BEAUTIFUL CHRISTIAN SISTER

By Maya Angelou

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ

That a man should have to seek Him first to find her.'

When I say... 'I am a Christian'

I'm not shouting 'I'm clean living,

' I'm whispering 'I was lost, Now I'm found and forgiven.

' When I say... 'I am a Christian'

I don't speak of this with pride.

I'm confessing that I stumble and need Christ to be my guide.

When I say... 'I am a Christian'

I'm not trying to be strong.

I'm professing that I'm weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say.. 'I am a Christian'

I'm not bragging of success.

I'm admitting I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say... 'I am a Christian'

I'm not claiming to be perfect, My flaws are far too visible, but God believes I am worth it.

When I say.... 'I am a Christian'

I still feel the sting of pain... I have my share of heartaches, so I call upon His name.

When I say... 'I am a Christian'

I'm not holier than thou, I'm just a simple sinner Who received God's good grace, somehow! Pretty is as Pretty does...

But beautiful is just plain beautiful!

Cruisin' Pics

As promised, here are a few of mine and 'hubbie's' cruise pictures from the trip we just took to Mexico. We had a blast and it was so relaxing. This was our 10th cruise and this time we relaxed more than we ever had before on a cruise. We did not do any excursions, we stayed up late and got up when we wanted to, we ate 24-7, we shopped a little and mainly just enjoyed being together, just the two of us. I highly recommend this kind of vacation to everyone!

Cozumel and Costa Maya Mexico Aboard The Grandeur of the Seas

The Cross Made The Difference For Me

Twas a life filled with aimless desperation

Without hope walked the shell of a man;

Then a hand with a nailprint stretched downward,

Just one touch then a new life began.

And the old rugged cross made the difference

In a life bound for heartache and defeat;

I will praise Him forever and ever

For the cross made the difference for me.

What's Edwina Been Up To

What's been going on with me since last post.

1. Extreme Home Make Over came to our town and built a home for a well deserving family.

The Kadiz Family

The show is to be aired around the 2nd week in April. My daughter and I went out on a Sunday afternoon and watched them lay the foundation, it was really neat. We didn't get to seeTy, but we did see Michael the designer.

Watched the Bachelor and was very disappointed... Promised to never watch again, until I heard Jillian was going to be the next Bachelorette.

I am still confused on Lost.

Softball has started up and hubby is playing again.

Our church started Rick Warren's 40 Days of Community and we are hosting a small group in our home. We have 5 young couples that are in it and we are all learning to LOVE more and build relationships together.

The GRANDbabies are growing more each day and are still the BEST thing that is happened to me (since my on two were born)!!!

And most exciting news is Spring Break is only 2 weeks away!!! And I am going on a well deserved cruise with my hubby. We are going to Belize and Cozumel, we have been there before, but heck we don't care....Just need to get away and soak in some Carribean Sun.

I will be back from time to time to post, but do know I am checking up on you all frequently.

'SECURITY'

"Security"One of the greatest human needs is a sense of security. In all aspects of life, we naturally gravitate towards anything that makes us feel safe"

This is a quote from David Bowman of the Bowman Art Studio in Snowflake, Arizona I ran across the awesome artwork of David Bowman while visiting another blog. I immediately gravitated towards this christian art. I think David has captivated exactly how Jesus feels about each and everyone of us, through his art "Security". Just like a child runs to the arms of his parent when he is hurt, discouraged or confused, this is the same way that we should do when we face trials and heartache. Jesus is our constant companion and his arms are opened wide and he loves for us to take comfort in him.

I am going to take some more time off of the blogging world. I do love it, don't get me wrong. There are a lot of new and interesting and loving friends out here, who genuinely care about each other. Spring is coming and that means getting outside when I come home from work and not sitting down at this computer for hours upon hours. I will be back from time to post something and to check up on all of you, but I really love spending time with my family and this darn blog is taking up way too much of my time. I just really been thinking lately, if you blog more each day than you spend time with your family or read your bible or pray. Than you might want to take a look at yourself also. Blogging is fun and it is fun giving and receiving comments, I think it makes some feel a sense of security inside this computer screen. But the reality is, that our lives are so beyond this computer screen. And our real security is in Jesus and the family that he so blessed each and everyone with.

So to each of you happy blogging and happy spring and pray that you each find security in the arms of Jesus.

HAPPY VALENTINES TO LEE

I want to dedicate this post to day to MY VALENTINE of 37 years. And so you can get to know him better and see why I love him sooooooooooooo much, I am going to list my favorite 10 things I love about him.





1. I love the heart that he has for God. We met in church when we were in the 9th grade and he has always put God first in his life. He has never waivered in his faith and he loves being a part of the church body of Christ. You are such an inspiration to the men of our church. Thanks for being an example of God's love.


2. I love the way that he loves me and takes care of me. He puts up with my ways and is so willing to look beyond all my little 'faults'. We have been happily married for 37 years. There is no one who could complete me like you !!!


3. I love the way he loves his children. We have two beautiful daughters, Kelly and Holly and he has always made sure that they were taken care of. He has sacrificed so much to see that their every need was met. He still has lunch everyday with our oldest daughter Kelly and he takes care of our baby girl Holly every morning. He cranks her car for her before work and makes sure her lunch is packed. What an awesome Dad you are!


4. I love the way that he loves those 3 GRAND babies, Jesse, Macy and Cole. To see him play or joke around with them, makes life so much fun. Thanks honey for being such a great Papa!!!


5. I love the way that his blue eyes sparkle.


6. I love watching him play softball. He loves the game and has played softball for all of our married life and I have been right there watching him throw out thoses pitches. You are an awesome player and I am so looking forward to this season to do it all over again.


7. I love the creative side of him. Lee is a Jeweler and makes the most beautiful jewelry. You can draw him a picture and he can create it. You make me proud and by the way I do love my ring!!!


8. I love his funny personality. He can make the saddest person laugh. He is the church comedian and everyone loves being around him. He always finds a way to make a gloomy day bright. He tries to see the positive in every situation. Thanks honey for being 'MY CLOWN'


9. I love the speical moments we share (and NO, I am not going to tell you about those), but you are the BEST honey!!!


10. And lastly, I JUST LOVE YOU ! My life would be so lonely without you in it. You have given me the BEST 37 years ever and I look forward to so many more.


HAPPY VALENTINES DAY TO LEE, MY HUSBAND AND MY BEST FRIEND!!!

God Is Love

On Valentines Day, we show our love;
We express our deep affections.
Those who are important to us
Get cards and sweet confections.
But Christian love
is not just for
The ones we hold most dear
Jesus said "love everyone;"He made that very clear.
For Christians, it is every dayWe should care and love and serve
Everyone we meet in life,
Whether they do or don’t deserve.
Let’s follow Jesus’ good command
To love everyone we meet.
Valentine’s Day every day
Will make life twice as sweet.
I am so thankful on this Valentine's Day that I can share God's love with you.

My prayer is for each of you to know the love of the Father and that he will find favor in all of your lives and bless you and the ones you hold dear.

Valentine's Mailbox

Valentine's Day as a child was always a special time for me. I remember taking an old shoe box and getting some construction paper and cutting out hearts and gluing them to my box and cutting a little hole in the lid, just big enough for valentine cards to slip through. Sometimes, if we didn't have construction paper, we would use tinfoil to decorate the box and then glue pictures that we had colored on the box. Then off to school I would go and display my valentine's box the entire week before school on my desk, just waiting for all my friends to place a valentine card in my mailbox. It was such fun not only getting the cards but giving them away too. I bet some of you remember doing the same thing! So that we don't forget those good old days, I have gathered a few valentineremembrances for you.

I am mad at that OLD Groundhog!!!

Groundhog Day predicts another 6 weeks of winter for all.

I am mad at that old groundhog, it was 16 degrees here in North Florida last night and not a dab of snow. What the heck? Now, I know you all who have snow think I am crazy, but just a 1/2 inch so the babies and I could make snow angels, would have been nice.

I do hope we all thaw out before Spring break comes along next month, or we are going to freeze our little booties off at the beach.

Cleaning

Cleaning Poem
I asked the Lord to tell me Why my house is such a mess.
He asked if I'd been 'computering',And I had to answer 'yes.'
He told me to get off my butt And tidy up the house.
And so I started cleaning up...The smudges off my mouse.
I wiped and shined the topside. That really did the trick...
I was just admiring my work..I didn't mean to 'click.
'But click, I did, and oops I found A real absorbing site.
That I got SO way into it. I was into it all night.
Nothing's changed except my mouse It's very, very shiny.
I guess my house will stay a mess...
While I sit here on my hiney.
Today, is dedicated to all my blogging buddies who give up a little housework for a little blogging fun!

And to all of you please pick up this most sought after award from me to you, as my gift today !

Stop, Mommy It Hurts!!!

On Saturday, our family went to our favorite Wing spot for lunch and while we were waiting for our lunch to arrive, my 4 year old Grandson Cole decided to try and see if his head would fit in the back of the chair he was sitting in. We looked over and he was saying Help, Help, my head won't come out! My daughter and my husband started frantically trying to pull his head back through, to his pleas of "Stop Mommy it hurts" and "Ouch, Papa." I being the calm one said "why don't you just pull his body out the back way and they tried it and out he came. I should have taken a picture with my cell phone to show you all, but in the panic of the moment, that was the last thing of my mind. I did ask my daughter if we could reinact the moment and she looked at me with those sharp brown eyes and said "Mother, please". Moral of the story is don't go sticking your head it where it doesn't belong! And this reminded me of how we get into things we really shouldn't and our loving Father, reaches down and pulls us out.

Just Think In Colors

Got this as an email yesterday, too funny not to share with my blogging buddies.

Yesterday I went to the doctor for my yearly physical.My blood pressure was high, my cholesterol was high,I'd gained some weight, and I didn't feel so hot.My doctor said eating right doesn't have to be complicated and it would solve my physical problems. He said just think in colors...Fill your plate with bright colors... Greens, Yellows, Reds, etc.! I went right home and ate an entire bowl of: And sure enough, I felt better immediately.I never knew eating right could be so easy.

Guess Which One Is Not Protected!

One day after President Obama took office he and Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, lifted a ban on federal funding for international groups that promote or perform abortions, thus reversing the policy put back in place by former President George W.Bush.

Douglas Johnson of the National Right To Life committee made the following statement: "President Obama not long ago told the American people that he would support policies to reduce abortions, but today he is effectively guaranteeing more abortions by funding groups that promote abortion as a method of population control,"Please join with me, and lets make it a point to pray for 'The Unprotected' in the Right to Life. (If you would like to copy and post this to you blog post, please feel free. The more we have praying the better.

Project 365 4th Week

Sara is on her4th week of Project 365. I found myself pretty much sick all week with Strep. Today is Sunday and I am feeling much better and feel like I just might survive. Its amazing what drugs and some warm soup can do for you. Most of my picture time has been devoted to Linda, she is hosting a Ugly Mug contest on Monday, so please drop my and see my Ugly Mug and then go over to Linda and cast a vote for me.

10 Things I Love About The Letter R

My friend Sara left a great meme game for us to play and if you get as excited about blogging games as I, then join in.
If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know, and I’ll assign you a letter. You write about ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and post it at your place. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on...

10 Things I love that start with the Letter R

1 Raising my Family- I love that God has given me the honor of raising my children and also
having a part in raising their children. It is the best blessing that God has bestowed upon my life.
2 Resurrection of Jesus - I love Jesus and what he did for me on the Cross.
3 Romance - I love being in love with my husband for going on 38 years and to know that

our romance is still alive and wonderful!!!
4 Roses - I love Yellow Roses.
5 Rain - I love to hear the rain coming down on my bathroom skylight.
6 Rainbows - I love rainbows and they remind me that after ever storm in your
life, you can always see a rainbow and that things will work out.
7 Restaurants - I love to eat out and one of my favorites where I live, is an Italian Restaurant called Mom and Dad's Italian Restaurant
8 Ring - I love my wedding ring and the fact that my husband, who is a Jeweler made it, makes it even more special.
9 Roosters - I love Roosters and have them in my cozy country kitchen

10 Red - I love my Red kitchen cabinets thta my husband and daughters refinished for me. I have the color red all over my house and I
and I never get tired of it.

Now it is your turn, if you would like to play along, leave me a comment and I will send you back a letter. Have fun, isn't that what blogging is all about anyway?

Strep Has Moved In

Doctor:I have some good news and some very bad news.

Patient: Well, might as well give me the bad news first.

Doctor: The lab called with your test results. They said you have 24 hours to live.

Patient: 24 hours! That's terrible! What could be worse?

What's the very bad news?

Doctor: I've been trying to reach you since yesterday.

Well that wasn't exactly what my Doctor said when I visited her yesterday, but she did tell me I have a bad case of Strep, congestion and a UTI. I wonder what the Good News would have been?

She asked me"Are you around a lot of people with germs? Duh!!! I have three Grandchildren and I work at an elementary school. Does that count?" Needless to say, she put me on Penicillin VK 500 mg 4 times day day, but instructed me to take the penicillin 2 when I picked them up and 2 at night. So, I being the good patient did just that, I took 4 penicillin (2,000mg within a 5 hour period and I am sure you know what happened next? The Doctor should have just given me a bottle of go-lytley (for those of you who yet had a colonoscopy, you will not understand the severity of this)
So, I did take time away this afternoon from my bed of misery to let you know that I am going back to bed and will hopefully see you all on Sunday. (And no Sarah, there will no pictures of my Strep sickness for all to see:)

Presidential Inauguration

The swearing-in of the President of the United States occurs upon the commencement of a new term of a President of the United States. The United States Constitution mandates that the President make the following oath or affirmation before he or she can "enter on the Execution" of the office of the presidency:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God


I must admit that this is not the candidate that I voted for in November for President. But it is what it is. Barack Obama is my President and I will support, pray for and respect him while he is in this most important office.

A few great quotes in honor of this day are:

John Adams: "I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessing on this house (the White House) and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof!"


John Quincy Adams: "Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."


Andrew Johnson"Honest conviction is my courage; the Constitution is my guide."


Rutherford Hayes"He serves his party best who serves the country best."


William McKinley"In the time of darkest defeat, victory may be nearest."


Herbert Hoover"Peace is not made at the Council table or by treaties, but in the hearts of men."


Dwight Eisenhower"America is best described by one word, freedom."


John F. Kennedy"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

Lyndon Johnson"If government is to serve any purpose it is to do for others what they are unable to do for themselves."

James Carter"Our American values are not luxuries but necessities—not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself. Our common vision of a free and just society is our greatest source of cohesion at home and strength abroad—greater than the bounty of our material blessings."

Ronald Reagan"America is too great for small dreams."


George Herber Walker Bush"If anyone tells you that America's best days are behind her, they're looking the wrong way."


George Walker Bush"Recognizing and confronting our history is important. Transcending our history is essential. We are not limited by what we have done, or what we have left undone. We are limited only by what we are willing to do."


I hope that you will join with me and pray for President Obama and this Great country in which we are all honored to live in.


Romans 13:1, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

Project 365

Project 365
I had the 3 GRANDbabies all weekend and we had one BIG slumber party. We started out on Friday night with Jesse and Macy and went to Build A Bear Workshop (as if they didn't have enough of those bears by now)
It is amazing how good those bears look in those outfits. I saw several outfits in there, that I would loved to have had for myself. We added to our family 'Samantha' she is a beautiful rabbit and her Mom is Macy and Jackson, he is a cute little monkey and his Mom is Jesse
On Saturday, Cole joined us for a camp out. We got out all the tents and put them by the fireplace and watched movies all day.

We watched these movies, ate popcorn and pizza and had a really fun time.

Now, I am not going to tell you it was all fun and games. There was some fussing and "She took mine" and "He did it" and "They won't let me play" and "That's not fair" and "I'm going to tell my Mommy" and "I don't have to" and "You are not my Mommy" and "I don't eat that" and "Why do we have to take a nap" and "Why can't we all sleep with you" and "When can we go home"
AND, I said to that you can all go in TIME OUT...
So, that's what we did a lot of ... We just got out the old duct tape and put them all in TIME OUT...

And if you belive that you really don't know me at all, do you?

PICTURE TAG

TAG YOU ARE IT !!!

Since today is a very COOOOOLD Day here in North Florida and I have grown tired of sitting by the warm fire, I thought that I would play 'Picture Tag' with some of my on-line blogging buddies. I saw this over at another blog site and it looks like a lot of fun.

What you need to do is go to your picture files and pick the fourth folder and the fourth picture in the folder and explain it. So here goes, I will start the game off with my picture

Okay, so I must first explain that the actual fourth picture in my fourth folder was one that was cute, but not quite as funny as the fifth picture in my fourth folder. This one was taken one night at Grammy's house during a 'Girls Only Sleep Over'. Jesse and Macy had just gotten out from their bath, and when I came in the bathroom to check on them, they had hopped up on my vanity and decided to adorn themselves with q-tips.

Now it is your turn.....

TAG, You Are IT!!!

roxannekristina.blogspot.com/

theroost.typepad.com/my_weblog/

bugsinmyteeth-joanna.blogspot.com/

kaishon.blogspot.com/
2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/

connie49.blogspot.com/

gregsgeneralstore.blogspot.com/

sue-thecottonpatch.blogspot.com/
picketsplace.blogspot.com/

The Giant Whooping Crane

The school in which my daughter teaches and my Granddaughter Jesse goes to school, were part of a Living work of Art yesterday. Dan Dancer, a conceptual artist with 'Art for the Sky', assembled nearly 900 elementary school students and staff to create this picture of a 'Whooping Crane' The art took up an entire soccer field. If you look really close you can see Jesse she is in the wing and my daughter is in the black outline of the crane (j.k.) When I asked my daughter how organized it was with 900 kids, she replied "it was organized chaos". I know that this is something the two of them will remember being a part of forever.