Monday, July 7, 2008

Blah, Blah, Blah

So it's been a few weeks since I have posted. I certainly have a lot I need to share. A lot has happened! First of all, my husband's grandfather passed away. He was 90 this January. He was a very sweet man. He loved to sing and he would sing to my boys all the time. They loved it. He would tell them little riddles and stories. It was a big treat to be able to go to Poppy's house. One of my boy's favorite songs goes like this:

Well I had a little chicken, and it wouldn't lay an egg, So I poured hot water up and down it's legs.
The little chicken hollered and the little chicken begged and the little chicken laid me a hard boiled egg. Oh me oh my. Said the thousand legged worm. Has anybody seen a leg of mine? If it cain't be found, I'll have to hop around on the other nine hundred ninety nine.

So you can see how fun he was. Just silly little songs and stories. So my boys took it kind of hard. But kids seem to adapt to death better than adults.

On a brighter note. My husband turned 34 on July 3rd! You know he tells me I'm getting old, but I tell him at least he will always be older than me! More on this later.

We also attended the air show. Thankfully it was not the day the storms came and people got hurt. Unfortunately, it was smothering hot when we went. I think I heard my arms sizzling at one point! So us girls took the kids and came home early. We missed the Blue Angels, but it was a small price to pay for air conditioning! I'll post pics later.

Well, other than cleaning and reading and working for God, that's about all that's been happening. And those are subjects in itself! So tune in later. You never know what you'll get!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Info Overload!

Before I start telling all my updates, I want everyone to go check out a very dear friend of mine's blog, if you haven't all ready. It's thegolden2.blogspot.com. Shane and Rachel was and are a vital part of our church. And although we miss them very much, God is using them mightily! They went out this past weekend and got 19 bible studies!! How awesome is that?! Please be sure to keep them in your prayers. And pray that God continues to strengthen them in this time of harvest!

So, update #1. We are doing the bible study tonight with Ken's mom and dad!! I am so excited! It's been a few weeks, due to his getting a new job that keeps him out of town on some nights. But we are definitely having it tonight. Please keep praying. God just keeps revealing himself to them more and more.

Update #2. We have our horse home now. She still isn't fully broke, but she's getting there. And to top all that off, Ken's dad bought us another horse that is broken and registered! But she isn't here yet. I'll post pictures as soon as I can. You know when we got the first horse, I was very apprehensive about how we were going to feed her, etc. But God has just provided and we haven't had to hardly buy a thing for her! He is so good!

Update #3. Legends and Lies. Very good book. I'm still not finished. Not because it's a big book. I have just been extremely busy! Here's an example. Saturday, we did June Bug Day with the Koehoorn's, which was a blast. I'll tell you more in a minute. Sunday, church and Father's Day. Monday, Ladies' prayer, Tuesday, church in the new building, YEAH, Wednesday, praise singer practice for ARC, Thursday, BIBLE STUDY!!, Friday, fellowship with some friends. Then we get to start all over!! I'm not complaining. It's a good busy!! So reading isn't on the top of my priority list! But, I did find out, it was Jesse James in his grave. Bob Ford really did kill him. Frank James' wife had brought a pair of Jesse's boots and ask that the man saying he was Jesse James, try them on. See Jesse had a small foot. A size 7. This J. Frank Dalton, no relation to the Dalton Gang, wore a size 9. But to this day, people still claim he was Jesse James. But after hearing all of the evidence about Billy the Kid, evidence has shown that Brushy "Bill" Roberts was Billy the Kid. And Pat Garrett did not kill him on the night of July 14, 1881. The test they did was 97% positive! But why did Pat Garrett lie about it? Why would he take the chance of Billy showing up again and making a fool out of him? Nevertheless, on the day he went to meet Governor Mabry, to be pardoned of his crimes, it had turned into a real media circus and he would not admit to killing anyone and suffered a stroke from all the stress. This led people, including the media and Governor Mabry, to believe he was a fake. But after he suffered a fatal heart attack and died on December 27, 1950 at the age of 91, the test had proven, that he really possibly was Billy the Kid.

Update #whatever. As I mentioned earlier, the Community Development outreach team (we really need a different name) went to help the Power of an Hour team at June Bug Day this past Saturday. We had a great time. We did crafts with the kids. We painted sailboats, bears, hearts, fish, angels, etc. And we made butterflies with tissue paper, and we colored posters! The puppets were awesome! They always do a great job. We had a beanbag toss and dart throw. The Koehoorn's will be posting about it more soon. So while I was there, during a down time, I starting coloring one of the posters. Haven't got it finished yet either. But when I do, I'm going to auction it off to the highest bidder to raise money for the outreach team. I mean it is a one of a kind! Anyway. As I was coloring I was thinking about the lines, the boundaries. They are there for a reason. If you just focus on the line, that's what it looks like, just a line. But when you focus on the whole thing, it makes a picture. And without that line, you would just have an empty space. And if you get to close or are not careful, you're going to go out of the lines and mess up. And you might be able to color over it, but that mistake is still there. And if you get in too big of a hurry to just get it done, it's not going to be right. You'll just have a big mess. And instead of looking at the big picture and saying "This is to big, I can't do it!" If you will just take one little section at a time and work on that, then eventually you will start to see the picture come together the way it's supposed to. Take your time, do it neatly, and don't get in a hurry. But be diligent. Don't give up. And be careful with the lines. They are there for a reason. But if you do accidentally mess up, just keep going, don't just quit and throw it away. Because in the end, when the picture is done, you can look back and see all the hard work you put into it. And you can say, "I messed up in a few places, but I fixed it and kept going. Now see how beautiful it is." Well, there's my lesson on coloring. Hope you got as much out of it as I did.

And for now, "That's All Folks!"

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Legends and Lies

Okay, I would like to start this blog off by saying, no one can say anything to me any more about not posting in a timely manner!! It's the middle of June people!! Get to posting! I need something to read! Just kidding. I love you all. Now as for reading. I have been reading a book called Legends and Lies: Great Mysteries of the American West by Dale L. Walker. This is a very interesting book. I think even if you don't enjoy history, as I do, you would want to read this book.
So, let's digress a minute. How many of you learned about Davy Crockett in school. Before you raise your hand, really think about it. Did you really learn about Davy in school or have you just heard of him all of your life? Now I don't know about you, but I can't remember learning one thing about Davy Crockett in school. The extent of my knowledge about him was that he wore a coonskin hat and dressed like and Indian in buckskins. And thanks to the Kentucky Headhunters, he was King of the Wild Frontier! That's a song for those of you who don't know. Davy, Davy Crockett. King of the wild frontier. Sorry, now I will have it stuck in my head. Anyway. Even Walt Disney had a hand in shaping the knowledge of the man we call Davy Crockett. Most of it untrue. Imagine that. So back to the book. Did you know that he was a three time Congressman? Even though he was close to being illiterate. And that the circumstances of his death has been disputed for years? Do you know where he died? Helping defend the Alamo. Did you know that the death of Meriwether Lewis, of the Lewis & Clark expedition, was disputed. Some say he committed suicide others say he was murdered. Although I do find it hard to believe he would have shot himself in the head, enough to expose brain tissue (sorry I'm trying to put it nicely) then shoot himself in the chest, and according to some reports, cut himself with a razor to finish the job. He may have gone crazy, but I don't think that crazy. Also, did you know that in 1995, they exhumed the grave of Jesse James to do DNA testing to see if it really was him or as some say, a J. Frank Dalton. Or that Billy the Kid was not killed and later came to turn himself in as an old man who was known at the time as Brushy Bill. They said his telling of the circumstances were so accurate only Billy the Kid would have known those details. Maybe this doesn't interest you, so I'll write a better blog later. But I am fascinated by this. I never knew this stuff. And history was my favorite subject in school, so I would have remembered learning this stuff right? Anyway, there are lots more legends in the book I haven't even gotten to yet. Black Bart, Boston Corbett and John Wilkes Booth. Ambrose Bierce, Custer and Little Bighorn, Crazy Horse, Sacajawea. So stay tuned for the rest of the story...

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Attitude

This is an email someone sent me that I would like to share. You've heard the saying that Attitude is everything. Well, it's close. I believe your attitude toward things can determine your outcome of a situation. I know I'm really working on mine!! Hope you enjoy.


There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.' So she did and she had a wonderful day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. 'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.' So she did and she had a grand day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail.' So she did, and she had a fun, fun day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. 'YAY!' she exclaimed. 'I don't have to fix my hair today!' Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly.......Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Talladega Here We ...Went!!


A few weeks ago my mom's company did their annual picnic at the Talladega Super Speedway. Now I don't know how many of you know this, but my husband loves Nascar. Not as much as he used to, but he still loves it. He has always been a huge Dale Earnhardt fan. At one time, (BC) he had a little shrine set up of all his Earnhardt stuff. Well it really wasn't a shrine, he just had my living room decorated with all of it! It is now stored in a box, thank God! So you can imagine how excited he was when my mom said the employees get to bring their families along. And you could win a ride around the race track at 180 mph or get to drive a race car. Although he didn't win either one, we still had a great time. The track was only open to DeltaCom employees and their families. The main activities were set up in the garage where they keep the race cars. We got to go in Victory Lane and walked behind Pit Road. We watched the cars flying around the track and heard them for sure! They had someone drawing caricatures, ours is hilarious! They served Dreamland Barbecue for lunch, had an arcade set up, all sorts of stuff for kids, go carts etc. All for free. They gave away t-shirts, flip flops, chairs, hats, sun visors, and I can't remember what all. We had a blast! So now I can say I have been to a race track!! Oh yeah, we also got to visit the Motor Sports Hall of Fame for free also. My husband took a picture of every race car there almost. I'm not kidding. He just about used all of my memory on my card! He would stand back and take a picture of the whole car, then get up close and take a picture of the name on the car. I'll post a few so you can see. He also got to get his picture with Dale Earnhardt's car. He was in hog heaven!!





















Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Okay People!

Okay, I just want everyone to know that I got up before 8 o'clock this morning, I have nowhere to be and my kids are still asleep. All so I can write this blog! I am determined to write it today!! I do apologize for my tardiness. But life and God has kept me busy! So I hope I don't overload on info about all that has been happening! So many wonderful things have been going on through our outreach ministry, it would take all day to share them. I actually thought about starting another blog just for that purpose. But as you can see, I have a hard enough time keeping up with one! So from time to time I will us this one for that purpose. Whew! Where do I start?!

First, I would like to give you an update on Ken's dad. I know a lot of you are wondering what has happened with him. Well, we are still doing the bible study! He would let us do it twice a week if we could. He just soaks it up. And his mom is getting more and more involved. She was telling her friend about the bible study and she said they can hardly wait for us to come and do another one. She was saying that we point things out that she had never noticed before. That we just bring scripture to life for them! It's not us. It's God giving them revelation!! It's so awesome. I know she has been weighing her options about coming to church with us. She has dropped a few comments here and there. His dad says he can't hear!! Imagine that. But he is getting hearing aids so maybe that will make a difference. Just keep praying that God removes all of the obstacles and hindrances that would keep them from coming.

Okay, NEXT! I'm not for sure if I have shared this or not, but it's worth repeating. In March we me and husband were asked to take over a section of the outreach ministry. There are five different sections or teams. We are over the Community Development and Outreach team. Which reminds me, we really need a catchy name. Anyway. So we try to do some type of outreach at least once a month. Which doesn't seem like a lot. But things have to be coordinated etc. Thus one of the many reasons I haven't blogged in awhile!! But the end result is so rewarding!! We have left snack baskets in the waiting rooms at the hospital. This is for families of loved ones that are in the hospital. Vending machines can get expensive when you have to spend time at the hospital. So we put a snack basket, with a card attached that says, "Donated by Cornerstone Revival Center. If you would like prayer for your family, please call ===," And we go once a week to refill them! We also took all of the nurses station a "Thank you" basket. We have made candy bags and passed them out at Relay for Life. 546 of them to be exact. They all had our church card on them! And there are many more things we have done. But my favorite yet, is the Books-N-Bears!! We bought a book and a bear and went to Fairview School and gave one to each pre-first and first grader!! The purpose is to encourage them to read to their bear. That way if mom or dad is busy you still have a friend to read to! Bro. Derrick Sherrill dressed in our walk around puppet stage and was our bear puppet Henry! He did an outstanding job! The kids loved it! So did the teachers. There were a 115 children by the way. All in one hallway together. Now you would think it would be chaos. But they sit so quiet and listened to every word! Even the teachers were amazed! God has given us favor in everything we have done! He has opened up doors that has blew our minds! While at the school, a teacher comes up and wants us to go to DHR and do puppet shows for the foster children. What she didn't know was the very lady she was speaking with already goes and does puppet shows with the domestic violence children at DHR. So that just opened up another door! So we go back the following week to give the teachers thank you gifts for allowing us to come and was so excited to hear all the teachers blown away by what we had done. Even the principal of the school, told us she was so pleased with all of the reports she had gotten. She said the teachers had talked about it all week! We are going to win our county and beyond! We are about to see a revival in Fairview school! I know I have left out so many details and things that were said. But it's early and fingers are getting tired. So here are some pics of the Books-N-Bears at the school. All of the kids just hugged me when I went back and said they had been reading to their bear every night! Oh and all of the books were stamped with our church name and phone number on the inside. And sorry about the pics. My batteries were low and my pictures turned out fuzzy! Oh and how can I forget! The school is going to put our picture in the paper, because they want everyone to know what we did! Also, the librarian, who helped us order our books from Scholastic, entered us into a contest with Scholastic. Something about anytime you use Scholastic books to reach your community you can win a bunch of stuff. I have no idea what, but they also want our pictures, because they will post them in there newsletter thing that goes out Statewide!! So if people don't know who Cornerstone Revival Center is when we get done, then they don't get out much!! How cool is that! More later. I promise!


































Friday, April 25, 2008

What In The World?!

God has been so good to me. No really, He has. I'm not just saying that. This August will be nine years since He delivered me and filled me with the Holy Ghost! And over these nine, wonderful years of living for Him, He has truly given me the desires of my heart. Not just in spiritual matters or even in big major things. Although He has done that also. But I am always amazed when God gives me the little things in life too. The things I don't even think to pray for because really they are not significant to my existence. But just little things. For instance. I have never had a new couch. I was close one time. But not quite. Anyway. I had been talking to my husband about how I would like to have a new couch. I even went to some furniture stores and picked out a few I liked and was reasonable. I was going to save my money and buy it. Eventually. Well, one day I'm helping my parents paint their living room and we were talking about furniture and I tell them about the couches I had been looking at. Well, a week or so later, they decide to go buy themselves a new couch and they told me to come along a pick one also. They bought me a new couch!! Now you really have to know them to understand what a miracle that is. They don't have a lot of money themselves and they try to save as much as possible. Then I thought how lovely it would be to have a love seat. Well, my old boss just happened to have one he needed to get rid of. Please keep in mind I have never asked for or told anyone I wanted these things. Other than passing conversations with my husband. Well, anyway, we have had numerous things just given to us! A hot tub (woohoo), furniture, brand new clothes, a boat, a goldfish pond, a ton of bricks (really), a motor home, and too many things to list. It's like one day we are talking about how eventually we would like to have some horses and the next day, poof! Someone gives us a horse. Now you may say, Holly, your rambling and it's cool someone bought you a new couch, but come on, nobody is going to give you a horse! Yet, I told you all that just to say, "Hey, somebody gave me a horse today!!" I'm not kidding. They said, "If you buy this halter and lead rope for $50.00, I'll throw the horse in free." WHAT IN THE WORLD!! People don't give horses away! But I am now an official owner, or I will be when I get her, of a 2 year old quarter horse mare. How crazy is that? I hope she doesn't eat like a horse!! HAHAHA I tried taking some pics of her, but she wouldn't stay still for very long. I hope you can see them.