Faith in America...

Today is the 57th presidential inauguration ceremony. The theme is "Faith in America." The 2nd inauguration of our 45th president, Baraak Obama. His first inauguration we were our of school for a snow day. Today we are out of school for Martin Luther King, Jr Holiday.

President Obama takes his oath on Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.'s bibles....

Inaugurations are always intriguing to me. No matter what your political party affiliation you one should always take the time to observe this signification transition or reaffirming of power. This inauguration special to me. I dare say any other part of this inauguration other than my alma mater, Lee University singing, will be what I remember and take away from this inauguration.

SO VERY VERY PROUD to be a Lee alum! 

Just a few shots of Lee- doing what they do best... singing!  Of all the platforms they've had- I daresay they've had anything significant or important.  "For such a time as this!"

 

In addition to the musical talent from Lee University, inauguration was also filled with the sounds of Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir....

 

 

Twitter comments from Dr. Conn, President of  Lee University, and Natalie Grant one of my favorite Christian artists.

Follow the yellow brick road...

Happy 5th Birthday Sweet Sadie Claire aka Dorthy!:)

 

Opening her Pickles gift from me.

 

Reading her card with Daddy

 

Make a wish!

Yellow Brick Road Cheese-it Sqaures & Potato String Scarecrow Stuffing

Perfect cake!

 

Queen Glenda's Star (chicken salad) wand sandwiches

Tin Man's Oil (aka chocolate)

 

Melinda always goes all out for her girl's bday parties! Can't wait to see Camille's "Millie (Minnie) Mouse"  bash next month!

The Time Has (yet to) Come ....

Anyone who knows me, and knows me well, knows that I am a fan of "I Love Lucy". I have the whole collection on DVD. My affinity for I Love Lucy was cultivated by my Aunt Bev. So it's only fitting that I make this post as I will soon become an aunt myself.

My twin nieces have reached 36 weeks gestation today. Alison has been on dedicated bed rest for going on a month. It's time for my nieces to make their debut. I haven't been anxious or ancy about their arrival until today for some reason. Maybe it was the facebook post of two high school friends announcing their labor or delivery last night and today. Never the less I am growing ancier by the minute for them to arrive.

I was reminded of the I Love Lucy episode, "Lucy Goes to the Hospital" where Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel develop of plan of how everything is to flow when Lucy is ready to go to the hospital. Lucy will come to them and say "The time has come". They practice everything perfectly and watch Lucy like a chicken sitting on her nest (don't worry I'm not doing this to Alison). Lucy goes away to rest and come back a while later instead of saying "The time has come" she says "Ricky, this is it!"

Hopeing to hear "This is it!" STAT!



 

Snow Tubing

This morning about 50 of us from church ranging in age from 30s down to teens made the 3 hourish trek to Ghant, West Virginia to Winter Place Ski Resort. Last week when I checked the weather forecasts and saw they were calling for 70s at home and high 60s in WV I questioned rather we would still go. Regardless of the high temps we were assured that there would still be snow (man made) because there was a thick base of snow. Although skeptical- I had never been snow~tubing and am never one to pass down opportunities of trying something new, so off I went. We pulled out of the church parking lot at 8 am and pulled back in around 9:40 p.m.

 

 Jenn and I ready to get going!

 

Inquiring minds want to know how long they're going to be stuck on a van like sardines.

Kam and I sporting the Wolfpack sign in honor of their win over Dookie... probably the first and last time  you'll see me doing this... 

Snowbunnies

You can tell by looking at this picture I wasn't wearing a lot of layers... that's right it was in the high 60s.... can't tell you how many people I saw wearing short sleeves, shorts or jean! Craziness!:)

Keeping an eye on the younger ones!

You rode a conveyer belt back to the top of the mountain with snow tube in hand

Me with the fashionista Suzanne Parker

 

A shot just as we were finishing up our 1 pm - 5 pm tubing time.

2013 has started with a ...

A bang... or maybe a backfire?

I had every intention of starting back to school today a long with everyone else. A week after surgery- they told me you're usually out of work 5 days, so I saw no problem with attempting to go back today. Against my parents and several other's suggestions I was going to attempt the 3 days this week- even though I have plenty of sick days I know that once the twins arrive I will want to take a day or two off.

Even though I was dreading the end of Winter Break, I went to bed early Tuesday night in anticipation of an early wakeup time the next morning. Alarm went off- head ache and feeling sinus-nauseous... trudge on to the shower. Half-way through shower I decide I really don't have the strength to make it. Begrudgely call & email school. Blow dry hair and return to bed. Wake up around 10:30 still feeling cruddy. Sit up on the couch, get sick to my stomach and round 1 of throw up (sry TMI). Go up stairs to lay on couch- try to eat some jello a few minutes later...  not even half a cup and it comes right back up- round 2. Mom comes home and is frying some pork chops to throw in the crock-pot... just the smell sends me right back to the bathroom- round 3.

At this point I give up and decide maybe I do need to take the next 2 days off and recoup.

In the mean time I have been enjoying listening to PASSION2013~ live.









Matt Redman, what an anointed song writer and worship leader

 

Beth Moore, an anointed writer and motivational speaker

By nature I am a busy body- always on the go never taking time to fully rest. Sometimes the only way I rest and fully rest is when I've been knocked flat off my feet.


The adage goes- how you start your year is a determiner of how your year will progress... maybe God's trying to tell me I need to rest in him this year?

I came across this on a blog - and it resignated with me right away... exactly what the Lord was trying to tell me, dontcha think?

Do you know about this little book?  I got it last year in the middle of the year and it has been one of the most delightful tools in learning more about just how Jesus speaks to me.  I just have been so inspired by reading a small paragraph from it each day after my morning time in God's Word.

I just wanted to share today's message.  It spoke to me so much about how I needed to take the time to let God speak to me.  My mind is always going in hundreds of directions, whether it be insignificant, like taking one load of laundry out of the washer and put in the dryer, or needing to get ready to go somewhere or thinking what I need to be doing for a church member in need.

Today's message just spoke to me.  Maybe it will you too.


"Relax in My Healing Presence.  As you spend time with Me, your thoughts tend to jump ahead to today's plans and problems.  Bring your mind back to Me for refreshment and renewal.  Let the Light of My Presence soak into you, as you focus your thoughts on Me.  Thus I equip you to face whatever the day brings."

(And here is the sentence that jumped off the page to me this morning:)

"THIS SACRIFICE OF TIME PLEASES ME AND STRENGTHENS YOU."

"Do not skimp on our time together. Resist the clamor of tasks waiting to be done. You have chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from you."

Based on Psalm 105:4 and Luke 10: 39-42

Lord, let me learn to spend quality time with you because I certainly need your strength today and the days ahead in this new year.  Amen!