So THAT'S what's wrong with me...

I was listening to Focus on the Family today and thought it good enough to share. It's all about strong-willed children, and adults. I figure I was/am a strong-willed child/adult and was glad to hear that having a strong will is only a bad thing when it's headed in the wrong direction. Here are the links to both parts if you're interested.

Part 1 

Part 2

You can also check out Cynthia Tobias's books here. I have put her book "You can't make me" [But I can be persuaded], on hold at the library and am looking forward to reading it. Look for the review.

Thanks for showing up here today, preciate it. =)

New Year--New Beginings

I'm sure you noticed that I changed the title of this blog a few weeks back. It was time for a change. And the name wasn't the only change. A lot of posts went into the delete pile- they needed trashed. And some things that stayed, got relabeled. I'm not where I was when I started this blog, in fact, I'm not where I was even a year ago. There's been a lot of changes in my life the last two years, some good, some not so good, and I've posted-although not in detail, about most of it. But...I'm ready for change, and I want this blog to reflect where I desire to go from here. As the old saying goes... you have no control over what happens to you, but you can control how you react to it. A lot of things I don't understand, a lot of things I don't have answers for, but life goes on, and one works with what one has. Oh, I realize this may not make any sense to any of you, but I know what it means, and when I look back a year from now at this post (if the Lord tarries) I hope I can say I have utilized this God-given insight well.

That old worn-out cliche "Life's too short", has never hit home with me so much before as it has in the last few days. It really is so very short, no matter how many years one gets. That being said, I need to make sure I utilize my time better. I know I've said this before, but I'm saying it again. More time with family and friends. More time with God. The friends and family I have in my life have always meant a lot to me, but never so much as they do these days. I'd best not take them for granted. Ah well, before I get too much more philosophical on ya, let me just wrap up this post with the words of an old hymn that's been stuck in my head for the last week or so- it goes like this...

"Gonna lay down my burdens, down by the riverside, down by the riverside, down by the riverside. Gonna lay down my burdens, down by the riverside, ain't gonna study war no more."

Wishing you all a pleasant and peaceful New Year!
Much love, Caroline

Helmet Head

Now all I need are some uber cool riding clothes to match.

The Very Best Gift!

How was your Christmas this year? Did you get everything you put on your wish list? Did you get to spend the day with family and friends? I hope so! I truly do.

Kathy over at McMoments and Memories  gave her readers permission the enjoy Christmas to the fullest-- sans any guilt, and I did just that. Sweet Guy and I spent the most of the day at Steph's house, along with Kate, a few friends, and my son-in-laws parents. What a wonderful time of food, fun and laughter we had! I'd like to say how much I love and appreciate my son-in-law's parents, and how thankful I am for all the good times we have shared together with our children. How blessed we all are and what a lucky grandson we have!

Sweet Guy, Kate and I had started the day with the usual Kenny G, cinnamon rolls and coffee while we opened our gifts- a tradition we started many moons ago. For three days before Christmas I got to puzzle over a wrapped box that looked just the right size to hold a helmet...and Lo and Behold it did! It's not girlie with pink or flowers on it, but it's not all manly with racing stripes and flames either, it's a beautiful smoke grey, full faced helmet that you can pull the front part up when your going slow or parked, with a compass on the side and a clock that.... Yeah, yeah, I'm like a kid in a candy store about it, I know. It's just that I've wanted one for soooo long. Good things come to those that wait, but waiting can be hard. All I know is...Santa must not have checked his list more than once. lol Lucky for me!

Now all this talk of wonderful presents is nice. But even though I really like my new helmet, it's wasn't the show stopping gift of the year. No, the very best gift I received this year was my husband sitting right next to me in church on Christmas morning! Amazing! And I believe it won't be long before that becomes an every service happening! Thank you to all that are praying for him. I can't begin to tell you what it means to me to have your love and support!

And so, another Christmas has come and gone, leaving behind it's warm glow of peace and good cheer,but most of all... hope!

Blessings :-}

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 FROM: ME

TO: YOU

May your Christmas be rich with gifts that money cannot buy.

 Much Love, Caroline

Christmas Song Wars

Here are a few of my favorite Christmas songs, and my favorite folks to sing them.

• Let it be Christmas by Alan Jackson
• O Holy Night by Celine Dion
• The Prayer by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion
• I heard the Bells on Christmas Day by Bette Midler
• Jingle Bells by Rory Mac
• Silver Bells by Ray Conniff singers
• It's the Most Wonderful time of the Year by Andy Williams
• O Little Town Of Bethlehem by no one in particular

But....

There are a few I'd dig having earplugs for, and most of the folks who "sing" them.

• Last Christmas by Taylor Swift, or anybody for that matter....Like fingernails on a chalkboard!
• Christmas Shoes by anybody... who wants morbid at Christmas??
• Santa Claus is coming to town by Bruce Springsteen.... painful!
• Feliz Natividad by anybody.... too cheesy for me, sorry.
• Little Drummer Boy by anybody... monotonous, to say the least.
• Santa Baby....need I say more?
  

These are just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more of both. What about you? Is there a Christmas song you'd like to see eradicated? And do you have a favorite?

Cheers!

YOu've gOt 2 B kIdDinG mE!

Christmas...is only how many days away? and I've only bought one gift! and the only decorations in the house are the lovely cards I've received from friends (that really would be enough IF it were just me) and a circle-of-cranberries candle holder on the piano. Pitimuss! Somebody crack the whip! Somebody get me some major caffeine! Somebody write me a list and rob me a bank! Heeeelp! Christmas is upon me and I am- for the first time EVER, totally unprepared! I do have a boatload of Christmas spirit, but I just can't seem to get a grip on the mechanics of it all. Anybody out there know what I'm talkin' bout?

So in honor of my plight, here's yet another corny rewrite of  'Twas the Night before Christmas'.

'Twas the Wreck before Christmas
Twas the wreck before Christmas, and all thru the house.
The only creatures a stirring, were two cats and a half-dead mouse.
No stockings were hung on the wall mirror with care,
cuz the lady that hangs them was just not prepared.

Papa and Grammy were snug in their bed,
when they should have been out buying presents instead.
Take off that kerchief! take off that cap!
There's stuff what needs doing, no time for a nap!

Then out on the lawn there arouse such a clatter,
we sprang from our bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window we flew like a flash,
to discover it was only a bum in the trash.

The moon on the breast of the ghetto's "fine" view,
gave a glow to the trash all around us anew.
When what to our wandering eye's should appear,
but a swat team with guns drawn a little too near!

Now, back to the matter of Christmas --this rhyme,
see, I can't seem to focus on one thing at a time.
 Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme..

Distractions encircle my head like a wreath-
All because of the empty space underneath.
What? where was I? Oh yeah, Christmas! the subject at hand.

I must get to workin' or it'll be bland!

Get presents! now, cookies! Stockings and candy!
On, garland! On, light strings! Get, busy! be handy!
To the top of the list! then on to the mall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Get on the ball!

So, I'll spring to my trusty Camry today,
put her in gear and be on my way.
And to y'all I'll exclaim, 'ere I scramble to get this here Holiday right,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a, a,... um...a partridge in a pear tree?

By Caroline

Happy Friday y'all!

Choose your color...

Rory spent the night with me Saturday. On the way to Sunday school the next morning, we were listening to Christmas music. Bette Midler was in the middle of belting out 'I'm dreaming of a white Christmas', when Rory pipes up in the back with a loud,"I wanna hear a blue one."

"May your days be merry and bright,
and may all your Christmases be white!"

Hello, God? It's me,______.

Knock, knock. Nobody's home.
Have you ever felt like you've prayed and prayed your guts out, sometimes for years and years, and God's not hearing you? Or maybe you know he's listening but it seems like it's taking forever for him to answer? Have you ever felt like you're the only one who knows and understands your situation, and you wonder if anybody is helping you pray? I'm sure we've all felt that way at some point in our lives. It's one of the many tricks of Satan to make us feel like our prayers and hopes are in vain. And yet us humans can fall prey to his stupid lies. (I will say this for the loser- he's good at one thing, and one thing only...lying!) I must confess, I have, at times, fallen victim to his lies- grasping at hope and faith to keep praying when it seems like nobody cares and nothing is happening.
But then, all of a sudden, out of the blue, I get a simple text message today that lets me know that in fact, the opposite is true. Someone does care, someone is helping me pray, and God is working on that answer! It humbled me, and gave me a boost in the faith department. And I am unspeakably grateful!

reply:
tx! ur a blsng 2 me!

Knock, knock. Who's there. God. God who? The god who loves and hears, and answers, so hang in there kiddo!

Prayer for 2012

 One of my friends from Tops sent me this in an email today.

Dear God,
My prayer for 2012 is for a
fat bank account & a thin body.
Please don't mix these up like
you did last year.
AMEN!

Life in Pictures

Here are a few pictures I've taken with my phone in the past few weeks:

This is Shaver Lake a few weekends ago.

It has very little water in in right now...

 They are cleaning and repairing the dam.

 Seems like a totally different place.

This is what I call Apple Crack. 

It's apple with cinnamon- and one of my new favorite snacks!

This is a silly little incline that meets me at the end of every walk- but having walked 3-4 miles, feels more like I'm climbing Mt. Everest. I always want to do a Rocky Balboa dance when I get to the top! ;)

"Hi Grammy." 

I love it when he glances up at me like this!