It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas...

Welcome...come in and take a look around at our 2010 Christmas decorations.

We had a great Thanksgiving with friends and families!

Looking forward to this Christmas Season.

Listening is a Discipline

Do you know the difference between a wise man and a know-it-all? They know the same amount. The difference is that a wise man waits until he is asked to share what he knows.

"A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered."
Proverbs 17:27 NLT

"Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble."
Proverbs 21:23 NLT

This is certainly something I have struggled with over my life. I'm sure more than once I have been called a know-it-all.

More recently I have come to learn and actually put into practice listening twice as much as I speak. It is not easy at first, because many times I felt like I just really know how to "fix" that person's problem.

I'm grateful for learning that it is not my job to "fix" others...that is God's job. Do you know how much weight that takes off a recovering control-freak's shoulders??!!

So today I'm grateful for the discipline of listening twice as much as talking...as the old saying goes...that is why God gave us TWO ears and only ONE mouth.

Could it Be?

Could it be that fall is actually on it's way? The morning temperatures the last part of this week are just lovely (between 60 and 65 degrees). I love the fall with the temperatures cooling off, the high school and college football games, the holidays are around the corner...for me it is a time for getting to enjoy being outside again...sugar melts in the heat, you know...hee hee!

We are looking forward to spending time with friends and family this fall. We are looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas time. We are looking forward to a weekend trip to Northwest Arkansas in the next couple of months. Although there are many things that we are looking forward to, mostly we just take it one day at a time. Living in the present...being present in the present. We only have the time that we are in and we have learned to enjoy that time.

"Verbal Reality"

I had not heard of that term before reading this blog post, however, I have lived it. This is the reason I encourage all family members to get into a recovery program for themselves.

There is much we can learn from the support of those who have been through or are going through the same chaos as you. Letting go is the hardest part, but the best thing that can be done.

My heart is always heavy when I hear of people I know that are in the chains of addiction and my heart goes out to the family as well (I have two families from my past that I am praying for this week). Although not the path I would have chosen for my life, GOD gets all the glory in my story...because now I am able to be there for others going through this process. He truly is in control!

Catching Up

Wow! It is has been more than a month since I posted anything. We have just been enjoying the summer...going low-key this summer. Since my last post we have both had our birthdays where we spent time together and enjoyed watching movies and going out to eat. We stay involved with our Celebrate Recovery group/friends and have been reconnecting with older friends.
We are pretty boring these days which is what seems to work for us. It seems my blogging has fallen to the wayside in place of the few sentences of status updates on Facebook. So, that is the place to stay in touch with me on a more regular basis.
Until I post again! Here's to a blessed summer and trying to stay cool!

Think on the Positive!

Do you need a laugh this morning?
Dog Entertains a Child

Here is a little positive thinking!
A Kid with a Positive Attitude

Book Review: "Plan B" by Pete Wilson

Have you ever come to the point in life and thought "This is not what I had planned" or "Why me, God"? If so, this book is for you.

As a person who is living out Plan B in her life, I appreciate the honesty with which Pete writes this book. He has included personal stories as well as stories of Biblical characters that have faced a time of Plan B in their lives.

The book was easy to read and one that I will personally re-read over and over again.

Pete reminds us that when you find yourself in a situation where you are faced with living Plan B, “…God knows how hard it can be to live in Plan B…He just keeps whispering into our bruised souls this gentle reminder: You may not sense me or feel me. But take heart because I really am here.” This is the comfort and hope that is offered in this book.

This book is a must read for anyone facing or living Plan B, and it is one that I plan to purchase several of just to have as a resource give to others that may be facing their own Plan B.

I am thankful to have had the opportunity to review this book, which was provided to me by Thomas Nelson and BookSneeze.

If you want more information about Pete and this book, or read personal Plan B stories visit the book's website: http://www.planbbook.com/

Quote for the Day

"In order to acheive wholeness, our desire for healing must exceed our aversion to pain" - Christine Cain

Vapor

James 4:13-15 "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

This past weekend, Christine Cain (from Hillsong Church in Australia) spoke during our weekend services and at our Women's Event. She spoke about living a life of risk. God didn't call us to live a nice safe life for Him. He called us to live dangerously for Him. She used what looked like an aerosal can of hairspray when she spoke about how short our lives are...a vapor. We need to live our lives to the fullest...God came to give us life and life more abundantly (John 10:10).

Then last night I was reminded of this again as I was checking my facebook account and found out my college roommate's husband died very unexpectedly yesterday.

Life is but a vapor.

My heart is breaking for Laura and her 7 year old daughter Kristin. I cannot imagine what they are going through. I know they have peace that Chris is in Heaven, but I am praying for comfort and strength for them. Praying that the "what-if's" do not consume her. Praying for her daughter...who just lost her daddy.

Will you join me in prayer for them?

New Living Room Furniture

This time we did it right! In the past we have gone into debt for the furniture we have purchased...this time we waited until we had cash...here is a peek at our new living room furniture and my new awesome canvas painting I have been waiting to buy!

Top 24 - Guy's Night and Results Show

Guy'sNight
Since I was a day late watching the boys on AI...I'll just go with overall impression...

Not impressed with the guys either. It is hard to believe going from Hollywood week to live can cause that much of a difference in their voices. There were a few that you could tell could sing well but were just nervous. I'm hoping for a much better AI week vocally next week.



Results Show

Janell Wheeler - I wasn't really shocked by this one...I think her choice of song did her in.

Ashley Rodriguez - Pretty shocked by this one. She was really good in auditions and Hollywood and there were others that I felt needed to go.


Joe Munoz - WHAT??? He was one of the guys I thought did NOT seem nervous and had a decent voice. Even Tim knew America got that one wrong.

Tyler Grady - YEAH! Poor kid needs to figure who he is as a singer if he wants to continue in this profession...otherwise...he needs to just do impersonations.


Here's to hoping a lot of the nerves are over and we have a better week next week on Idol!

Girls Night - AI Top 24

Just a few thoughts on American Idol...

I LOVE having Ellen on the show!!

Kara - WOW!! She is no longer the 4th judge anymore...she seems to have let this judge thing go to her head. She is annoying to me this season.

For all the hype of how strong the girls are this year...I was underwhelmed to say the least. I'm not sure why most girls just impersonate the singers versus just being themselves. Maybe it was nerves...heck, I know I would be nervous as all get out...but the girls were quite shaky tonight.

Looking forward to the guys tonight---Go Andrew Garcia!

Complete Obedience

Today was a very special day for our family. My niece, Camryn, was baptized. She had accepted Christ as her Savior a while back, but now that she and Andrea, my sister, found a church home, she wanted to be baptized. It was very special because my dad was able to perform the baptism. It was such a wonderful thing to see Camryn follow in obedience God's command to believers to be baptized after salvation. It was a beautiful sight to behold!

Love you Cam!

Happy Birthday!

Although I know most of the world is celebrating the birthday of Elvis...in our family this day belongs to my niece, Camryn!

It has been amazing to watch her grow up over the last 8 years. She stole a piece of my heart that morning...I married into a family where I became and aunt (and I love them very much as well), but there is something special it being your own niece or nephew. Probably because she is from our family line...she has our character traits...so far...she has been a "mini-Alison" and believe me...I had nothing to do with it! She loves to talk, loves to dance, loves her friends and family and most importantly loves God--her Savior!

She is a special blessing to our family!

Cam, I love you "more than my luggage" (some day you will know the movie this comes from)!

Hope you have a GREAT 8th birthday! Love you bunches!

Aunt Alison