tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48282772769371114572024-03-20T08:50:47.777-07:00The Barefoot SeamstressCindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-43536614526045437602009-08-21T13:42:00.001-07:002009-08-21T13:43:42.553-07:00Stuck in the Middle with Blue<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXb_Klv3PgmyMCLNy5TRNR4h432EKUt1jjPHY68TIlXG_aT37PUTf5w5JpGv9rjweD21Xa95XSAABI0NOclXXpP_TaY-4n-sIbRwJB1qzxywqcxLnTjAomghu_AICmhSzG8Gh9Zgs668/s1600-h/012.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372520364264212002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqXb_Klv3PgmyMCLNy5TRNR4h432EKUt1jjPHY68TIlXG_aT37PUTf5w5JpGv9rjweD21Xa95XSAABI0NOclXXpP_TaY-4n-sIbRwJB1qzxywqcxLnTjAomghu_AICmhSzG8Gh9Zgs668/s320/012.JPG" /></a> My middle child is now in Middle School! </div><div align="center">Good Luck baby - I love you!<br /><br /></div>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-13109621671991029342009-08-21T13:25:00.001-07:002009-08-21T13:38:53.461-07:00Hidden Beauty<div align="justify">My late summer garden is BORING! The bright pinks and purples of spring are faded. I've had to thin and trim the verdant thyme ground cover back to stems and the day lilies have gone to bed. August demands a closer look to find anything beautiful - there are only glimpses:</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKk63mXzxBr5zj5HTHzsisHbpk31ZtczqOUN7Spz5oQpwQhyphenhyphen4uCGRcyamyA6U65v7XDipKiGKRORDiE2If7JECy2bjch6jRg5Q-d3A1tmaiIsgo3uKVBTJQfhZwJ3VQhvsfWgvxT8LTc/s1600-h/015.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372516838737318930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsKk63mXzxBr5zj5HTHzsisHbpk31ZtczqOUN7Spz5oQpwQhyphenhyphen4uCGRcyamyA6U65v7XDipKiGKRORDiE2If7JECy2bjch6jRg5Q-d3A1tmaiIsgo3uKVBTJQfhZwJ3VQhvsfWgvxT8LTc/s320/015.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPuC_3ReH6JZbxGQlsG2B1dSjBiA_-XM21nW-uTU_B9dxWDw2LGownhnSaNXyLE-tYVFo2ayVmYqj176iA_PLu_SeHEKO1-zWaFpnlT48di5fJaGyRaC8mb6ecsqVWWuU43LJybtEKq8/s1600-h/016.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372517750086896530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqPuC_3ReH6JZbxGQlsG2B1dSjBiA_-XM21nW-uTU_B9dxWDw2LGownhnSaNXyLE-tYVFo2ayVmYqj176iA_PLu_SeHEKO1-zWaFpnlT48di5fJaGyRaC8mb6ecsqVWWuU43LJybtEKq8/s320/016.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Juicy blackberries peeking out at the </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">sun from behind floppy leaves.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5jd4Zx3fsDf09Do3_5hzQhAqOnNv6bBHVqMNuPxJdkrnPRwlsWaDHEPKvnP5bSBWSuM2qSxXDlLyo9_BdTarkk4iRBY-HpHy184LuvPBYkwpmTKsU5574nCM94PiNDQlkNTqbZtI5tk/s1600-h/017.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372516856457543602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC5jd4Zx3fsDf09Do3_5hzQhAqOnNv6bBHVqMNuPxJdkrnPRwlsWaDHEPKvnP5bSBWSuM2qSxXDlLyo9_BdTarkk4iRBY-HpHy184LuvPBYkwpmTKsU5574nCM94PiNDQlkNTqbZtI5tk/s320/017.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmKKyZPD05AmDAHojH2BmGCNf_G2QOAiFhT76AzU9UoyN1sDuQ7tcfhkUYhXha4hpE7QWHaUiFBjGisTmKlgKkKSxb0MMEG7ShYFda7M2mmwUqqyJkbdRKAFjspAXxRtPJ3HyRzA4rtA/s1600-h/018.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372516863682489826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYmKKyZPD05AmDAHojH2BmGCNf_G2QOAiFhT76AzU9UoyN1sDuQ7tcfhkUYhXha4hpE7QWHaUiFBjGisTmKlgKkKSxb0MMEG7ShYFda7M2mmwUqqyJkbdRKAFjspAXxRtPJ3HyRzA4rtA/s320/018.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrIwyszW2sH3Pvu_wktjtKf6GlJ3KsVdknp4xFfefI0V3jCRWVW2vyr6rSBpmdLTmjIz0vdtsG1BlsBBPmQ3wxPdcn7mn8JnbimgbMN_6X_6JAjPnvYA-QZzDQp3XHaGwnl-ny-HO-y4/s1600-h/019.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372517756894909506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrIwyszW2sH3Pvu_wktjtKf6GlJ3KsVdknp4xFfefI0V3jCRWVW2vyr6rSBpmdLTmjIz0vdtsG1BlsBBPmQ3wxPdcn7mn8JnbimgbMN_6X_6JAjPnvYA-QZzDQp3XHaGwnl-ny-HO-y4/s320/019.JPG" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> "Morning Glorious": a volunteer treasure with blue, fuchsia and white blossoms that hides behind the garden shed!<br /><br /></span><br /></div>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-29526901561582878352009-02-19T16:31:00.000-08:002009-02-19T16:34:09.875-08:00Another BlogHey friends - I have started another blog. Yes - I am crazy - thanks for asking!<br />It is all part of my attempt to use the "free" aspects of the internet to shamelessly promote my business. So it is specifically a sewing blog to post pictures, prices, etc. for Cinde Exclusives. It will link from my website so those who are interested can find out more info about my work. You can check it out <a href="http://cindesewingblog.blogspot.com/">here</a>.<br />See Ya Bye!Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-69973006222943364572009-02-18T09:27:00.001-08:002009-02-18T09:35:57.581-08:00At Work TodayI should be working or showering or cleaning or something but I am sitting here reading blogs. I supposed this is one of the hazards of working from home...no one to chat with around the water cooler. So I have to daily check in with all my fake cyber-friends who I have never met but who I know that I would have a kickin' good time with if I ever did.<br /><br />Today, Lysa at Proverbs 31, puts in <a href="http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/2009/02/eat-more-chicken.html">a good word </a>for Chick-Fil-A. I think it is a good word for any Christian in the business world. Are we going the extra mile to serve our customers? To give them a bright spot in their day? To listen if needed? To have integrity in our dealings? Are they a person to us or just a means of getting that paycheck?<br /><br />Lysa says, <em>"Our tasks should be a means to an end- not the end itself. Whatever we are doing, we should have spiritual eyes that are wide open realizing not one person who crosses our path is there by happen chance."</em><br /><br />Definitely something to think about at work today...which means I'd better get to it!Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-8136613093106073312009-01-29T09:57:00.000-08:002009-01-29T11:29:58.872-08:00"Barefoot Cake Wrecks"The other day I came across this hilarious blog called "<a href="http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/">Cake Wrecks</a>". Self-described as "When Professional Cakes Go Horribly, Hilariously Wrong". Oh, my word, this site could be my new addiction...it is so stinkin' funny and some of the cakes are so very wrong.<br /><br />Take this one for example:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lwpdxvVjGn8JtXUVSUmUccjpdaPiX2PrJQyBwXPd9DRbwFLAbDzPNppkapxH-Z_C_J0BB1IwUD1YeIu52JmXk9rsKnzggbGauA2_motTpbRlu651as2WgQrogFCiZraAF5LDfdhFOPg/s1600-h/walmart%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296784525058128594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lwpdxvVjGn8JtXUVSUmUccjpdaPiX2PrJQyBwXPd9DRbwFLAbDzPNppkapxH-Z_C_J0BB1IwUD1YeIu52JmXk9rsKnzggbGauA2_motTpbRlu651as2WgQrogFCiZraAF5LDfdhFOPg/s320/walmart%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p>Or maybe these seasonal favorites:</p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaGQ1JVYyRIH-ZSpLVOALjvkztljV6_sx3jVyoXAtud4_S0AhTGmjDjDG65HM78RWb-lT5XA0275qYRINFjx5EVtMtxXRDoRbl-vNS9d3OyFxMErj5XFtjSZGXFwTNbU926Z9VSW7cy0/s1600-h/Laura_F_-_ow_-_reindeer%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296785718838268402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcaGQ1JVYyRIH-ZSpLVOALjvkztljV6_sx3jVyoXAtud4_S0AhTGmjDjDG65HM78RWb-lT5XA0275qYRINFjx5EVtMtxXRDoRbl-vNS9d3OyFxMErj5XFtjSZGXFwTNbU926Z9VSW7cy0/s320/Laura_F_-_ow_-_reindeer%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Do you suppose someone has created a snufflupagus/reindeer cross? </em><em>Now those are some crazy genetics!</em></span></p><br /><p>In the spirit of what would Jesus do, I decided I shouldn't throw cakey-stones or try to get the "cake log" out of my brother's eye without first taking a look at the splinter in mine.</p><p>Therefore I bring you: (<em>drumroll</em>) "<strong>Barefoot Cake Wrecks</strong>"</p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_PjSkDZX-MLwVtURJRhhOPfYYQs3knzOsFr639kP0nDj1ix9f11aob61vhpX2lfXhJ8max2dND34sEEBtp5ZAVJmYrHSb2jxf0CmVHMLgZFUsBbYdyeOdaKzPDSYmkrhW-akTSb_ULY/s1600-h/2003_0208_161938AA.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296786733198256962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_PjSkDZX-MLwVtURJRhhOPfYYQs3knzOsFr639kP0nDj1ix9f11aob61vhpX2lfXhJ8max2dND34sEEBtp5ZAVJmYrHSb2jxf0CmVHMLgZFUsBbYdyeOdaKzPDSYmkrhW-akTSb_ULY/s320/2003_0208_161938AA.JPG" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:78%;"> </span><span style="font-size:85%;">Now this was Max's birthday cake one year. It is supposed to be a surfboard but now that I look at it, I'm seeing a patriotic squid. See the blue "waves" that Max colored on the cake board? Maybe that was so you'd know it belonged in the water and not Cape Canaveral. Remember, however, I am <strong>not</strong> a professional cake decorator...just a mom who occasionally plays one on TV.<br /></span></em><br /><br />Okay...moving on...<br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljgps_crfCD_hJnQP1yW5dXAKvmpUP_P0gUoLtDFWpbS7znhHhGKb6Xzsev48sRi9tbbUNPERnUnAuokj6reJvQ36kAKRI7rxCWu7hCtpEDp1TggNNA-q2nqbgBFL5M8yKOiMCDxSajo/s1600-h/2003_0302_174149AA.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296788333337881410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljgps_crfCD_hJnQP1yW5dXAKvmpUP_P0gUoLtDFWpbS7znhHhGKb6Xzsev48sRi9tbbUNPERnUnAuokj6reJvQ36kAKRI7rxCWu7hCtpEDp1TggNNA-q2nqbgBFL5M8yKOiMCDxSajo/s320/2003_0302_174149AA.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p><em><span style="font-size:85%;">This lovely creation - sporting a "ghetto shoe" - was for Blue's 5th birthday. I copied the shoe design from her invitations...was supposed to be pink leopard skin. Why is it still in the pan you ask? Easier to carry to the roller skating rink that way - plus mama is busy and it's much faster if you don't decorate the sides!</span></em></p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wdskm_6xx35pVrKZ8GpdBqhxTmuBQRjjOv0B5a7pzPe6Wgk8ryu2NB89KA8YhLL9piA4oBykAW3D_3gXGZV-QZMs28SKELupIrvBTnq1tstSK302aauCgJo-HTFYfzQeeVGXEhZAXMU/s1600-h/2004_0226_193900AA_Fixed(1).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296789587947505458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wdskm_6xx35pVrKZ8GpdBqhxTmuBQRjjOv0B5a7pzPe6Wgk8ryu2NB89KA8YhLL9piA4oBykAW3D_3gXGZV-QZMs28SKELupIrvBTnq1tstSK302aauCgJo-HTFYfzQeeVGXEhZAXMU/s320/2004_0226_193900AA_Fixed(1).jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> This little number was for a "picnic" themed birthday. It is supposed to be a checkered picnic tablecloth, complete with ants. It looks more like argyle gone buggy...</em></span></p><br /><br /><p>And now for the Grand Finale I bring you the "CCC". On the official "Cake Wrecks" blog, the "CCC" stands for <a href="http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2008/09/cupcake-cakes-always-wrecktastic-always.html?commentPage=2">Cupcake Cake </a>and man do they ever get some heat. </p><p>Here are the "Barefoot Cake Wreck" versions:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXeedp3AdbFjaGvi_bPoPLEMa6gt4RGtO2PU8GAAI8l7ZP-19rnC5Tg2A3btBj5uoicim6yNyFuF2ytpwm5XOB6XsgpkZKM596ygv1DC_RiXwvHdni06apQbreob-rb4WDoKkfxw0-fk/s1600-h/2004_1016_123134AA.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296790610645455618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXXeedp3AdbFjaGvi_bPoPLEMa6gt4RGtO2PU8GAAI8l7ZP-19rnC5Tg2A3btBj5uoicim6yNyFuF2ytpwm5XOB6XsgpkZKM596ygv1DC_RiXwvHdni06apQbreob-rb4WDoKkfxw0-fk/s320/2004_1016_123134AA.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:85%;">This one isn't too bad. I think you can tell it is a football sitting on the field at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN. You can tell that right???</span></em></p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilv3PCr0bitvY__grrYDCbrg73tY1k_8IqHmaVVkULzgqt5Uj7h9xmWsC7wfdaEgNID7_3wDW09K1FjUG5y9j4uHYGgzX5qm_9KRxqTfaDPva86LJDj8aX5-IGHfNnkG7rf8lPb_N_gMY/s1600-h/2005_0225_184717AA.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296791507417946210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilv3PCr0bitvY__grrYDCbrg73tY1k_8IqHmaVVkULzgqt5Uj7h9xmWsC7wfdaEgNID7_3wDW09K1FjUG5y9j4uHYGgzX5qm_9KRxqTfaDPva86LJDj8aX5-IGHfNnkG7rf8lPb_N_gMY/s320/2005_0225_184717AA.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>Ummm, this is what you call "Mom using the computer to generate pieces of Spongebob that she can slap on some frosted cupcakes...because she also has to make crabby patties and keep 10 little 1st graders entertained."</em><br /></span><br />However, please remember, I am <strong>not</strong> a professional...but the person who made this was:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZDbohfFa8yky5i3eKdVWMsVeV37O-uMTzZOujQmvR4e4snHs_41JsgRD1WdKloWJn1YQAYUmtn_X6bztt8_EmV1ePbTjaufCfHJVBG3vrdaFu8OTQsPjoFQMN9w5OMPcPAiKcPeZu4I/s1600-h/Shelby_B_-_ow_-_santa%5B1%5D.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296795364352222674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZDbohfFa8yky5i3eKdVWMsVeV37O-uMTzZOujQmvR4e4snHs_41JsgRD1WdKloWJn1YQAYUmtn_X6bztt8_EmV1ePbTjaufCfHJVBG3vrdaFu8OTQsPjoFQMN9w5OMPcPAiKcPeZu4I/s320/Shelby_B_-_ow_-_santa%5B1%5D.JPG" border="0" /></a> Thanks for joining me in "caking" fun of myself today! Love ya'll!Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-58484590612159950362009-01-27T18:07:00.001-08:002009-01-27T18:14:29.241-08:00Checkin' In with Random StuffBuford is in Baltimore.<br /><br />Kids had Parent/Teacher Conferences tonight. Awesome reports - doing great.<br /><br />Sewing biz is hopping. Will have to sew into tonight and most of day tomorrow to get caught up.<br /><br />New fave song...<br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FEn74zP1glQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FEn74zP1glQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />If you like kitties, check out <a href="http://icanhascheezburger.com/">this hilarious blog...</a><br /><br />I dare you not to laugh!Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-10359227703261484722009-01-15T12:26:00.000-08:002009-01-15T12:33:36.084-08:00Permission to Nag??<div align="justify">My parents stayed with us a couple of nights this week while they were participating in some activities at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. My house is only about 30 minutes away, cheaper than a hotel, plus their grandchildren live here...might be a bonus??<br />Buford, my dad, and I were talking about the busy schedule this week and how wives have to keep their husbands informed and reminded all the time. My dad said, "We need some nudging and guidance from time to time."<br />I said, "Dad, do you realize that the acronym for Nudging And Guidance is NAG?" </div><div align="justify">We had a big chuckle over that one and then I generously thanked him for the permission!</div>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-51403798306207477652009-01-02T06:48:00.000-08:002009-01-03T19:46:31.807-08:00What I'm Listening To...Newest addition to my ipod - love the lyrics...<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IR2P8zDcois&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IR2P8zDcois&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-36138577933723579632008-12-30T20:14:00.000-08:002008-12-30T20:18:01.201-08:00Fellowship of the Unashamed<div align="justify">I found this bit of inspiration on the Compassion International blog. I am using it as my New Year's resolution - it is rich with recommitment which is exactly what I need as 2008 closes out.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#000066;">“I’m a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I’m a disciple of His and I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.<br />My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I’m done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.<br />I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, or first, or tops, or recognized, or praised, or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.<br />My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission is clear.<br />I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.<br />I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of the adversary. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.<br />I won’t give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ.<br />I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes. And when He does come for His own, He’ll have no problems recognizing me. My colors will be clear!” </span></em></div>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-61576355893199617712008-12-26T08:57:00.000-08:002008-12-26T09:12:42.765-08:00We had ourselves a Wii little Christmas...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASngL1zkebaRu-4u4j59or-0soHUuYWBpYz6MAs_8F4_KmscqucQXnxVLBgaJRmDRZUXCUyBBnqBXKdtf5rvoCJF29XnmE-i1nZTgLGEp2qW1SSJ3nsjRTvcmiCd5NfPOVWJpGCGMIqc/s1600-h/DSCF0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASngL1zkebaRu-4u4j59or-0soHUuYWBpYz6MAs_8F4_KmscqucQXnxVLBgaJRmDRZUXCUyBBnqBXKdtf5rvoCJF29XnmE-i1nZTgLGEp2qW1SSJ3nsjRTvcmiCd5NfPOVWJpGCGMIqc/s320/DSCF0008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284146677401012674" /></a><br /><br />One big gift was under the tree yesterday morning and has provided non-stop entertainment. Blue worked up a sweat playing Wii tennis which is great since it is too blasted cold outside to do any type of outdoor playing or exercise.<br />Buford discovered that if you put your camera memory card into the Wii, you can draw on and embellish various photos. He added a black goatee and devil horns to a picture of me...I'm off to plot my revenge.<br /><br />Merry Christmas, Ya'll!Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-6975952721497478552008-12-13T20:50:00.000-08:002008-12-13T20:56:03.772-08:00A Fancy Photo Film of Family Fun<div><embed src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=79c425ce406b78be02049a" quality="high" scale="noscale" width="312" height="310" wmode="transparent" name="FLVPlayer" salign="LT" flashvars="&p=79c425ce406b78be02049a&skin_id=801&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><div style="margin:0px;font:12px/13px verdana,arial,sans-serif;line-height:20px;padding-bottom:15px;width:312px;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link?p=79c425ce406b78be02049a&skin_id=801&source=emplay" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_player_link_image/79c425ce406b78be02049a/801.gif" style="border:0px;" width="312" /></a><br/><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/landing?&utm_source=emplay&utm_medium=txt3" target="_blank" style="text-decoration:none;">Make video montages at <span style="text-decoration:underline;">www.OneTrueMedia.com</span></a></div></div>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-24105887065431903882008-11-15T18:56:00.000-08:002008-11-15T19:01:16.972-08:00Why Believe in God?Recent news reports have shown new signs going up on buses in our nation's capitol. They say:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">"<span style="color:#ff0000;">Why believe in god...</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#009900;">Just be good for goodness sake</span>!"</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br />These signs are to help agnostics and atheists feel less "left out" this holiday season. <br /><br />My response to that can be found by watching this video: <a href="http://www.rhchurch.org/pages/cardboard-testimonies/">http://www.rhchurch.org/pages/cardboard-testimonies/</a><br /><br />I think it answers the question, "Why believe in God?" quite well.Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-81359587259378337812008-11-05T09:19:00.000-08:002008-11-05T09:28:56.274-08:00Amen and AmenI dreaded having to tell my little guy what the outcome of the election was. My children were so aware of and so involved in this <a href="http://barefootseamstress.blogspot.com/2008/10/election.html">one</a>. Not like when I was little and we just wanted the election to be over so the TV programming would go back to normal! My kids knew there was a lot at stake riding on this one. We have had the discussion over and over that it is God who is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ultimately</span> in control.<br />This morning Beth urges us to come up higher with these <a href="http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2008/11/united-house.html">words</a>. They echo what the Lord placed on my heart this morning...we war on our knees. The weapons of our warfare are not of this world but they are might for the demolishing of strongholds! Unity in the body and revival in our nation can only come through prayer.Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-33875637611340758592008-11-04T16:56:00.001-08:002008-11-04T16:56:23.619-08:00Kingdom Coming Download<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" width="150" height="271" id="spo_nwCNcXLUDXM6MePP" data="http://farm.sproutbuilder.com/load/nwCNcXLUDXM6MePP.swf"><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="align" value="middle" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="quality" value="best" /><param name="movie" value="http://farm.sproutbuilder.com/load/nwCNcXLUDXM6MePP.swf" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" name="spe_nwCNcXLUDXM6MePP" src="http://farm.sproutbuilder.com/load/nwCNcXLUDXM6MePP.swf" width="150" height="271" wmode="transparent" align="middle" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" quality="best"></embed></object><img style="visibility:hidden;width:0px;height:0px;" border=0 width=0 height=0 src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.10NXC/bHQ9MTIyNTg*NjQ1NDA1OSZwdD*xMjI1ODQ2NTQxMzIxJnA9MTIwNzQxJmQ9bndDTmNYTFVEWE*2TWVQUCZuPWJsb2dnZXImZz*xJnQ9Jm89NzQyNDcyZDFkYjI2NDkyMjhkZWU1M2JjMTRiYmZjM2E=.gif" />Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-43115251989108911992008-11-04T16:50:00.000-08:002008-11-04T16:58:11.938-08:00Kingdom Coming<div>Click the widget above to download a free song from Shaun Groves. No strings attached - you can read about his intentions <a href="http://www.shaungroves.com/shlog/comments/happy_election_day_heres_some_free_music/">here</a>.<br /><br />And remember to check in with the Compassion bloggers in the Domican Republic <a href="http://compassionbloggers.com/trips/2008-dominican-republic">here</a>. </div><br /><br />??Happy??Election??Day??Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-6850115117306799762008-11-01T11:04:00.001-07:002008-11-01T11:22:13.500-07:00Dominican RepublicSome of my favorite bloggers are headed to the Dominican Republic and it's not for a vacation:<br /><br /><em>November 2–7, 2008 Compassion International will take a group of bloggers to see their ministry to over 40,000 children in the Dominican Republic. Known for its resort-speckled beaches, there’s another side to this Caribbean nation unknown to most vacationers. Our bloggers will visit a city dump where families scavenge for food and clothing. They’ll tour a neighborhood where drugs are trafficked and children live beside open sewers. And bloggers will also see firsthand how Compassion International and child sponsors are bringing hope to children living in these places by releasing them from poverty in Jesus’ name.</em><br /><br /><em></em><br />I would like to challenge my friends and family to take a look at a couple of these blogs over the next week and see the world through another's eyes...a part of the world that is so easy to ignore. In a week where everyone's focus is going to be on the election - may I ask you to focus for just a moment on the lives of children who get their food from a garbage dump - it will put life in America into perspective for all of us. Just click on the widget in my sidebar that says Domincan Republic. That will link you to the Compassion web page for this trip and then you can click on the individual bloggers to read their stories.<br /><br />I would love if you'd leave a comment here about what you've read. Thank you!<br /><br /><em></em>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-86067584075403567482008-10-29T21:40:00.000-07:002008-10-29T21:53:34.817-07:00ElectionYep - I'm just as sick of it all as you are. Sick of getting the emails warning of conspiracy and terrorism. Sick of the TV ads and biased media reports. This election and all the hoopla, hearsay, and heresy are enough to drive one to pull her own hair out by the handfuls...if that is where we are placing our hope.<br /><br />I have said to several people in the last couple of weeks that the church in America is not a bride that is ready for her groom and that what might bring unity to the body and revival to our land is persecution...<br /><br />Check out Shaun's <a href="http://www.shaungroves.com/shlog/comments/help_the_church_vote_for_a_madman/">post</a> regarding this very idea.<br /><br />Ponder, then pray. If you'd like to join me in prayer and fasting on Monday, November 3rd, for the election please leave a comment and I will email you with the details.Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-25672561245784022972008-10-26T15:04:00.000-07:002008-10-26T15:23:09.274-07:00Fall Fun<div align="left">Well since I'm here and on a roll - I'll just do another post.<br /><br />To make up for the past month of no posting and all...<br /><br />Last Saturday I was mowing and getting the garden torn out when the neighborhood kids decided to rake up the leaves in our front yard.<br /><br />Now this might look like your ordinary pile of leaves...<br /></div><br /><p align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup0mkgjaSuwoYWCaJuClssoOhDeCXhKKepZYJFFY_hq8xxjvY2BKIF6SYPD2vSUK4eQJI9rJs6F-6mXt7dGpxPjxH8xMQJfT3e9ivTKZlBVDVf8wRAncjvYrP0XHBV30pj1XUQLqb4EQ/s1600-h/Fall+2008+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261587672873000242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgup0mkgjaSuwoYWCaJuClssoOhDeCXhKKepZYJFFY_hq8xxjvY2BKIF6SYPD2vSUK4eQJI9rJs6F-6mXt7dGpxPjxH8xMQJfT3e9ivTKZlBVDVf8wRAncjvYrP0XHBV30pj1XUQLqb4EQ/s320/Fall+2008+009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />But look who pops out in the next frame:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKMBCVTTM3M8F9yCg9yZ1MtjE2cmxAoJoA81dNlZkvoZpfoF54LYQGsCl3soSY-KI8y30Sc5eaUdaaD1oa5MLCJAKtB80FmUS3T_JUWzsMISEkb9pb6nhWq6lNBzI3UcV78ifdHkceZg/s1600-h/Fall+2008+010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261587674153520018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKMBCVTTM3M8F9yCg9yZ1MtjE2cmxAoJoA81dNlZkvoZpfoF54LYQGsCl3soSY-KI8y30Sc5eaUdaaD1oa5MLCJAKtB80FmUS3T_JUWzsMISEkb9pb6nhWq6lNBzI3UcV78ifdHkceZg/s320/Fall+2008+010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Next it was Blue's turn to get buried: </p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5HZvXo_t-h2hfvgkyIiKgV_cNCkQLR2Dy-DyKcqcLNwyKzR66mHDE4GSm4WY2Qe4eI6RyJIQ3NnDBkOU3EtjfFDjyXT6tTNmtpvnFZ2TDRPZcrrkbrYO4Bu22Vm8Frzf4jBGzCKRPSo/s1600-h/Fall+2008+012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261587687073307346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO5HZvXo_t-h2hfvgkyIiKgV_cNCkQLR2Dy-DyKcqcLNwyKzR66mHDE4GSm4WY2Qe4eI6RyJIQ3NnDBkOU3EtjfFDjyXT6tTNmtpvnFZ2TDRPZcrrkbrYO4Bu22Vm8Frzf4jBGzCKRPSo/s320/Fall+2008+012.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></p><br /><div align="center"><br /><br />Then they all decided it would be great fun for me to take pictures of them with just their faces poking out of the leaves:</div><div align="center"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFydMRWMF9hbZUTpIEqAYdADJsNKolco6O6d4rRW8uTAk77l64eZBDGOTTv8oB0FUPC2CjOGTPUQVM1LWfxFJ3UMyoPEGdKcs__eUjv3L8YIvUFB80p8dEbtSzMKdWuOgKuQsmikiebM/s1600-h/Fall+2008+014.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261591269636775858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFydMRWMF9hbZUTpIEqAYdADJsNKolco6O6d4rRW8uTAk77l64eZBDGOTTv8oB0FUPC2CjOGTPUQVM1LWfxFJ3UMyoPEGdKcs__eUjv3L8YIvUFB80p8dEbtSzMKdWuOgKuQsmikiebM/s320/Fall+2008+014.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a><br />Here are Min and Dan.<br /><br /></p><p><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANW2hECHOEd1TxoFHWSq_9PyxGX-B6vuK_6CxdVpwEl2lkxKsotaltiuhH1TQAr-WGcfV2w72k6zALeeDLcfmq3ebbUdh5v0ITaK7xg1cOubCYO2gITZ9-Hk7g0Y9mNDZISYSZ9P_ELA/s1600-h/Fall+2008+016.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261589119262618354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjANW2hECHOEd1TxoFHWSq_9PyxGX-B6vuK_6CxdVpwEl2lkxKsotaltiuhH1TQAr-WGcfV2w72k6zALeeDLcfmq3ebbUdh5v0ITaK7xg1cOubCYO2gITZ9-Hk7g0Y9mNDZISYSZ9P_ELA/s320/Fall+2008+016.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p><p align="center">Here are Blue and Miss S.<br /><br /></p><p align="center"><br /><strong>Fall is Fun!!! </strong></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPQ7ulvLVKYR79SVOtV881zSdDQuxUQTau5DUtjSNlcJ8V3cIpwJ0W9jI3Py9CSbfAlsSGuCTTBDtl5h3NsYwfD70uROhz1nNYsuGBCCAGk_UlWX5WUfHHAOJARUUsqFbMdgX8tA2_Zs/s1600-h/Fall+2008+018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261589121037603778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPQ7ulvLVKYR79SVOtV881zSdDQuxUQTau5DUtjSNlcJ8V3cIpwJ0W9jI3Py9CSbfAlsSGuCTTBDtl5h3NsYwfD70uROhz1nNYsuGBCCAGk_UlWX5WUfHHAOJARUUsqFbMdgX8tA2_Zs/s320/Fall+2008+018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></p>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-25636893652020389572008-10-26T14:39:00.000-07:002008-10-26T15:03:35.787-07:00Oh My - It Has Been Awhile<div align="left">I'm sure all three of you who read this blog are wondering what in the world has happened to me since my last post of Sept. 20. Well, let me try to catch you up:</div><br /><br /><div align="left">1. I took over as treasurer for the PTO of our elementary school. This in itself doesn't seem like all that daunting of a task - however, if you add in the fact that the previous treasurer didn't keep any books, it is daunting, frustrating, time consuming and downright irritating!</div><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">2. Our dog, Duncan, of 11+ years had to be put down. The last couple weeks of his life were very sad as he became less and less able to walk and unable to eat. He is buried out on my parent's farm which is a place he loved to run around and sniff things! </div><div align="left"></div><br /><br /><div align="left">3. Now for some of the fun stuff:</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzOShKyumCO6ycz3QsCsLN6x5nRt3BiaJmRp9suENhAtle59UVfDdWcJTIfLC79FQyNYJi1xb_WUVrURZMgIpHaT4Mkp6MZcS0JqLPXQCTtN01OWZx9j0mwOk3ZkKOj8Hah6kCDVXnm0/s1600-h/Fall+2008+005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261586177667084162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzOShKyumCO6ycz3QsCsLN6x5nRt3BiaJmRp9suENhAtle59UVfDdWcJTIfLC79FQyNYJi1xb_WUVrURZMgIpHaT4Mkp6MZcS0JqLPXQCTtN01OWZx9j0mwOk3ZkKOj8Hah6kCDVXnm0/s320/Fall+2008+005.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"></a> Max went to Homecoming. (He is in blue shirt with his date, LB. Max's buddy, "Farmboy" is in the hat with his date, LB's BF)<br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCzYuDhESUZrPOA2_SVXsnlYlEKH-_1dHycMFVBRjc_xsq0CL2Wh_a93svKaTFw9GvMkT_lyvP9JCqYyGNNNvLrVtdMCrvh7wD2lf0n3FWVZMI0czRkndTblbxqhVS7jrkTCp0iBVTfI/s1600-h/Fall+2008+038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261584156625323554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 310px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCzYuDhESUZrPOA2_SVXsnlYlEKH-_1dHycMFVBRjc_xsq0CL2Wh_a93svKaTFw9GvMkT_lyvP9JCqYyGNNNvLrVtdMCrvh7wD2lf0n3FWVZMI0czRkndTblbxqhVS7jrkTCp0iBVTfI/s320/Fall+2008+038.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"> </a>Min celebrated his 8th birthday last Sunday with a costume party, scavenger hunt, and 8 candles stuck into a Monster Cupcake. Woo hoo! It was great fun and beautiful weather.<br /><br /><br /><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFH2Vq1LUdsOKkInFbBrH2u3mIhNZ9h1ZDXkO8DPDZ86_GJGwJ7bsecy7dDJ-ud42wW39VAxVRBm3NKfDVb9AZ2J5kMnzfnNayH8rqCHETiHBs-N96jRrvOxvwyPHTheD2w-bjVAdFhHs/s1600-h/Fall+2008+046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261585615495727298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFH2Vq1LUdsOKkInFbBrH2u3mIhNZ9h1ZDXkO8DPDZ86_GJGwJ7bsecy7dDJ-ud42wW39VAxVRBm3NKfDVb9AZ2J5kMnzfnNayH8rqCHETiHBs-N96jRrvOxvwyPHTheD2w-bjVAdFhHs/s320/Fall+2008+046.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p align="center">And then I had him mummified so he will stay 8 forever - I'm not going to let him get any bigger! Oh no, I'm not!<br /><br /></p>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-7190150679881093612008-09-20T16:46:00.000-07:002008-09-20T16:47:53.585-07:00The Invisible Mom<em><span style="color:#000066;">A dear friend emailed this to me today. It is a blogworthy piece of writing for sure.</span></em><br /><br />It all began to make sense; the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.<br /><br />Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this??<br /><br />Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'<br /><br />I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!?<br /><br />One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in.<br /><br />I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:<br /><br />'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'<br /><br />In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.<br /><br />A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'<br /><br />I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'<br /><br />At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.<br /><br />I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.<br /><br />When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.'<br /><br />That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'<br /><br />As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-88904640462191203392008-09-17T21:04:00.000-07:002008-09-17T21:41:51.750-07:00The Blessing of Starbucks<div align="justify">I have been severely limiting my Starbucks intake as of late. I can easily get out of control in this particular area of decadence and spend too much money. So I've almost cut back to 2 or 3 per month (Gasp, Buford - its true!) </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">A few weeks ago I was at our local grocery store which has a Starbucks in it. The roasty, pungent smell greeted me the moment I walked in the door but I resisted the pull of temptation and walked on past. After I'd paid for my groceries and was heading toward the car, I ran into a mom that I knew from school. She was holding two grande Starbucks cups in her hands. I smiled and said something about treating herself. She said that they had messed up her first order and made it full fat/full sugar when she wanted non-fat/sugar free. Would I like the messed up latte? - because she was going to throw it away. Oh horrors! Don't throw away a perfectly good latte! In the name of all things sacred I will save that whole milk, sugary, vanilla cup of bliss from certain trash can demise! I walked to my car savoring a warm, sweet, free blessing that I knew was straight from the Lord.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Then just this Monday, while on another grocery store excursion, I was so thirsty. I scrounged in my purse for the exact change to get an iced macchiato but when I walked in the store, I was met with the awful sight of this on a sign: <strong>"Espresso Machine Out of Order. Sorry for the Inconvenience."</strong> Bummer! I just took it to mean that I wasn't supposed to have a Starbucks that day. (You know the verse "No discipline is pleasant at the time but later yields a harvest of righteousness.") BUT later on that evening at Bible Study, my leader came in with a whole carafe of Starbucks coffee and vanilla/caramel creamer. Another blessing!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">This morning, after dealing with some stressful PTO issues, I decided a pumpkin spice latte was in order. So I went to the drive-through Starbucks and placed my order. (At the same time, I was questioning if it was a good idea - since I don't want to get back on the latte-a-day plan!) After the gray-haired barrista handed me my receipt, she said, "Have a fun day! Blessings on you." Whoa, I was blessed by a barrista! But not really - I know that she was just a vessel through which came the blessing of God. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">See, here is what I'm learning: I often get Starbucks (or any other treat) to bless or reward myself. But in trying to honor God in my spending, I'm fasting from something that I really enjoy. And in return, He is blessing my obedience by letting me have what I love either for free or with blessings on it! When I stop trying to bless myself, I get out of the way and allow God to bless me. That is a cool place to be.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Finally, tonight, while looking through some blogs, I found this quote and a recipe for Pumpkin Spice Lattes that you can make at home...the blessings never cease:</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><em></em> </div><div align="justify"><em>“A cup of coffee, home made, that comes to you dark as a hazel-eye, but changes to a golden bronze as you temper it with cream…such a cup of coffee is a match for twenty blue devils and will exorcise them all.” - H. W. Beecher</em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"><em></em></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><a href="http://www.bakingandbooks.com/2006/10/10/pumpkin-spice-latte-ii/">Pumpkin Spice Latte</a></div>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-69188833401950149442008-09-14T19:25:00.000-07:002008-09-14T19:32:20.283-07:00Something to Chew On<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvrqHDgNH4yNE39dZnjz6sOZiO8zpg6nwRAYYBSFIzRVtvjplSQZ60LGdoSuvQBEZWHTh3uXrOXMx4mBAGUnpTrqVMsQxr-sPjFSJ8-gJwD95Y-2CXFgnAgQuYUJ7BaagtvjLLMxQoiA/s1600-h/j0227579%5B1%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246069740749716418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvrqHDgNH4yNE39dZnjz6sOZiO8zpg6nwRAYYBSFIzRVtvjplSQZ60LGdoSuvQBEZWHTh3uXrOXMx4mBAGUnpTrqVMsQxr-sPjFSJ8-gJwD95Y-2CXFgnAgQuYUJ7BaagtvjLLMxQoiA/s320/j0227579%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div align="left">"There are herds of erroneous thoughts roaming across our minds, grazing upon the ever-available hay and stubble of unbelief and failure."</div><br /><em>Quote from "The Three Battlegrounds" by Francis Frangipane</em> </div>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-7082521631435772222008-09-12T16:36:00.000-07:002008-09-12T21:40:13.989-07:00Say Hello to My New Best Friend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbf3Kq2bFgT28TrTIV4k4D0eePUbfdb601EDJIPgi4oZUrIfd5AcihewDxrHi0FU1yHN2JMY5jwpFFfsU10SApOfMRGPBUPmibI-SjGIy51_hLO37qEez-oNjeIWJDPSYS2yT5NWQ_aE/s1600-h/37604-S%5B1%5D.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245359787763408514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbf3Kq2bFgT28TrTIV4k4D0eePUbfdb601EDJIPgi4oZUrIfd5AcihewDxrHi0FU1yHN2JMY5jwpFFfsU10SApOfMRGPBUPmibI-SjGIy51_hLO37qEez-oNjeIWJDPSYS2yT5NWQ_aE/s320/37604-S%5B1%5D.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">Today I finally broke down and bought a "store" vacuum. I've never had a "store bought" vacuum cleaner before. I've had hand-me-down Kirbys from my grandma and a Rainbow that once belonged to my mom. Pricey, super-suction vacuums sold by door-to-door salesmen who promised they would perform far superiorly to any "store bought" vacuum. But my hand-me-downs are well into their geriatric years and performance is failing. Plus they are cumbersome and heavy and I vacuum <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ALOT</span> -almost everyday - some would say it's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">OCD</span> - I would defend myself by saying, "We have 5 pets and I have people coming in here with wedding dresses!" I love to vacuum - it is my favorite household task. It relieves my stress and creates nice little vacuum tracks in the carpet. I believe the satisfaction of creating vacuum tracks has something to do with the farm girl in me loving straight rows of corn or perfectly swathed alfalfa. (I also like mowing the lawn for this very reason.)</div><br /><div align="justify">Anyway - I've had my eye on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bissell</span> Pet Hair Eraser for some time now. (Lord knows I need some pet hair erased!) I read reviews of it on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">internet</span> and checked prices at some local stores. A few days ago a catalog from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Kohls</span> arrived in the mail. They had the Pet Hair Eraser on sale for $169 plus the little peel off coupon on the front revealed that I had an extra 30% off. It was a sign that it was time to bite the bullet and purchase that store vacuum. </div><br /><div align="justify">And, can I just say that after its first use, I love it very much. It is easy to push - almost self-propelled feeling. And you can stop the brush from turning when you want to vacuum the hardwood floors. Plus the front edge fits all the way under the kitchen cabinets and sucks up all the little crumbs that live under there. It has this little turbo brush that did a number on my stairs - black dog + light tan carpet on the stairs=UGLY! The turbo brush got into all the little <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nooks</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">crannies</span> and stair edges. Then there is the edge to edge cleaning - right up next to the baseboards. Oh my!! I am smitten! </div><br /><div align="justify">How my "store bought" vacuum will hold up over time remains to be seen but right now this looks to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.</div><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"><em>PS: Dear Grace - I'm only kidding about the best friend thing. A vacuum could never replace you - unless maybe it also made fresh guacamole while vacuuming - but so far no one has thought that up. Your BFF status is very safe!</em></div>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-62902336820721024762008-09-05T19:03:00.000-07:002008-09-06T20:24:35.843-07:00Saintana<div align="justify">A couple of months ago, I signed up to be a <a href="http://www.compassionbloggers.com/">Compassion blogger</a> along with over 250 other folks. I didn't hear anything from them for the longest time - I began to think that maybe they only picked the really cool <a href="http://boomama.net/2008/02/20/in-which-i-am-humbled-again-and-again/">bloggers</a> and I hadn't made the cut! Can you say blog insecurity?? However, that was not the case at all - they were simply getting organized in order to have a measurable impact via the blogging community. So this week the marching orders for us "first class Compassion bloggers" have been handed out and our initial assignment is to introduce our readers to our own Compassion child.<br /><br /></div><br /><p align="justify"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oKRmVZvb-xhv8Vr-sRS74ba8GeHnIJizIztowJrKalAJIOJ8mz6u3Yj78P8m83Rpeq4nuoBmKcpTvLVyhvGpSx5wQ0p_nBSwlVatTNdKttFWvmKpqwekO7OCBvB8C3tN-iPIANYbkcI/s1600-h/Saintana.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242725553852655410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_oKRmVZvb-xhv8Vr-sRS74ba8GeHnIJizIztowJrKalAJIOJ8mz6u3Yj78P8m83Rpeq4nuoBmKcpTvLVyhvGpSx5wQ0p_nBSwlVatTNdKttFWvmKpqwekO7OCBvB8C3tN-iPIANYbkcI/s320/Saintana.JPG" border="0" /></a>Please meet <strong><em>Miss Saintana Civil</em></strong> of Haiti. Saintana has been my Compassion child since the spring of 2004 when our former church held a Compassion Sunday event complete with video presentations and a table stacked with photo cards of children who were available for sponsorship. </p><p align="justify">So, why out of all those stacks of photographs, did I choose Saintana? Well, first of all, I knew that I wanted a child from Haiti. Our church was directly sending missionaries to Haiti and some families in our church had also adopted Haitian children. It seemed like that was the area of the world we had chosen to impact. Secondly, (and this is the craziest thing) when I looked at her photo, she reminded me of my great grandmother. The simple cotton dress, the tightly pulled back hair and a seriousness to her expression that revealed a life that had been hard. I was just instantly drawn to her and knew that she was the one.</p><p align="justify">I cried the first time I received a letter from Saintana. It made my sponsorship of her seem suddenly very real. This wasn't just some money that left the checking account each month but a real child, who loves to sing and who prays God's blessings for me. The letters from Saintana are written by one of her teachers in French Creole. I can only read one word in that language but that is really the only one I need to know: Jezi (Jesus). In a country rampant with voodoo, Saintana knows about and loves Jesus because of <a href="http://www.compassion.com/about/programs/learningforlife.htm">Compassion</a>. </p><p align="justify">It is hard to believe that four years have past since I first sponsored Saintana. Four years of her photo hanging on my refrigerator and four years of praying for God to watch over her. It is fortunate for Saintana that her serious little face caught my attention in 2004. But there are many more children who have not been so fortunate and are in great need of sponsorship. Some have been waiting more than six months - they are on the outside looking in - waiting for someone to give them hope for a better life.</p><p align="justify">Please take some time to learn about <a href="http://www.compassion.com/about/how/default.htm">Compassion</a> by clicking on the links in this post. Then take a look <a href="http://www.compassion.com/sponsor_a_child/default.htm?referer=97130">here</a> at the photos of some kids who have been waiting the longest for sponsorship. Who knows, one of them might remind you of your great something or other! Sponsoring that child really will make them a part of your family and most importantly give them an opportunity to learn about how to become a member of God's forever family.<br /></p>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4828277276937111457.post-53394934456128664862008-08-29T13:42:00.000-07:002008-08-29T13:59:27.936-07:00A Gold Medal Mom<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEglIo2Zd1CQ-xHYOGzxrnILSo3_bKQc6GcIngDgitxt-1nLfYhI0Z0damDp-X9Lt-4yOBZEtoNMWlgXPQ8lQctlIP2D9ROxFOoosuuQeCtmknCS2IscDXHGXPp-r3MpiYzg0GvwUU354/s1600-h/images%5B6%5D.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240046815306266834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEglIo2Zd1CQ-xHYOGzxrnILSo3_bKQc6GcIngDgitxt-1nLfYhI0Z0damDp-X9Lt-4yOBZEtoNMWlgXPQ8lQctlIP2D9ROxFOoosuuQeCtmknCS2IscDXHGXPp-r3MpiYzg0GvwUU354/s320/images%5B6%5D.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify">I, along with the rest of the world, am completely taken with Michael Phelps. Not because of the eight gold medals, the billions of dollars in endorsements, or even the muscles...I am taken with him because he loves his mom. And he's not afraid to tell the world that he loves his mom and she returns in kind <a href="http://www.thanksmomonline.com/us/momOf.html">here</a>.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As a mother of two boys, I treasure that relationship and I think Debbie Phelps has a great <a href="http://boomama.net/2008/08/28/interview-with-debbie-phelps/">philosophy</a> - </div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><em>But when asked how she resisted the urge to be a stage parent, Debbie said, “I wasn’t a pusher. I just always let the coaches do their jobs. My job was to be </em><a href="http://www.thanksmomonline.com/us/momOf.html" modo="false"><em>Michael’s mom</em></a><em>.”</em></div><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">We don't have to hover and control every aspect of our kid's lives. We need to pray for them like crazy and be there for the good times and the bad. It is easy to get out of balance in this area and try to get our child into the limelight or push them beyond what is reasonable. Let's let coaches coach, let God be God, and take our place as moms...praying, loving, supporting, cooking, driving, hugging, tucking in and cheering on.</div>Cindehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837713187347850996noreply@blogger.com0