gal. She’s a real woman. Heck, she admits she wears the Spanx too! I like her and her amazing recipes.
Like this–

Everybody’s got to eat breakfast, right? Egg in the hole is a quick and easy way to crank your engine in the morning. Oh, stretchy pants….you are a friend to me.

Who can I blame for these?

All I can say is that baking cookies at 9pm on a school night is no way to be a happy chick in the dressing room.

And I wonder why nothing fits?

I’m reaching a point of desperation. I no longer want to be the chubby size I am right now. Something has to give. I’ve accepted the fact that my 44 year old body isn’t running on the same metabolism system of my 20′s. Stuff sticks now. And sadly, it sort of hangs there.

So, I’m challenging myself. No more denying myself the joys of looking good and feeling good because of my poor habits. I’m determined to make the changes necessary for me to be the best me!

See ya later, backfat & flabby belly! This chick is toning up!

I’ve been thinking all weekend about a hurting friend. It’s never easy to watch someone struggle through a tough situation. Words never seem good enough. For people like me (open mouth–insert foot types) I feel like I need to tip-toe around everything I say for fear I’ll make it worse.

Tell me I’m not alone, please!?

The issue at hand is a sensitive one. How do I encourage and strengthen her faith when I’m just as scared and unsure as she is? I know without a shadow of a doubt that God has a plan. He has one for her and this painful situation but it’s really hard to see when you’re hurting and afraid.

One advantage that I have in being a bit older than her is that I’ve experienced the letdowns of life and know that God always works things out for HIS glory. Even painful things. My job right now is to love her through this and that I feel privileged to do.

God
It’s hard to understand why certain sad things happen to people but I’m trusting YOU to make all things new. My sweet friend is afraid and clinging to hope. I know you’re working on her behalf and that your glory will be known….if we will only be patient!
Amen

2 Tim. 1:7 “For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but a spirit of love, power and sound mind”.

Stuff tends to get lost in my family.  We spend ridiculous amounts of time going through junk looking for IMPORTANT things.  It’s been a way of life that for some reason, I just can’t get used to.  I like neat and tidy.  I love organization.

When you live with ADHD people, it’s just not possible.

I’ve even become one of them.  Not ADHD (although, I’m beginning to wonder) just disorganized and forgetful.  Maybe it’s contagious?! 

We’ve been tearing our house apart looking for the title to Gavin’s car.  It’s here, somewhere…..and we’re sure to find it as soon as we fill out everything and pay again at the BMV!

Don’t ya hate that?  Grr, me too!

 See that cute kid (that’s my boy when he was 16 or so)?  Today, he’s selling this cool car.  He’s been driving the little hotrod since he was 16!  It’s taken him everywhere he’s wanted to go and then some.  I think he’s having a little anxiety about letting it go.  I understand.

But if we don’t find that darned title….  

Lord,      

We need your direction.  Help us find this important document and make a great deal with a buyer.  We want to be responsible and honor you with all of our steps.

Amen

UPDATE:  The lost title has been found.  Literally an hour after the replacement was ordered at the BMV on Friday.  It was in the glovebox of his car!