Eighty

This is a photo of my and my first BFF. She taught me important things like: loving the classic musicals, appreciating both NYC and DC, the importance of tea time, real woman understand football, and you're never too old to have faith. I am so blessed that I have had twenty-six years to get to know her and thrilled to celebrate her eightieth birthday today!

Happy Birthday Grandma Jeanne!

Kris

And I thought I couldn't love the new American Idol anymore that I already did...

one of my favs from Kris Allen...

Elizabeth

Take the Quiz here!

Maryland

Kinda think this might be an answer to an almost decade-long prayer request...

 

www.frontlinesilverspring.com

 

...or at least the start of something awesome =)

Credit

Although I had high hopes for this recent article from Time magazine it was not near as forthcoming as the title made it out to be: The Real Problem with Credit Cards: The Cardholders.  (But what did I honestly expect from Time?  Seriously, you fail me on a consistent basis.)  No where did it boil down this issue to living within your means, or making wise decisions concerning your credit score which you carry with you for life.  Seriously, how difficult is the concept to grasp that if you are paying with credit that you intend to not pay off at the end of your billing cycle, you are not paying with cash or "real money"?  Is that the credit card company's fault?  Of course not.  Is that your fault. Ultimately, yes.  Most of the folks that get in trouble aren't putting groceries on their credit cards, they are putting electronics, vacations, college expenses for students with no plan for a job when they graduate with a degree that leaves them pretty much as unskilled as when they first stepped on campus.  The credit card companies are just like any other business.  If there is a market, they will sell.  Why else would I spent $3.60 for a latte?  Because Starbucks knows I cannot resist the Tall Non-Fat Sugar-Free Hazelnut Latte that makes my heart flutter.  I'm just sayin', don't get mad at Starbucks, they aren't the problem.

 

...and heck no, nobody wants PB-HO to try and "fix" Starbucks.  Ugh, hasn't he tampered with enough already?  Let's not give him anymore ideas...

Garden

My experiment began with a brilliant find. Behind the garage during the winter I found the missing side to the little garden running along the edge of the patio. After convincing Hubby to part with a few of the largest nails I have ever seen it was ready ready for some clean up.


After a few weeks, some new dirt, a package of seeds, and a few pre-started veggie plants later (and something like 8 straight days of rain) I have the beginnings of a beautiful little garden =)


That's gonna make my daddy proud, eh?

Go little beans, go little beans, go!

Tim

If your name is "Tim" and you are friends or are thinking of becoming friends with Hubby and/or me you better prepared!

 

Every "Wife of Tim" we know is pregnant.

 

Don't say I didn't warn you!

Plug

My never ending plug for "small groups" continues =P  Yes, I realize I have been a small group promoter since around age 14...and no, I don't plan on stopping anytime soon =)

 

May 4, 2009
Life Together: A Shared Life
by Rick Warren

In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages that inspire him the most.

 

Today's Devotional is based on this passage: "How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in harmony!" (Psalm 133:1 TEV)

God intends for us to experience life together. The Bible calls this shared experience "fellowship."

 

Today, however, the word has lost most of its biblical meaning. Fellowship now usually refers to casual conversation, socializing, food, and fun.

The question, "Where do you fellowship?" means "Where do you attend church?" "Stay after for fellowship" usually means "Wait for refreshments."

 

Real fellowship is so much more than just showing up at services. It is experiencing life together. It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other "one another" commands found in the New Testament.

 

When it comes to fellowship, size matters: smaller is better. You can worship with a crowd, but you can't fellowship with one.

 

Once a group becomes larger than about ten people, someone stops participating—usually the quietest person—and a few people will dominate the group.

 

Jesus ministered in the context of a small group of disciples. He could have chosen more, but he knew twelve is about the maximum size you can have in a small group if everyone is to participate.

 

The body of Christ, like your own body, is really a collection of many small cells. The life of the body of Christ, like your body, is contained in the cells.

 

For this reason, every Christian needs to be involved in a small group within their church, whether is it a home fellowship group, a Sunday school class, or a Bible study. This is where real community takes place, not in the big gatherings.